Tidewater Virginia Festivals

Tidewater Virginia has an exciting schedule of festivals.contests and competitions, a demolition derby, a truck
The following is a list of some of the more popularand tractor pull, motorcycle rally, fireworks, as well as
festivals which run from April thru December.local and national entertainment. The event has been
Virginia Arts Festivalfeatured in numerous magazines, including Virginia
Begun in 1997 as a way to promote tourism, this springBusiness, Southern Living, The Southern Farmers
festival showcases artists from around the world asAlmanac, Best Festivals-Mid Atlantic and others.
well as the Virginia's best professional artists. The arryHampton Jazz Festival
of performances include of music, theatre and dance.The Hampton Jazz Festival is held each year during
Festival events are held in eight cities across Hamptonthe last full weekend in June. Festival organizers
Roads in concert halls, performing arts centers, operaevaluate available jazz, R&B and blues artists that
houses, theatres, museums, outdoor stages, andare on tour during the time of the festival, bringing in the
historic churches.best musicians possible. Held in the Hampton Coliseum,
North American Sand Soccer Championshipthe venue is highly respected by Hampton residents
The North American Sand Soccer Championship, heldand visitors.
annually in Virginia Beach in early June. BetweenBayou Boogaloo & Cajun Food Festival
games, players and spectators, mingle and relax onThe Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Food Festival is
the the beach. Often during the event, street vendorsNorfolk's annual New Orleans' and Bayou culture
attend selling foods and art on the boardwalk. Teamsfestival. This 3-day summer festival delivers the heart
for this event are a mix of adults, teenagers, and smalland soul of Louisiana to visitors to Town Point Park in
children. There are all-male teams, all-female teams,true Cajun and Creole style.
and coed teams that make up each division. A proNorfolk Latino Music Festival
division includes a team from the United States as wellThis August festival features the largest outdoor
as from other countries.dance floor in Hampton Roads filled with salsa,
Norfolk Jazz Festivalmerengue, and guaguanco dancing and live music by
Held in Town Point Park over 2 days, this is thelocal, regional, and national Latin recording artists.
region's longest running outdoor jazz festival. TheNewport News Fall Festival of Folklife
festival recruits nationally known artists as well as aThe Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife is held in
selection of local and regional jazz favorites.Newport News. This is Southeast Virginia's biggest
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show &traditional craft show, featuring over 200 vendors,
Festivalcrafts, trades, entertainment, foods and children's
The Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show &activities.
Festival is one of the Commonwealth's most highlyHolidays in the City
anticipated events. Attendance often exceeds 350,000Holidays in the City celebrates 25 years with six
visitors and art sales can surpass $2 million annually.weeks of magical festivities, saluting the holidays of
The event has been ranked in the top 50 best fine artThanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and
& design shows in the nation by Sunshine artistNew Year's Eve. The festivities in late November with
magazine. Prize money for artist awards reachedthe Grand Illumination of the downtown skyline. The
over $30,000 in 2008, a milestone which has attractedhighlight is the annual Grand Illumination Parade where
high-caliber artists and art collectors since.floats, marching bands, giant balloons, dancers and
Suffolk Peanut FestSanta himself parade through downtown Norfolk.
Suffolk Peanut Fest offers concerts, amusement rides,