#IPW2025

SAVE THE DATE: 2025 UNROLLS A FESTIVE YEAR OF SEASIDE SPECIAL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

The flip of the calendar invites travelers to plan a year filled with adventure and exploration by the shore, and Virginia Beach shines in every season with a captivating array of fresh and returning festivals, sporting events and cultural celebrations. Let Virginia Beach's 2025 lineup be your guide to crafting a getaway that hits all the right notes and delivers another year of unforgettable travel to the beach and beyond.

January

An expansive selection of the commonwealth's best wines, ciders, beer and more are featured at the annual Coastal Virginia Magazine WineFest (Jan. 18 - 19). Sip and swirl inside the Hampton Roads Convention Center with table packages available for groups of 10 and a trio of hotel packages to make it a winter weekend getaway.  

Virginia Beach Restaurant Week (Jan. 20 – Feb. 2) celebrates 20 years of local flavors with 55 participating restaurants serving their finest on prix fixe menus. New Dine and Stay package options are offered at more than a dozen hotels this year to stretch out a tasty trip.

Connect with and learn about the “locals” during the annual Winter Wildlife Festival (Jan. 25 - Feb.1) featuring special presentations, workshops, exhibits, a photography contest and a series of ticketed excursions on land and sea.

February

Start your year with a chill and thrill at the coolest fundraiser of the year, the Virginia Beach Polar Plunge (Feb. 7-8). Enjoy a costume contest, parade, live music and splash into the chilly Atlantic waters to benefit Special Olympics Virginia.

Explore the legacy of Edgar Cayce's teachings at the Mind, Body & Spirit Fair (Feb. 22). The free event on the A.R.E. campus includes workshops and services for a healthy start to 2025.

March

Irish eyes smile on Virginia Beach runners during the epic Yuengling Shamrock Marathon Weekend (Mar. 14-16) from the Leprechaun Dash to the full marathon, offering participants a chance to feel lucky crossing the finish line against the backdrop of early-season beach charm. from the Leprechaun Dash to the full marathon, offering participants a chance to feel lucky crossing the finish line against the backdrop of early-season beach charm.

Or, embrace the beauty of spring with cherry blossoms, Japanese garden tours, cultural performances and family activities during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival (March 29 – April 5) at Red Wing Park.

April

Art that pushes the envelope tops the bill at a newly-expanded Z Fringe Festival (April 4-6), highlighting adventurous theater and performance art on two stages.

Sample the rich flavors of Virginia Beach's culinary staple as 10 top restaurants serve up their best recipes in the East Coast She-Crab Soup Classic (April 5).

Experience the Bulls & Barrels Beach Rodeo (April 13-14), the only professional rodeo on sand, where saltwater cowboys entertain all ages with bull riding and barrel racing by the sea.

A free new two-day hip hop and R&B music festival, Vibe Check, is coming to the Oceanfront (April 25-26) with headliners Waka Flocka Flame and Bryce Vine as just two of the many marquee artists performing at this event.

Historic Garden Week in Virginia showcases a collection of notable North End neighborhood private homes and gardens via a convenient walking tour and bountiful Garden Market. The Virginia Beach event (April 30) is part of the nation's only statewide home and garden tour.

May

Atlantic Park is slated to open for the Summer 2025 season, boasting the only surf lagoon this close to the ocean. A destination within the coastal destination, its wave technology cements Virginia Beach as the place to learn or hone the sport and the lagoon is bordered by upscale shopping and dining. Don't miss the debut of The Dome (May 4), an immersive performance venue where light, sound and environment converge to create a unique sensory journey for live concerts and entertainment all year long.

Celebrate the sweet change of seasons with the revival of the city's Strawberry Fest at the Beach (May dates TBD) in the city's new Artery District with fresh strawberry creations from local restaurants, live music and family-friendly activities.

The Atlantic Coast Kite Festival (May 3-4) brightens the skyline with colorful, high-flying kites at this annual oceanfront festival.

Celebrate Caribbean culture at Virginia International PANFest (May 9-10) with top pan artists and performances that transport visitors to the islands.

Over Beach Music Weekend (May 10), dance to nostalgic '60s tunes and enjoy classic car displays during this beachfront celebration.

Rev up your weekend fun with Monsters on the Beach (May 16-18) as off-road trucks compete in beach races and obstacle courses during the mid-Atlantic's largest monster truck event.

Beach nights are better with music, and the Oceanfront Concert Series (May 21 – Sept. 10) delivers with eleven weeks of free, live shows by top regional artists.

The Salute to Summer (May 23–25) kicks off the season with a full Memorial Day weekend of non-stop music on three oceanfront stages.

Show appreciation for members of our nation's armed services with free nightly concerts and military village displays at the USO Experience (May 30 – June 1).

Get your adrenaline rush watching high-energy, action sports competitions in skateboarding, bouldering and BASE jumping at this year's Jackalope Festival (May 30 – June 1).

The city's ViBe District adds more color and creativity to the walkable arts community during the Street Art Festival (May 30 – June 1). Watch as 15 live artists make their mark and take part in an interactive community mural project that engages the whole family. engages the whole family.

June

At the North American Sand Soccer Championship (June 6 – 8), watch more than 11,000 players from around the globe kick it on the shoreline in this sandy showdown.

Artists of all levels transform the Boardwalk into a canvas for public art during Chalk the Walk (June 14). Virginia Beach's skies will come alive with the spectacular Flying Proms (June 14) outdoor concert and air show event at the Military Aviation Museum. This unique blend of history and celebration combines an exhilarating air show with a live orchestral performance, offering a patriotic nod to the past with vintage aircraft performing maneuvers to the tunes of the Virginia Wind Symphony.

The significance of African-American culture and history is celebrated through music, dance, art and more at a series of community-led events at 24th Street Park during Juneteenth at the Beach (June 14, 15 and 19).

Stretch out under the stars to enjoy the free, family-friendly Beach Blanket Movie Series (June 19 – Aug. 14) every Thursday for eight weeks on the oceanfront.

Led by top reggae artists, the oceanfront Point Break Festival (June 21-22) sets the right vibe for a memorable and musical summer weekend.

Love, unity and diversity take center stage with live music and festival fun during Pride at the Beach (June 21-23).

Turn up the heat and soak in the flavors of Latin culture at La Fiesta Virginia Beach (June 27-28) with authentic food, dance and crafts paired with a sizzling seaside concert.

July

Spanning multiple decades and genres, a weekend of tribute bands perform hits by favorite musical artists at the Totally Tribute Music Fest (July 3-5).

Celebrate Independence Day with oceanfront fireworks and three stages of live music during the Stars & Stripes Celebration (July 4).  (July 4).

August

Get your groove on at the Funk Fest Beach Party (Aug. 22-23) and dance to the rhythm of funk music with beachfront concerts and dance contests.

The East Coast Surfing Championship (Aug. 17-24) is an eight-day, international surf carnival welcoming more than 850 surfers competing for titles, prizes, history and the love of surfing. Volleyball, a Boardwalk 5K, street skate and ramp contests, swimsuit contests and a live concert series on the beach round out the celebration.

End summer with a bang as national acts perform on a trio of oceanfront stages at the free Live the Life Concert Series (Aug. 29 - 31) over Labor Day weekend.

September

Marvel at the aerial acrobatics, military aircraft demonstrations and static displays during the N.A.S. Oceana Air Show (Sept. 20-21) at the US Navy's East Coast Master Jet Base.

For more than 50 years, the Neptune Festival (Sept. 26-28) has celebrated the beach life with an event series including concerts, an art & craft show, sporting events, Neptune's 8K and much more. One of the highlights is the International Sandsculpting Championship showcasing nearly two dozen majestic designs by sand artists from around the world.

October

One of the largest collections of WWII Warbirds airplanes performs aerial demonstrations over Virginia Beach at Warbirds Over the Beach (Oct. 4-5). A living history encampment also transports visitors back in time from the Military Aviation Museum.

The city's ViBe District explodes with more color as 10 new live-painted murals are created during Mural Festival's (Oct. 3-12) annual celebration of outdoor art.

As one of the only outdoor art shows produced by an accredited museum, Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show (Oct. 10-12) spans more than a dozen Boardwalk blocks as nearly 200 juried artists from around the country display original works across several mediums for sale and judging during this seaside spectacular. 

The only thing to be afraid of is missing the region's largest Halloween race and party, Wicked Weekend (Oct. 24 - 25)! Choose your distance --the Wicked 10K, 5K and Monster Mile—for a scary good time filled with tricks, treats and more costumes than you can count.

November

Unite with hundreds of Jeep enthusiasts for sunrise cruises and a custom sand course while showing off your ride and checking out the latest Jeep accessories on the market at the Virginia Beach Jeep Festival (Nov. 7 - 9).

The Virginia Bourbon Invitational (Nov. 8) celebrates Virginia spirits on the grand lawn of the historic Cavalier Resort Hotel, home to the nation's first in-hotel distillery, Tarnished Truth. Tapas, cigars, Adirondack chairs and live music complement nearly two dozen tasting stations, making for a perfect fall fête.

Hop on your bicycle and Bike the Lights (Nov. 13) for a sneak peek of the Holiday Lights at the Beach, riding through festive displays that stretch for more than a dozen Boardwalk blocks.

The holiday season sparkles with a cruise through Holiday Lights at the Beach (Nov. 14 – Dec. 31). The spectacular display of lights along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk features the nation's longest curved LED light tunnel and is the only time vehicles can drive on the Boardwalk.

Witness a unique ice-sculpting event where artists use chain saws and chisels to create stunning ice art, all under the November sky, at Fear No Ice (Nov. 22).

December

More than 100 festive units including marching bands, floats and inflatables ring in the holiday season along Atlantic Avenue during the Holiday Parade (Dec. 6), capped off by a visit from Santa.

Run through the holiday lights as they sparkle along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk in this festive Surf-n-Santa 5 Miler (Dec. 12-13) evening race, Santa suits optional.

Ring in the new year at Last Night on the Town (Dec. 31)! A spectacular outdoor party for all ages includes live music and a midnight countdown for a giant beach ball drop at the Virginia Beach Town Center. (Dec. 31)!

Wrap up your holiday season with a First Night Hike (Jan. 1, 2026) for a merry mile along the Boardwalk as the Holiday Lights at the Beach display lights up for a final night.