Local Happenings for Tidewater VA

COMMUNITY EVENTS / FESTIVALS

Now thru Jul 31 - d'Artists Show, OKAY SPARK, 801 Boush St., Norfolk. The d'ARTists are pleased to announce a group exhibition at OKAY SPARK Gallery in Norfolk. This is the first group exhibition since the Selden Arcade closure on April 17, 2015. The exhibition is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC and runs through July 31. Please come enjoy the exhibit and support the local arts community!

Now thru Jul 31 - Wood Carving Exhibit at the Gallery at York Hall, various times, 301 Main Street Yorktown. Come out to the Gallery at York Hall and enjoy beautiful and unique ‘Wood Carving’ exhibit, featuring Doug Zaller, wood carver. In addition to the 'Wood Carving’ exhibit the Gallery will have a host of new and beautiful art, jewelry, pottery and much more for sale. Closed Mon. Free. Call 757.890.4490 for more information.

Now thru Jul 31 - BOGO Kayak Rentals at Munden Point Park, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, 2001 Pefley Lane, Virginia Beach. Each Weekday in July Rent a kayak at Munden Point Park for one hour ($12) and receive a second hour free! You are at the heart of what we do, which is why we want to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month with you this July! Learn more ways to celebrate at VBgov.com/July  | (757) 426-5296

Now thru Aug 2 - The Mystical Arts of Tibet, The American Theater, Phoebus, 125 E Mellen Street, Hampton. Make time in your schedule for a week of reflection and inspiration. The monks will once again create a sand-painted mandala: used as a tool for re-consecrating the earth and its inhabitants. From all the artistic traditions of Tantric Buddhism, that of painting with colored sand ranks as one of the most unique and exquisite. In Tibetan this art is called dul-tson-kyil-khor, which literally means “mandala of colored powders.”

Now thru Aug 8 - AAU Junior Olympic Games 2015, Greater Hampton Roads, including Chesapeake Conference Center, Virginia Beach Convention Center, and surrounding area (See schedule for details). Hampton Roads is thrilled to be hosting the AAU Junior Olympic Games again, July 29 – August 8, 2015. The Games are known as the largest national multi-sport event for youth in the United States. Approximately 15,000 athletes, ages 7 – 17, from across the country will compete in over 20 sporting events throughout the Junior Olympic Games. The Chesapeake Conference Center is proud to host several sporting competitions including Karate, Taekwondo, Powerlifting, and Weightlifting. Be sure to visit the AAU Junior Olympic Games official website atwww.aaujrogames.org for specific dates and times. Visithttp://www.aaujrogames.org/EventInfo/Tickets.aspx for ticket information.

Now thru Aug 16 - MOCA Blue Star Museum, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, 2200 Parks Avenue, Virginia Beach. In partnership with the National Blue Star Museums program, MOCA will offer FREE ADMISSION to all military and their families Memorial Day* through Labor Day*. Must show military ID. *MOCA’s summer exhibitions are on view May 26-August 16, 2015.

Now thru Aug 28 - Isle of Wight Arts League’s Annual Open Members Show, 319 Main Street, Downtown Smithfield. The Isle of Wight Arts League presents its Annual Open Members Show featuring art from local member artists. For further information call 757.357.7707.

Now thru Aug - Bike Nights, Norfolk Botanical Garden, Mon/Wed/Thu 4 - 7:00 pm, 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk. Bring your bikes, helmets and family or friends out to Norfolk Botanical Garden and pedal through the petals. Norfolk Botanical Garden is home to 12 miles of pedestrian pathways. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 4 to 7 pm they are open to bikers! Regular Garden admission applies.

Now thru Sep 4 - Corinne Lilyard-Mitchell: A 20 Year Retrospective Exhibit & Please Touch the Art Exhibit by Sally Barker, Suffolk Art Gallery, Tue-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1 pm-5 pm, 118 Bosley Avenue, Suffolk. Corinne Lilyard-Mitchell will present an exhibit that includes a collection of paintings and works on paper completed since 1995 and depicts her explorations of media, techniques, and subject matter. Please Touch the Art includes textile works by artist Sally Barker, creator of the Barker Code, a technique where color is assigned a textured fabric, resulting in touchable pieces that allow the blind to visualize classic works of art. 757.514.7284 or 757.925.0448. www.heartandsoulsuffolk.com

Now thru Sep 6 - The Great Frame Up, Norfolk Botanical Garden, All Day, 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk. The Great Frame Up interactive exhibit is included with Garden admission. Tagged photos will appear at the Chrysler Museum of Art as part of the exhibition The Artist’s Garden: American Impressionism and the Garden Movement, 1887-1920. Look for 20 frames placed throughout the Norfolk Botanical Garden landscape June 16 - September 6. Go on a scavenger hunt and find them all. Take a selfie, a group photo or a beauty Garden shot Framed Up. Share your masterpiece with the rest of the world by using the hashtag #NorfolkBlooms on your favorite social media sites.

Now thru Sep 7 - Young Architects: Designing the Future, Children’s Museum of Virginia, 221 High Street, Portsmouth. A hands-on interactive exhibit developed by the Children’s Museum of Cleveland opens in the changing gallery. Geared toward toddlers through grade schoolers, Young Architects invites children (and their grown-ups too) to play, discover, act, and be inspired. Included with Museum admission. http://www.childrensmuseumva.com/

Now thru Sep 20 - Butterfly House Exhibit, Norfolk Botanical Garden, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd., Norfolk. The enclosed house provides an unbelievable opportunity to observe butterflies as they circle and land on their favorite nectar flowers providing guaranteed amazement and educational opportunities. It’s the perfect complement to the 2.5 acre Bristow Butterfly Garden and the giant Butterfly Maze. Included with regular Garden admission.

Thu, thru July - Throwback Thursdays at Virginia Beach Recreation Centers, 6:00 am - 9:30 pm, City-wide. Every Thursday in July enjoy all of the amenities of our recreation centers with throwback pricing! Purchase a day pass for just $1! Must be used on day of purchase. We’re also offering $2 one-hour group fitness classes on Thursdays in July at all of our rec centers. Get fit for less with Throwback Thursdays! Membership or day pass required. You are at the heart of what we do, which is why we want to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month with you this July! Learn more ways to celebrate at VBgov.com/July |  contact@VBPRF.org  (757) 385-1100

Thu, Jul 30 - Imagination Play Day, Peninsula Town Center, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Hampton. Bring your family out every Thursday to Peninsula Town Center’s first recurring children’s event that will feature Imagination Playground Blocks located at the Pop Fountain. The 115 piece block set consists of 15 uniquely designed shapes to encourage open-ended free play that empowers children to constantly reconfigure the space around them and design their own course of play. We have partnered with the Virginia Air & Space Center, Mariner’s Museum, VA Living Museum and PBS Kids to provide additional educational children’s activities every month.

Thu, Jul 30 - Gnarly 80s Party, Bow Creek Recreation Center, 12 - 2:00 pm, 3427 Club House Road, Virginia Beach. Ages 6-13 | Celebrate '80s style with old school Nickelodeon Double Dare fun! Crazy contests and challenges will offer all a chance to compete for the title of Gnarly Double Dare Champion. Battle in the pool, game room and gym and be prepared to get messy! Day pass or membership needed; no additional cost. fun@VBgov.com | (757) 385-5960

Thu, Jul 30 - “Shipwrecks & Ghost Lore”: A Virginia Beach Ghostwalk, The Old Coast Guard Station, Tue & Thu evenings, 7:30 pm,  overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along the Boardwalk at 24th Street, Virginia Beach. Evening walking program. Join a costumed interpreter as they bring to life true accounts and local legends of shipwrecks, ghosts, pirates and witches. Tours last 60-90 minutes. Tickets $12 Adult, $5 Child (ages 6-12). Reservations appreciated. Contact the museum Program Director at 757.422.1587

Fri, Jul 31 - Free Fishing Fridays, Little Island Park, 5:30 am - 9:00 pm, 3820 S Sandpiper Road, Virginia Beach. Free Fishing Fridays at Little Island Fishing Pier every Friday in July. Buy one pier entrance fee ($8) and get a second entrance for free!  You are at the heart of what we do, which is why we want to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month with you this July! Learn more ways to celebrate at VBgov.com/July | (757) 426-0013

Fri, Jul 31 - Free Fitness Class: Outdoor Boot Camp, Red Wing Park, 6 - 7:00 pm, 1398 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach. Get out of the gym for this awesome cross training class at Red Wing Park. Test your mettle as you move through intervals of cardio, plyometrics and high intensity interval training drills.fun@VBgov.com | (757) 385-0406

Fri, Jul 31 - “Say It Loud” exhibition opening reception, The Offsite Gallery, World Trade Center, 6 8:00 pm, 101 West Main St., Norfolk. “Say It Loud” proudly celebrates African American heritage & culture expressed through the visual arts. Exhibiting artists: Solomon Isekeije, Terri E., Richard Ward, A.V. Hollowell, L. Prenell, Veronica Sample, Ernest Lowery, Gia Labidi, Maizelle & Ken Wright. Opening reception July 31, 6-8pm. Exhibition: Jul 31 - Sep 3. Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:30 pm. 757-664-6854

Fri, Jul 31 - Final Friday, Twilight Tour of Historic Elmwood Cemetery, 7 - 8:30 am, 238 E. Princess Anne Road, Norfolk. Stroll into the sunset at historic Elmwood Cemetery, est. 1853. This year’s tour reveals the west side of Norfolk’s most picturesque Victorian garden cemetery. Visit the heroes of the 1855 yellow fever epidemic. Learn about the fraternal organizations that served as cornerstones of 19th century society. See the final resting places of stalwart Confederate soldiers. Hear the tragic stories that inspired unforgettable memorial art while exploring the tenets of the Victorian observance of death. Join us. No RSVP required. One & one half hour walking tour. All are welcome. 757-236-3439

Fri/Sat, Jul 31 & Aug 1 - Art Book Fair presented by QbyQ Press, Fri 5 - 9:00 pm, Sat 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, 433 Granby Street, Norfolk. QbyQ Press’ idea was to host an Art Book Fair where writers, zine makers, designers, and printers can showcase their beautiful work in a community-building event. We want to share the skills of bookmaking and self-publishing with as many other entrepreneurial DIY-ers as possible. The Art Book Fair will give exposure to local writers and printers, act as a place to learn and share skills, and will connect Norfolk’s literary scene to independent publishing outside of Norfolk.

Sat, Aug 1 - 2nd Annual Joggin’ for Frogmen 5K, Town Point Park, 6:00 am, Waterside Drive, Norfolk. The 31Heroes Project will host their 5th annual Main Event on August 1, 2015. The event will consist of a Crossfit Workout of the Day at Town Point Park, along with the 2nd Annual Joggin’ for Frogmen 5k throughout Norfolk’s Downtown. 6–7:15 am Race Morning Packet Pickups & Registration, 7:30 am Opening Ceremonies, 8 am 5k Race Start, 8:30 am 31Heroes WOD Start, 9 am JFF 5k Awards Ceremony, 9:45 am Kid’s Tadpole Trot Start. www.jogginforfrogmen.com/norfolkva/

Sat, Aug 1 - Youth Fishing Day at Northwest River Park, 9 - 11:00 am, Northwest River Park & Campground, 1733 Indian Creek Road, Chesapeake. Fishing fun at Northwest River Park for youth ages 5-15 with an adult. Youth rods and bait supplied. Limited space, reservations required. Admission: Free - (757) 382-1359

Sat, Aug 1 - World Breastfeeding Week Celebration, Portsmouth City Park, 10:00 am, 140 City Park Ave, Portsmouth. Hosted by La Leche League of Portsmouth. FREE family fun event featuring music, children’s activities, door prizes, food, and local businesses and health care professionals. A wonderful place to network with the Hampton Roads area birth, breastfeeding and parenting communities. For more information: LLLofPortsmouth@gmail.com or call Erin, Mary & Ashley at 757-828-6555

Sat, Aug 1 - Guided Walking Tour of Historic Fort Huger, beginning at 10:00 am, located off Route 10 at 15080 Talcott Terrace (Follow the Civil War Trails signage), Smithfield. Visit this Civil War fort and learn the significance of this gateway to the Confederate capital. The Isle of Wight County Museum is pleased to offer several FREE guided walking tours of the county’s historic sites and events throughout the year. Led by local historians and museum staff, the tours offer an in-depth look and a hands-on experience at these important and well-preserved properties. Reservations are not necessary. For further information call 757.357.0115.

Sat, Aug 1 - Olde Towne Portsmouth Antiques to Flea Market, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Middle Street Garage, 441 Middle Street, Portsmouth. The Olde Towne Antiques to Flea Market is conveniently located in the Middle Street Garage at the corner of Middle & London Streets and is held year round, rain or shine on the first Saturday of each month. Gates open at 10 am and close at 2 pm. Always Free Admission & Free Parking! Call 757-339-1876 for additional information.

Sat, Aug 1 - 1st Interactive Safety & Prevention Fair, Mill Point Park, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, 100 Eaton St., Hampton. Purpose of the Safety Fair is to educate and challenge the City of Hampton Neighborhoods to get involved in preventing crime as a part of the Safe & Clean Neighborhoods and the Neighborhood Watch Initiatives. The fair will give the opportunity to obtain safety information and participate in safety demonstrations from a variety of Public Safety Offices as well as private vendors. Free to Public and Free Parking!!

Sat, Aug 1 - Newton Community Reunion, 11:00 am, Jefferson Street Park, Portsmouth. Please join us for the Reunion Cookout at Jefferson Street Park. NO GRILLS Please!!!! Please bring sodas and water also any games, sport equipment etc. volleyballs, football etc. For more information please call (757) 305-0454.

Sat, Aug 1 - Battle of Smithfield Guided Walking Tour, beginning at 2:00 pm, Isle of Wight County Museum, 103 Main Street in downtown Smithfield. 2014 marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Smithfield. Meet at the museum for a lecture and a walk down Church Street as your guide details the events of this battle. The Isle of Wight County Museum is pleased to offer several FREE guided walking tours of the county’s historic sites and events throughout the year. Led by local historians and museum staff, the tours offer an in-depth look and a hands-on experience at these important and well-preserved properties. Reservations are not necessary. For further information call 757.357.0115.

Sat, Aug 1 - Downtown Hampton Block Party, 6 - 11:00 pm, East Queens Way between Wine and King Streets, Hampton. Free and open to the public. Come early and bring a chair then make your way to one of the dining establishments along Queens Way for some dinner before the party starts. Free parking can be found on the street and in multiple surface lots. There is a public parking garage at the corner of Settlers Landing Road & Old Hampton Lane. Live Music by 'Buckshot’. www.hamptonblockparty.com

Sat, Aug 1 - C3 Laser & Light Show, On the Beach at 20th Street, 9 - 10:45 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Experience a unique entertainment spectacle at the Virginia Beach oceanfront on select nights in July and August! The C3 Laser & Light Show is many things at once: a festival light and video production using lasers, pyrotechnics, and three giant cylindrical projection screens, all to a pulsing soundtrack guaranteed to capture and thrill beach audiences. This “Rockin’ Adventure at Virginia Beach,” inspired by the ocean, utilizes classic rock and newer pop hits to take the viewer on an adventure that ends with a mind-blowing laser/light/projection/flame finale! This event is free.

Sat/Sun, Aug 1&2 - Free Admission Weekend, Peninsula Fine Arts Center, 101 Museum Drive, Newport News. Enjoy free admission to the Peninsula Fine Art Center! View our exhibits and explore PFAC’s Hands On for Kids Gallery, Gallery Shop and Sculpture Garden for free on the first weekend of every month, thanks to the generous support of the Noland Memorial Foundation. 757-596-8175

Sun, Aug 2 - Strider Summer 10-Miler, Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, Race starts at 7:30 am, 1200 Dismal Swamp Canal Trail, Chesapeake. Join Tidewater Striders for the Strider Summer 10-Miler, a prep race for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon. This race is being held on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail and will be a 5-mile out and 5-mile back course on a closed 2-lane roadway. Visit the website for more details. http://www.raceit.com/search/event.aspx?id=32810

Sun, Aug 2 - Summer Yoga at the Plot, 9 - 10:00 am, Granby St. & Olney Road, Norfolk. Drop in for one, or come to all five free yoga classes at the Plot in the NEON District. Local yoga teachers will lead a series of five free and fun yoga classes open to all levels of experience. Don’t miss a chance to get your practice on outside as spring turns to summer and the NEON District starts to bloom (weather permitting of course). Make sure to bring your yoga mat! For more information call 623-1757.

Sun, Aug 2 - Whistle Belly, A Virginia Beer & More Festival, 12:30-5:00 pm, Merchants Square, Williamsburg. Presented by the Junior Women’s Club of Williamsburg, and DoG Street Pub. Virginia beer & food tastings, live music, and raffle prizes. 35+ breweries, 80+ beers, local wine & Colonial era cocktails. Sunday August 2nd 2015. So much more than a beer festival. All you can eat & drink for only $50 and tickets are available now at http://www.whistlebelly.com/

Sun, Aug 2 - Float-a-Rama, Great Neck Recreation Center, 1 - 4:00 pm, 2521 Shorehaven Drive, Virginia Beach. It’s a day of huge, fun floats that are so big the pool is devoted just to them! Enjoy Sky Totter, Space Mountain and many more floats. Day pass or membership needed; no additional cost.fun@VBgov.com | (757) 385-5940

Sun, Aug 2 - Fireworks at the Beach, 10:00 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. View fireworks from the boardwalk, where they are launched off 20th Street from a barge on the water. Please keep all pets safe inside during fireworks. Please note: Fireworks may be canceled or rescheduled due to inclement weather OR unsafe water conditions.

Mon, Aug 3 - Maritime Mondays, The Mariners’ Museum, 10 - 11:30 am, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News. Join us Monday Mornings at The Mariners’ Museum for a morning of fun and engaging learning activities for children ages 18 months to rising 5th grade. For more information, please visit http://www.marinersmuseum.org/maritimemondays or call (757)596-2222.

Mon, Aug 3 - Historic Suffolk Narrated Bus Tour, Suffolk Visitor Center, 2:00 pm, 524 North Main Street, Suffolk. $8 Adults / $6 Seniors, Military and Children 9-12. See Suffolk through the eyes of years gone by. Suffolk’s rich heritage dates back to the early 17th century, when Captain John Smith first encountered the Nansemond Indians on the Nansemond River. Even now, you can trace Suffolk’s legacy through our historic homes and neighborhoods, churches and Virginia Civil War Trails. Guided by a Suffolk historian, you meet the people and places that made Suffolk the city it is today. 757.514.4130

Tue, Aug 4 - National Night Out, Northside Park, 5:30 - 8:30 pm, 8400 Tidewater Dr., Norfolk. Keeping Crime at Bay is the theme for this year’s annual community National Night Out gathering dedicated to a crime-free Norfolk. Sponsored this year by the Crossroads Civic League and community. Join Us for Family Friendly Event. DJ Bill Bailey, music and dance contest. Police Bike rodeo, moon bounce, face painting, demonstrations and information on city and community services, including: child identification, CPAAN, police academy, landlord-tenant, TFC recycling and more.

Tue, Aug 4 - National Night Out Celebration, Kickoff Celebration at Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, 5:30-6:30 pm, 524 North Main Street, Suffolk. Free. Help bring back a sense of nostalgia and feeling of safety and security by getting involved in National Night Out – a night when citizens of Suffolk are being invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for a drug- and crime-prevention event. The Kickoff Ceremony will take place at the Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Motorcade tours will depart for various neighborhoods across Suffolk’s 430 square miles immediately following the ceremony. For more information, please contact Diana Klink, Director of Media & Community Relations, at 757.514.4104, or visit www.suffolknno.org.

Tue, Aug 4 - “Shipwrecks & Ghost Lore”: A Virginia Beach Ghostwalk, The Old Coast Guard Station, Tue & Thu evenings, 7:30 pm,  overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along the Boardwalk at 24th Street, Virginia Beach. Evening walking program. Join a costumed interpreter as they bring to life true accounts and local legends of shipwrecks, ghosts, pirates and witches. Tours last 60-90 minutes. Tickets $12 Adult, $5 Child (ages 6-12). Reservations appreciated. Contact the museum Program Director at 757.422.1587

Wed, Aug 5 - Food Truck Hump Days on the Great Bridge Waterways, First and Third Wed 4:00 pm to Dusk, Battlefield Historic Park, 1775 Historic Way, Chesapeake. Join Eat The Streets 757 at Battlefield Historic Park on the first and third Wednesday of the month starting April 1 and ending October 21. A huge variety of food truck gourmet dishes will be offered along with children’s activities and live entertainment by the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation, the City of Chesapeake, and friends! All food trucks accept cash and credit though a minimum may apply when using credit. * 10% of all sales will benefit the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation.https://www.facebook.com/EatTheStreets757

Wed, Aug 5 - Ynot Wednesdays, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 5 - 9:00 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. Every Wednesday from June 3rd through August 26th, join us on the Sandler Center Outdoor Plaza for “Ynot Wednesdays?”  Free summer concert series with 'Buckshot’. Each week, Ynot Italian will be serving up delicious pizza, sandwiches, cold drinks & summer treats available for purchase. There will also be fresh produce from The Virginia Beach Farmers Market, games, and more. Kids Art Cart sponsored by The Sandler Center Foundation begins at 5 pm inside the Miller Studio Theatre. This first Wednesday of the month brings an Artisan Market. Local artists will set up their handmade/handcrafted items inside the Sandler Center lobby.

Wed, Aug 5 - World Class Wednesday: 70’s Night (Disco, Funk, Motown), Performance by the 'Right On Band’, Peninsula Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Town Square, Hampton. A weekly world class wine celebration in Town Square featuring live entertainment, food, wine, art, luxury automobiles and more. Scheduled every Wednesday (thru Sep 16) and hosted by Bonfire Magazine, Tysinger & Peninsula Town Center, this weekly event is designed to provide the ultimate in outdoor shopping and dining experiences.

Wed, Aug 5 - Fireworks at the Beach, 10:00, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. View fireworks from the boardwalk, where they are launched off 20th Street from a barge on the water. Please keep all pets safe inside during fireworks. Please note: Fireworks may be canceled or rescheduled due to inclement weather OR unsafe water conditions.

Thu, Aug 6 - Imagination Play Day, Peninsula Town Center, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Hampton. Bring your family out every Thursday to Peninsula Town Center’s first recurring children’s event that will feature Imagination Playground Blocks located at the Pop Fountain. The 115 piece block set consists of 15 uniquely designed shapes to encourage open-ended free play that empowers children to constantly reconfigure the space around them and design their own course of play. We have partnered with the Virginia Air & Space Center, Mariner’s Museum, VA Living Museum and PBS Kids to provide additional educational children’s activities every month.

Thu, Aug 6 - “Read Between The Lines” Exhibit opening reception, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 5:30 until 7:30 pm, 110 West Finney Avenue, Suffolk. Free and open to the public thru Sep 4, Tue-Sat 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Suffolk Division of Tourism is partnering with the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts to present “Read Between The Lines,” an open themed juried exhibition. This exhibit is being held in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Suffolk Mystery Author’s Festival, scheduled for Saturday, August 22, at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. 757.925.1800 or 757.923.0003 |www.SuffolkCenter.org

Thu, Aug 6 - Virginia Aquarium Family Great Adventure Series: “Build it on the Beach”, 6:00 pm, beach at 27th Street, Family interactive adventure 6:00 pm, Movie on the beach 8:30 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Your team will be supplied with a pile of random items.  Your challenge is to “build” something that represents our theme: “Space Beach.”  You’ll be able to trade items with other players while creating your masterpiece!  Awards will be given for Best Use of Materials, Best Representation of theme, Funniest Creation, and more!  Movie on the Beach: “The Lego Movie". Dress up as your favorite character from the movies, compete for one of our trophies, and then settle into the sand for a family-friendly movie presented on a giant inflatable screen! - See more at: http://www.beachstreetusa.com/festivals/virginia-aquarium-family-great-adventure-series-3#sthash.QLs2y374.dpuf

Thu, Aug 6 - “Shipwrecks & Ghost Lore”: A Virginia Beach Ghostwalk, The Old Coast Guard Station, Tue & Thu evenings, 7:30 pm, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along the Boardwalk at 24th Street, Virginia Beach. Evening walking program. Join a costumed interpreter as they bring to life true accounts and local legends of shipwrecks, ghosts, pirates and witches. Tours last 60-90 minutes. Tickets $12 Adult, $5 Child (ages 6-12). Reservations appreciated. Contact the museum Program Director at 757.422.1587

Fri, Aug 7 - Junior Rangers: Kids Explore Paradise, Paradise Creek Nature Park, 2:00 pm, 1141 Victory Blvd, Portsmouth. Join us as we read a story in the woods then explore the wild habitat of the park with insect collection boxes and binoculars. We will also make a nature inspired craft to bring home and remember the experience.  Recommended for children under 12. Children should dress appropriately for the weather and parents must remain in the park during the program. $3 per person – Free for Elizabeth River Project members. Registration required. For more information please call 757-399-7487 |http://www.paradisecreeknaturepark.com

Fri, Aug 7 - First Friday ViBe in the District, VB Oceanfront Area, 4 - 7:00 pm, participating area businesses, restaurants and retailers, including MOCA Satellite Gallery, Towne Pavilion II, 600 22nd Street, Virginia Beach. Celebrate local businesses and the arts at First Friday Vibe in “the District!” The ViBe. Virginia Beach artisans and businesses… sharing our passion for arts and entertainment with our community. Every First Friday of the month!

Fri, Aug 7 - Downtown Norfolk First Fridays Downtown Street Party, MacArthur Center Green, 5 - 8:30 pm, Corner of Monticello Avenue and Freemason Street, Norfolk. Featuring music by Seth Stainback and Roosterfoot. Join us for music, food, vendors and a beer and wine garden all in an authentic downtown setting. Free and Open to the Public.

Fri/Sat, Aug 7/8 - Great Dismal Swamp Safari, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, 9:30 am - 1:30 pm, Suffolk. $10 adults; $8 seniors (60+), military, and children ages 3-12. The Great Dismal Swamp is anything but dismal. The narrated Swamp Safari (bus tour), one of Suffolk’s most popular attractions, fills up quickly. This four-hour tour is led by a biologist specializing is the unique habitat of the Great Dismal. Learn about the history, lore, vegetation and wildlife with this adventure that includes a brief walk to Lake Drummond. Sunscreen, insect repellent, comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended. A small snack and beverage is provided. This tour is not recommended for very small children. Reservations are required and cancellations are expected no less than 48 hours prior to scheduled tour. Call the Suffolk Visitor Center at 757.514.4130 to reserve your spot.

Fri/Sat, Aug 7/8 - Suffolk Friends of the Library Book Sale, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm,  Friends of the Library Building, 300 Carolina Road, Suffolk. Open to the Public. The Friends of the Library hold a monthly book sale, the revenue of which is used to support library programs. Peruse thousands of used books, magazines, movies and more. Prices: Paperbacks (Fiction) - $0.50 per inch, Softcovers - $0.50, Hardcovers - $1.00, Children’s - $0.50 per inch, DVDs - $2.00, Music CDs - $1.00, Audio Books on CD - $2.00, Audio Books on Cassette - $1.00. Other items specially priced. 757.514.1024 |http://www.suffolk.lib.va.us/about-us/friends-of-the-library.html

Fri-Sun, Aug 7-9 - USABMX Gold Cup Qualifier and Pro Am, Gosnold’s Hope Park, Fri Reg 6 - 7:30 pm, race 8:00 pm; Sat Reg 9:00 am - noon, Race starts 12:30 pm; Sun Reg 9 - 11:00 am, Race starts 11:30 am, 901 E. Little Back River Road, Hampton. Free for spectators, Free parking. Three days of BMX bikers competing for points or the $2500 purse. Olympic racer Arielle Martin will be one of 350 racers in attendance. http://www.hamptonbmx.com/

Sat, Aug 8 - Breakfast with the Animals, The Virginia Zoo, 8 - 10:00 am, 3500 Granby St., Norfolk. This event is a rare opportunity to enjoy breakfast at the Zoo and then watch the animals eat their breakfast too! Zoo volunteers will also be at exhibits to dish out interesting animal facts during this once-a-year, exclusive members-only event. Tickets: adults (age 12 and up) $10.00 and children (age 4-11) $5.00, 3 and under are FREE but will need a ticket.http://virginiazoo.org/events/breakfast-with-the-animals/

Sat, Aug 8 - Tree ID, Sandy Bottom Nature Park, 9:30 - 10:30 am, 1255 Big Bethel Rd., Hampton. Join a Park Ranger in a leisurely hike thru our park and find out how to identify our local trees using simple techniques. Program is for ages 8 and up. Meet in the Nature Center. For more information and to register call the Nature Center at 757-825-4657. $2.00 per person. Registration deadline is Friday August 7 by 3 pm.

Sat, Aug 8 - Coast Guard Day, The Old Coast Guard Station, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along the Boardwalk at 24th Street, Virginia Beach. Join the active and auxiliary Coasties for a day at the station! Meet our mascots: Lookout and Sammy the Sea Otter! Fun Family Activities! Hands-on practice with the US Coast Guard! Coast Guard equipment and assets displays! Coast Guard helicopter search and rescue display at 1 pm. Free admission!

Sat, Aug 8 - National Lighthouse Day Weekend, Cape Henry Lighthouse, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, 583 Atlantic Ave., Fort Story, Virginia Beach. Commemorate National Lighthouse Day with fun activities at Cape Henry Lighthouse! Saturday at 10 am you are Invited to participate in the unveiling of our new State Marker, Commemorating the War of 1812! Meet Edna Hendrix, author of Our Heritage: Black   History: Princess Anne County, Virginia Beach, VA: A Pictorial History. She will be signing copies of her book on Saturday. FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES! Including navigation, geology, mathematics and weather all day Saturday! SCAVENGER HUNT! All weekend long!capehenry@preservationvirginia.org | 757-422-9421

Sat, Aug 8 - Guided Walking Tour of Church Street, beginning at the Isle of Wight County Museum, 10:30 am, 103 Main Street, Downtown Smithfield. Join us as we venture for a stroll down Church Street to explore the history of our fascinating area! The Isle of Wight County Museum is pleased to offer several FREE guided walking tours of the county’s historic sites and events throughout the year. Led by local historians and museum staff, the tours offer an in-depth look and a hands-on experience at these important and well-preserved properties. Reservations are not necessary. For further information call 757.357.0115.

Sat, Aug 8 - Smithfield Courthouse Restoration Celebration, 11:00 am until 1:00 pm, Courthouse of 1750, Downtown Smithfield. Historic Smithfield, Inc. and the courthouse group will hold a “Courthouse Restoration Celebration.” There will be numerous activities on the Courthouse Grounds as well as Free hot dogs, drinks & mementos of the re-opening of our historic courthouse.  Many of the changes are not so evident, but were desperately needed in order to solve the problem of water infiltration from the chimneys and roof as well as the ground. Please join in the festivities and take a look at how wonderful the courthouse looks! For further information call 757.356.9016.

Sat, Aug 8 - Downtown Hampton 2nd Saturday Family Event: Jurassic World - Digging Up Hampton, Hampton History Museum, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton. What dinosaurs once roamed the area where we now go to school, work, and play? What else can we learn from digging below the surface of Hampton? Stop by the Hampton History Museum to learn about historical creatures, people groups before us, recent past digs in Hampton and what archeologist will be looking for in the future. Activities that allow students to learn more about the profession and history of Archeology, artifacts to view from our collection, and more will be available on site. 757-727-1610

Sat, Aug 8 - Downtown Hampton 2nd Saturday Art Walk, 11:00 am?-?5:00 pm, various locations in Phoebus and Downtown Hampton. Enjoy local art and music while shopping and dining in downtown Hampton every second Saturday of the month. Locations and performers vary but are listed on the Downtown Hampton Development Partnership website when possible. The Crowne Plaza hotel is always a good place to start your walk or just come down, browse, and see what you find. http://www.downtownhampton.com/

Sat, Aug 8 - Ranger Stations: Insects, Paradise Creek Nature Park, 2 - 4:00 pm, 1141 Victory Blvd, Portsmouth. Have a question for our Ranger?  Stop by between the hours listed for more information about the park and borrow supplies to explore the parks wildlife on your own. Explore something new each week. Great for families and children. Free. For more information please call 757-399-7487 | http://www.paradisecreeknaturepark.com

Sat, Aug 8 - Historic Suffolk Narrated Bus Tour, Suffolk Visitor Center, 2:00 pm, 524 North Main Street, Suffolk. $8 Adults / $6 Seniors, Military and Children 9-12. See Suffolk through the eyes of years gone by. Suffolk’s rich heritage dates back to the early 17th century, when Captain John Smith first encountered the Nansemond Indians on the Nansemond River. Even now, you can trace Suffolk’s legacy through our historic homes and neighborhoods, churches and Virginia Civil War Trails. Guided by a Suffolk historian, you meet the people and places that made Suffolk the city it is today. 757.514.4130

Sat, Aug 8 - Downtown Hampton Block Party, 6 - 11:00 pm, East Queens Way between Wine and King Streets, Hampton. Free and open to the public. Come early and bring a chair then make your way to one of the dining establishments along Queens Way for some dinner before the party starts. Free parking can be found on the street and in multiple surface lots. There is a public parking garage at the corner of Settlers Landing Road & Old Hampton Lane. Live Music by 'Tim Reynolds & TR3’, w/ the 'Jesse Chong Band’.www.hamptonblockparty.com

Sat, Aug 8 - Legends of Main Street: A Suffolk Ghost Walk, Suffolk Visitor Center, 7:30 pm, 524 North Main Street, Suffolk. $10 Adults/$8 Seniors, Military and Children 9-12. A hair-raising encounter with the spirited side of Suffolk. Follow a costumed guide through the shadows of historic Main Street discovering stories, legends and “unexplained occurrences” by lantern light. Tales of unsolved mysteries and unresolved affairs abound throughout Suffolk’s historically hip Ghost Walk. Reservations Required. 757.514.4130

Sat, Aug 8 - C3 Laser & Light Show, On the Beach at 20th Street, 9 - 10:45 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Experience a unique entertainment spectacle at the Virginia Beach oceanfront on select nights in July and August! The C3 Laser & Light Show is many things at once: a festival light and video production using lasers, pyrotechnics, and three giant cylindrical projection screens, all to a pulsing soundtrack guaranteed to capture and thrill beach audiences. This “Rockin’ Adventure at Virginia Beach,” inspired by the ocean, utilizes classic rock and newer pop hits to take the viewer on an adventure that ends with a mind-blowing laser/light/projection/flame finale! This event is free.

Sat, Aug 8 - Skywatch at Northwest River Park, Sunset - 11:00 pm, Northwest River Park & Campground, 1733 Indian Creek Road, Chesapeake. Free and Open to the Public. Join Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA) as they bring their scopes and expertise to bear on the Galaxy weather permitting at the Equestrian Area at Northwest River Park. Several large telescopes are set-up and guests get a tour of the night sky, while learning about telescopes and astronomy. The event begins around sunset and ends at 11 pm. Contact: Shawn Callahan, (757) 421-7151 to confirm.

Sat/Sun, Aug 8/9 - Hampton Cup Regatta, Mill Creek, Sat/Sun 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, view from the Mercury Boulevard bridge to Fort Monroe (closed to autos) or Fort Monroe, Hampton. Free. America’s oldest continuously run motor sports race. Sanctioned by the American Powerboat Association. Top speeds for the classes range from 80 to 170 mph. http://www.hamptoncupregatta.com/

Sun, Aug 9 - Norfolk Namesakes Tour of Elmwood Cemetery, 10:00 - 11:30 am, 238 E. Princess Anne Road, Norfolk. Do you like art? Do you like mystery? Want to take part in local history? Well, we’ve got the thing for you! The 2015 Norfolk Namesakes Tour of Historic Elmwood Cemetery has it all! Join Joshua Weinstein on the second Saturday of each month, April through October, for a guided walking tour of this Victorian era garden cemetery. Learn the hidden histories of Norfolk’s founding fathers. $5 suggested donation to the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation. 757-510-5879

Sun, Aug 9 - 2nd Sundays Williamsburg Art & Music Festival, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm, Outdoors on Prince George Street, Downtown Williamsburg. 2nd Sundays Williamsburg Art & Music Festival opens its 6th year as Williamsburg’s only monthly art & music street festival featuring over 75 local and regional artists, authors, artisans, and live music. Main stage music each month sponsored by Quirks of Art. Free children’s activities and art projects courtesy of Artfully Yours.

Sun, Aug 9 - South Norfolk Ruritans 8th Annual Blue Crab Festival, Khedive Temple Greenbrier, 2 - 5:00 pm, 645 Woodlake Drive, Chesapeake. Join the South Norfolk Ruritans for the 8th Annual Blue Crab Festival August 9, 2015. All you can eat Steamed Crabs, Pork BBQ, and beverages. Entertainment by the River Boyz. Tickets on sale atwww.southnorfolkruritan.com.

Sun, Aug 9 - Tides Baseball: Bark in the Park, 6:05 pm, Harbor Park, 150 Park Avenue, Norfolk. Tides vs. Indianapolis Indians. No joke. This is fur real. Paws for a moment and think about taking your dog to a Tides game at Harbor Park. http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t568

Sun, Aug 9 - Yoga on the Waterfront, Buckroe Beach and Park, 8 - 9:00 am, N First Street, Hampton. Restore, relax & refresh your mind, body, & soul with Yoga on the Waterfront at Buckroe Beach. Equipment provided by HPR. Free. 757-825-4805

Sun, Aug 9 - Fireworks at the Beach, 10:00 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. View fireworks from the boardwalk, where they are launched off 20th Street from a barge on the water. Please keep all pets safe inside during fireworks. Please note: Fireworks may be canceled or rescheduled due to inclement weather OR unsafe water conditions.

Mon, Aug 10 - Maritime Mondays, The Mariners’ Museum, 10 - 11:30 am, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News. Join us Monday Mornings at The Mariners’ Museum for a morning of fun and engaging learning activities for children ages 18 months to rising 5th grade. For more information, please visit http://www.marinersmuseum.org/maritimemondays or call (757)596-2222.

Mon, Aug 10 - Historic Suffolk Narrated Bus Tour, Suffolk Visitor Center, 2:00 pm, 524 North Main Street, Suffolk. $8 Adults / $6 Seniors, Military and Children 9-12. See Suffolk through the eyes of years gone by. Suffolk’s rich heritage dates back to the early 17th century, when Captain John Smith first encountered the Nansemond Indians on the Nansemond River. Even now, you can trace Suffolk’s legacy through our historic homes and neighborhoods, churches and Virginia Civil War Trails. Guided by a Suffolk historian, you meet the people and places that made Suffolk the city it is today. 757.514.4130

Tue, Aug 11 - “Shipwrecks & Ghost Lore”: A Virginia Beach Ghostwalk, The Old Coast Guard Station, Tue & Thu evenings, 7:30 pm,  overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along the Boardwalk at 24th Street, Virginia Beach. Evening walking program. Join a costumed interpreter as they bring to life true accounts and local legends of shipwrecks, ghosts, pirates and witches. Tours last 60-90 minutes. Tickets $12 Adult, $5 Child (ages 6-12). Reservations appreciated. Contact the museum Program Director at 757.422.1587

Wed, Aug 12 - Ynot Wednesdays, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 5 - 9:00 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. Every Wednesday from June 3rd through August 26th, join us on the Sandler Center Outdoor Plaza for “Ynot Wednesdays?” Free summer concert series with 'Borderline Crazy’. Each week, Ynot Italian will be serving up delicious pizza, sandwiches, cold drinks & summer treats available for purchase. There will also be fresh produce from The Virginia Beach Farmers Market, games, and more. Kids Art Cart sponsored by The Sandler Center Foundation begins at 5 pm inside the Miller Studio Theatre.

Wed, Aug 12 - World Class Wednesday: Bourbon Street Blues (New Orleans Jazz & Blues), performances by '504 Supreme’, and 'Tom Dikon’, Peninsula Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Town Square, Hampton. A weekly world class wine celebration in Town Square featuring live entertainment, food, wine, art, luxury automobiles and more. Scheduled every Wednesday (thru Sep 16) and hosted by Bonfire Magazine, Tysinger & Peninsula Town Center, this weekly event is designed to provide the ultimate in outdoor shopping and dining experiences.

Wed, Aug 12 - Fireworks at the Beach, 10:00 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. View fireworks from the boardwalk, where they are launched off 20th Street from a barge on the water. Please keep all pets safe inside during fireworks. Please note: Fireworks may be canceled or rescheduled due to inclement weather OR unsafe water conditions.

Thu, Aug 13 - Teens with a Purpose: Just AART Day, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 4 - 7:00 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. The Just AART Day/ Fun Day is an event designed specifically for middle school and high school aged youth that brings young people together from various backgrounds and circumstances as they gather in a public space. Young people will work with an artist to create art and experience art focused on them and to celebrate tweens and teens as they celebrate themselves! They will create a mural 6 x 8 or two pieces 3 x 8 each. Mural is made up of canvas stapled to a wooden frame or two panels with hinges. Artist creates the outline for the mural. Youth are invited to fill in the colors on the canvass with some supervision.? This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.sandlercenter.org?

Thu, Aug 13 - Virginia Aquarium Family Great Adventure Series: “Christmas in August”, 6:00 pm, beach at 27th Street, Family interactive adventure 6:00 pm, Movie on the beach 8:30 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Get your family or friends together to compete in some special “Christmas-y” competitions.  How long will it take your team to pass wrapped Christmas gifts one at a time from the start to the finish line?  Can you navigate the maze of Christmas lights without getting tangled up?  Will your team win first place at the Christmas Stocking Relay?  All these challenges and more promise to test your holiday spirit! Movie on the Beach: “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Dress up as your favorite character from the movies, compete for one of our trophies, and then settle into the sand for a family-friendly movie presented on a giant inflatable screen! - See more at:http://www.beachstreetusa.com/festivals/virginia-aquarium-family-great-adventure-series-4#sthash.gbfRQTol.dpuf

Thu, Aug 13 - “Shipwrecks & Ghost Lore”: A Virginia Beach Ghostwalk, The Old Coast Guard Station, Tue & Thu evenings, 7:30 pm,  overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along the Boardwalk at 24th Street, Virginia Beach. Evening walking program. Join a costumed interpreter as they bring to life true accounts and local legends of shipwrecks, ghosts, pirates and witches. Tours last 60-90 minutes. Tickets $12 Adult, $5 Child (ages 6-12). Reservations appreciated. Contact the museum Program Director at 757.422.1587

LOCAL THEATER / CONCERTS / LECTURES / TALKS

Now thru Aug 2 - “Oliver”, Williamsburg Players, Fri/Sat 7:30 pm, Sat/Sun 2:00 pm, 200 Hubbard Lane, Williamsburg. Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart. Directed by Peter Natale. Come and be One of the Family this summer at Oliver, a family friendly musical! This is a special event and not part of the Player’s season. As such, it requires buying a ticket. 757-229-0431

Now thru Aug 9 - “Young Frankenstein” the musical, presented by the Little Theater of Virginia Beach, Fri/Sat 8:00 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, 550 Barberton Drive, Virginia Beach. The New Mel Brooks Musical: Young Frankenstein, Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks, Directed by James Bryan. In this musical adaptation of Mel Brooks’ comedy film, Dr. Fredrick Frankenstein returns to Transylvania to bury his father, the infamous Dr. Victor Frankenstein. All of the characters of the film are here—The Monster, Igor, Inga, Elizabeth, Constable Kemp, and Frau Blucher. Every musical number is the show is a send-up of a musical theatre staple—none of musical comedy’s icons are spared. For more information, please visitwww.ltvb.com? 

Now thru Aug 16 - Cirque De Soleil: KOOZA, at The Virginia Beach Convention Center, Tue-Fri 8:00 pm, Sat 4:30 & 8:00 pm, Sun 1:30 & 5:00 pm, 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach. This summer Cirque De Soleil is making their first leap to Virginia Beach and landing right in the Virginia Beach Convention Center parking lot. Join under the big blue and yellow top for an act unlike any other and get your tickets online or call 1-877-9-CIRQUE. KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world. KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

Now thru Sep - Beach Street USA, Nightly Live Music and Entertainment, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. All summer long enjoy live entertainment at all the beachfront pavilions, stages, parks, and along the street on Atlantic Avenue. There’s boardwalk astronomy, Circus in the Park, Krendl & Company Magical Variety Show, as well as many local and visiting national music acts. See what’s happening each day: http://www.beachstreetusa.com/calendar

Thu, Jul 30 - MOCA Members Event: Meet-and-Greet with artist Eric Standley, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, 5:30 - 6:30 pm, 2200 Parks Avenue, Virginia Beach. Unwind at the end of your day and meet internationally acclaimed artist Eric Standley. Celebrate the artist and his current MOCA exhibition with a sparkling libation and conversation. The artist will give a talk and Q&A open following the reception at 6:30 pm. Please call or email Kay Barbini, Member Relations and Special Events Coordinator, at 757-425-0000x329 or kay@virginiamoca.org

Thu, Jul 30 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Better By Tuesday’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Thu, Jul 30 - Thursdays by the Lake: 'Hey! Hey! Hooligan’, The Mariners’ Museum, 6 - 10:00 pm, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News. The Mariners’ Museum Summer Concert Series is every Thursday night from June - August. Bring a blanket or favorite chair & enjoy live music by some of the area’s hottest bands on the banks of Lake Maury. Adult beverages, soft drinks, and a variety of summer foods will be available for sale. No outside alcohol is permitted. (757) 596-2222

Thu, Jul 30 - MOCA Artist Talk: Eric Standley, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, 5:30 - 6:30 pm, 2200 Parks Avenue, Virginia Beach. MOCA welcomes artist Eric Standley for an artist talk and Q & A to celebrate his exhibition In Depth. Standley creates paper sculptures that live where technology, art history, and mathematics meet. Rich and detailed, they evoke images of Gothic rose windows and Islamic architecture. Eric Standley is an associate professor in the School of Visual Arts in the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech. For questions or to make reservations and ticket purchases by phone, please call 757-425-0000x310 to reach Visitor Services. MOCA Members - Free, Non-members $5

Thu, Jul 30 - Sunset Thursdays at Portside: Saxaphonist Stan Howard, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, 6 Crawford Parkway, Portsmouth. Join us every Thursday at Sunset for free live music on the Water Stage. Vendors will also be on hand. Come start the weekend early in Portsmouth.

Thu, Jul 30 - “Shagging on the Riverwalk” Beach Music Concert Series: 'The Holiday Band’, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, Riverwalk Landing, 331 Water Street, Yorktown. Put on your dancing shoes and join us for this annual concert series featuring a variety of beach music for all ages. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Free. 757.890.3500

Thu, Jul 30 - Music By The Bay: US Fleet Forces Band Brass Ensemble 'Uncharted Waters’, Continental Park, 7:00 pm, Fort Monroe, Hampton. Relaxed family fun and bay-front concerts every Thursday through August.

Thu, Jul 30 - Tidewater Winds Concert Band, Willett Hall, 7:30 pm, 3701 Willett Dr., Portsmouth. The late C. Sidney Berg founded The Tidewater Winds Professional Concert Band in 1985 to provide an opportunity for residents of the Hampton Roads area to enjoy free professional band concerts in the “Sousa Band” tradition. The Band is comprised of 48 talented woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians from across the Hampton Roads, Virginia area representing various military, professional, and college bands and orchestras. Selected high school students also perform with the band as part of our Student Intern Program. For more information please call 757-480-0953

Thu, Jul 30 - VSO: Symphony By The Sea, 31st Street Stage, 7:30 - 9:30 pm, 3105 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The Virginia Symphony returns for the fifth year as part the Neptune Festival’s Symphony by the Sea Series presented by The Breeden Company through the summer at the 31st Street Stage at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront! This event is free and open to the public. VIP subscriptions are also available. For more information, please visit www.virginiasymphony.org

Fri, Jul 31 - Governor School of the Arts Jazz Band Performance, MacArthur Mall, 5 - 7:00 pm, Downtown Norfolk. The Governor’s School for the Arts Jazz Band will be performing in the Center every Friday from 5-7pm beginning April 24th and continuing through August 28th.

Fri, Jul 31 - Fridays @ The Fountain: 'The Fighting Jamesons’, 5 - 9:00 pm, Fountain Plaza, City Center at Oyster Point, Newport News. Begin your weekend here. Join us for the City Center Friday Concerts by the best bands in our region. Bring your friends, lawn chairs, blankets, and dancing shoes. Free Admission. Free Parking. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Fri, Jul 31 - Watermen’s Museum Outdoor Dance or Concert: Contra Dance, 7 - 9:00 pm, 309 Water Street, Yorktown. Join us for an evening of fun at the Watermen’s Museum. Theme dances. Guest and house bands and performers, sea shanty singers, nautical music and displays. Food and beverages available for purchase. Admission varies. 757.887.2641

Fri, Jul 31 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Frank Sings Frank’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Fri, Jul 31 - Thank Goodness it’s Ocean View: 'Karnivale’, Ocean View Beach Park, 6 - 9:30 pm, 100 W. Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Friday night fun for the family in July and August. Music, food for sale and children’s games.

Fri, Jul 31 - Suffolk T.G.I.F. Summer Concert Series: 'The Deloreans’, Bennett’s Creek Park, 6 - 9:30 pm, 3000 Bennett’s Creek Park Road, Suffolk. Join your neighbors at Bennett’s Creek Park for the TGIF Summer Concert Series in Suffolk. Enjoy this free and family-friendly event in the park,  as The Deloreans plays a variety of hits and kids enjoy the children’s area. Our aim is to get you out of your seat and enjoy your Friday night! Free and open to the public. 757.514.7267

Fri, Jul 31 - Friday Night Hoedown, Virginia Beach Farmers Market, 7 - 10:00 pm, 3640 Dam Neck Road, Virginia Beach. Live Music Every Friday night from 7-10 pm. Bring a chair and/or dance to your favorite country tunes.

Fri, Jul 31 - Smithfield Friday Night Summer Concert Series featuring 'Forte’, 7:00 pm, the Gazebo Stage in front of the Smithfield Times, 228 Main Street, Downtown Smithfield. Please note the earlier time for this concert. Enjoy a Patriotic Concert before the town’s fireworks display. Concert is free. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a summer evening in Genuine Smithfield. For further information call 757.357.3288.

Fri, Jul 31 - Summer Movie Night: “Frozen”, Mount Trashmore Park, 7 - 10:00 pm, 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach. Free and open to the public. Enjoy a movie under the stars! Bring blankets and beach chairs to get comfortable and watch Frozen on the big screen. Concessions will be available for purchase. Movie begins at sunset. Presented by Checkered Flag Toyota.

Fri, Jul 31 - Movies in the Park presents: Disney’s “Big Hero 6”, Nike Park, 8:00 pm, 13036 Nike Park Road, Carrollton. Bring the whole family out for movies under the stars. Grab your lawn chairs or blankets to watch family-friendly cinema. Popcorn will be served at this free event hosted by the Isle of Wight County Parks and Recreation Department. For more information call 757.357.2291.

Fri, Jul 31 thru Aug 9 - The Nerd, Tidewater Stage, Regent University Theater, Fri-Sun 7:30 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, Studio Theater, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach. Conservative architect Willum Cubbert is paid a surprise visit by a fellow GI whom he has never met, but who saved his life on the battlefield of Vietnam. Unfortunately, his comrade turns out to be a tactless, socially-clueless oaf that outstays his welcome with a vengeance. In the spirit of The Odd Couple, comes the ferocious laugh-fest, The Nerd.

Fri, Jul 31 thru Aug 22 - Forbidden Broadway, Peninsula Community Theatre, Fri/Sat 8:00 pm, Sun 2:30 pm, 10251 Warwick Blvd, Newport News. In this long-running Off-Broadway hit musical revue, Broadway’s greatest musical legends meet Broadway’s greatest satirist in this hilarious, loving, and endlessly entertaining tribute to some of the theatre’s greatest stars and songwriters. Join us as we CALL ON CAROL (Channing), add the ‘Z’ to Liza Minnelli, put the ‘MIS’ into Les Mis, watch as Ethel Merman teaches the Phantom how to sing, go INTO THE WORDS and many, many more…

Sat, Aug 1 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Shoes Required’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Sat/Sun, Aug ½ - 29th Annual Unity Gospelrama Celebration, Portside, 6 Crawford Parkway, Portsmouth. This two-day music event is FREE and open to the public and is presented by HOPS (Helping Others Progress Successfully), an organization established in 1985 by Christine M. Davis, in association with Artistic Designs, Park View United Methodist Church, the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Action Automotive, Inc. Ms. Davis traditionally has suggested people take a canned food donation for the homeless. For information, call (757) 393-0318

Sun, Aug 2 - Local Theater Series: “Ben & Jefferson”, The American Theater, 3 - 5:00 pm, Phoebus, 125 E Mellen Street, Hampton. Benjamin Banneker and Thomas Jefferson meet in a moderated conversation that highlights some of their inventions and explores the little-known fact that the two were also pen pals. Free

Sun, Aug 2 - Sundays at Four presents “Terrific Teen Talent Recital”, Christ Episcopal Church, 4:00 pm, 111 S. Church Street in downtown Smithfield. Held at Historic Christ Episcopal Church, this concert features six outstanding classically, or Jazz-trained teen musicians selected by live, or CD audition from throughout the entire Coastal Virginia area. Sundays at Four provides a venue where area professionals and recognized students can perform and share their art. Many students who have performed on this program are now at the most prestigious music schools and conservatories in the country. For further information call 757.375-9140.

Sun, Aug 2 - Grace Episcopal Church Summer Concert Series: 'Runaway String Band’, 5 - 6:30 pm, Grace Episcopal Churchyard, 111 Church Street, Yorktown. This popular group will perform bluegrass, country, folk, and contemporary selections. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating and pack a picnic supper. Free. 757.890.4490

Sun, Aug 2 - Groovin’ by the Bay: 'The Michael Clark Band’, Buckroe Beach Park, 6 - 9:00 pm, North First Street, Hampton. Sunday evenings will be rocking at the beach this summer with a musical mix including everything from beach, pop, oldies, Motown and swing. Whether listening or dancing, you’ll enjoy this evening of music on the Chesapeake Bay! FREE and open to the public. Food is available for purchase.

Sun, Aug 2 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Licita’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Sun, Aug 2 - Sunday Movies at City Park: “Toy Story 3”, 7:00 pm, Portsmouth City Park, 140 City Park Ave, Portsmouth. Free. The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it’s up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren’t abandoned and to return home. Rated PG. For more information please call 757-393-8481.

Sun, Aug 2 - Big Bands on the Bay: 'Don Case and The Satin Sounds Orchestra’, 7 - 9:00 pm, Ocean View Beach Park, Norfolk. End the weekend with a sunset celebration on the Chesapeake Bay.  Guests are invited down to the Gazebo at Ocean View Beach Park for live Big Band music and dancing. Welcome the stars every Sunday night running through September 6.

Sun, Aug 2 - Movies on Prince George: “Big Hero 6”, 7 - 9:30 pm, Merchants’ Square Williamsburg. Enjoy FREE movies each summer Sunday evening outdoors on Prince George Street. Movies start on June 14 and run through August. Brought to you by Blue Talon Bistro with help from the City of Williamsburg, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and local businesses. Movies are free and start at dusk. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Mon, Aug 3 - Davy Crockett’s Tremendously Tall Tales, Children’s Theater of Hampton Roads, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 10:00 am, 110 W. Finney Avenue, Suffolk. $5. Join Davy Crockett on a trip through the folklore and tall tales of the American frontier. A wonderful adventure for any age! For more information, call the Suffolk Center at 757.923.0003.www.suffolkcenter.org

Mon, Aug 3 - Military Monday at the Fountain Plaza: 'US Fleet Forces Brass Band’ & 'Frank Sings Frank’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Mon, Aug 3 - NASA Langley Research Center’s Female Engineers, Physicists, and Mathematicians, Hampton History Museum, 7 - 8:00 pm, 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton. “NASA Langley Research Center’s Female Engineers, Physicists, and Mathematicians.” A panel discussion of projects currently under way. Museum members free, non-members $5. 757-727-1610

Tue, Aug 4 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'BJ Griffin & the Galaxy Groove’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Tue, Aug 4 - Military Band Concert Series: U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Band, Riverwalk Landing, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, 331 Water Street, Yorktown. This weeks featured group is The U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Band from Yorktown, Virginia, this is one of three bands in the Coast Guard and provides support for military functions at the Training Center to include Change of Commands, retirements, military honors, memorial services, and local civic celebrations. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Riverwalk Landing. Free

Tue, Aug 4 - Family Movie Series: “Home”, Mill Point Park, 7:00 pm, 100 Eaton Street, Hampton. Bring your friends, family, folding chairs, and blankets to the park on Tuesday nights this summer to enjoy free movies. Entertainment begins at 7 pm, followed by our feature presentation at sunset. FREE ADMISSION! Food & Beverages Available for Purchase. 757-727-8314

Tue, Aug 4 - “All’s Well That Ends Well”, Traveling Players Ensemble, Kimball Theatre, 7:30 pm, Merchants’ Square, Williamsburg. Traveling Players Ensemble performs All’s Well That Ends Well, Shakespeare’s unconventional girl-gets-boy comedy. A doctor’s daughter will travel to the ends of the Earth to win the love of a young count, despite his steadfast resistance. Along the way, royalty, a bragging soldier, and a chaste maiden accompany our cunning heroine in this modern fairy tale that… Ends Well!

Wed, Aug 5 - Ynot Wednesdays Free summer concert series: 'Buckshot’, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 5 - 9:00 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. Every Wednesday from June 3rd through August 26th, join us on the Sandler Center Outdoor Plaza for “Ynot Wednesdays?” Free summer concert series. Buckshot is a Rockin’ Country Band based out of Virginia Beach. Each week, Ynot Italian will be serving up delicious pizza, sandwiches, cold drinks & summer treats available for purchase. There will also be fresh produce from The Virginia Beach Farmers Market, games, and more. Kids Art Cart sponsored by The Sandler Center Foundation begins at 5 pm inside the Miller Studio Theatre. This first Wednesday of the month brings an Artisan Market. Local artists will set up their handmade/handcrafted items inside the Sandler Center lobby.

Wed, Aug 5 - World Class Wednesday: 70’s Night (Disco, Funk, Motown), Performance by the 'Right On Band’, Peninsula Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Town Square, Hampton. A weekly world class wine celebration in Town Square featuring live entertainment, food, wine, art, luxury automobiles and more. Scheduled every Wednesday (thru Sep 16) and hosted by Bonfire Magazine, Tysinger & Peninsula Town Center, this weekly event is designed to provide the ultimate in outdoor shopping and dining experiences.

Wed, Aug 5 - Shakespeare in the Garden: “All’s Well that Ends Well”, Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6 - 9:00 pm, 6700 Azalea Garden Rd., Norfolk. Traveling Players Ensemble performs  at Norfolk Botanical Garden! Rain or Shine!  Event will take place at Renaissance Court unless there is inclement weather. At that time, the event will move indoors to Rose Garden Hall. Running time 2 hours plus one 15-minute intermission. This event is included with regular Garden admission. Appropriate for children age 8 and up. For more information, visit www.travelingplayers.org or call 703-987-1712.

Wed, Aug 5 - Virginia Health Services Summer Concert Series: 'The Cody Austin’, 6 - 9:00 pm, Port Warwick, Loftis Boulevard, Newport News. Enjoy the summer night air on Styron Square listening to the area’s best music. The concerts are free and all are welcome! Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, food and drink, or enjoy the music from one of the Port Warwick restaurant patios!

Wed, Aug 5 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Legacy’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Wed, Aug 5 - Naval Weapons Station Yorktown 97th Anniversary Band Concert (Rescheduled), Riverwalk Landing, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, 331 Water Street, Yorktown. Naval Weapons Station Yorktown commemorates its 97th birthday celebration with a concert by the United States Fleet Forces Brass Band “ Uncharted Waters”. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Riverwalk Landing. Free. 757.890.3500

Wed, Aug 5 - Merchants’ Square Summer Breeze Concert: 'US Army TRADOC Arsenal Brass’, 7 - 9:00 pm, Williamsburg. The annual Summer Breeze concerts in Merchants Square return to Duke of Gloucester Street for the 24th season. Join us each Wednesday at 7 pm for one of our popular military bands from the USAF and the US Army each Wednesday in August. Concerts are free. Bring a lawn chair. Children’s entertainment, including face painting and clowns, begins at 6:30 pm.

Thu, Aug 6 - Sunset Thursdays at Portside: 'Good Life Band’, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, 6 Crawford Parkway, Portsmouth. Join us every Thursday at Sunset for free live music on the Water Stage. Vendors will also be on hand. Come start the weekend early in Portsmouth.

Thu, Aug 6 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Better By Tuesday’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Thu, Aug 6 - Thursdays by the Lake: 'Party Fins’, The Mariners’ Museum, 6 - 10:00 pm, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News. The Mariners’ Museum Summer Concert Series is every Thursday night from June - August. Bring a blanket or favorite chair & enjoy live music by some of the area’s hottest bands on the banks of Lake Maury. Adult beverages, soft drinks, and a variety of summer foods will be available for sale. No outside alcohol is permitted. (757) 596-2222

Thu, Aug 6 - Music By The Bay: 'US Fleet Forces Band Wind Ensemble’, Continental Park, 7:00 pm, Fort Monroe, Hampton. Relaxed family fun and bay-front concerts every Thursday through August.

Thu, Aug 6 - NEEDTOBREATH presents Tour De Compadres with Switchfoot, Drew Holcom & The Neighbors and Colony House, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 7:00 pm, 16 Crawford Cir, Portsmouth. The concert starts at 8 pm, and doors open at 7 pm. NEEDTOBREATHE is a GRAMMY-nominated, American Rock ‘n’ Roll Band from South Carolina, effortlessly woven from the musical traditions and faith of their upbringing in the Deep South of the United States.

Thu, Aug 6 - Recreation Movie Night: “E.T.”, Berkley Park, 8:00 pm, 121 West Liberty Street, Norfolk. Area opens at 8 pm, movies start at 8:30 pm, bring own blankets and chairs.

Fri, Aug 7 - Concert in the Courtyard featuring Robbin Thompson, Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, 5:00 pm, 400 High Street, Portsmouth. Enjoy live music in the courtyard from Robbin Thompson. Presented by the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center and PortsEvents. Corner of High and Court Street. Event will take place in the Art Annex, next to the Gallery Shop, in case of rain. Free.  http://www.PortsmouthArtCenter.com

Fri, Aug 7 - Governor School of the Arts Jazz Band Performance, MacArthur Mall, 5 - 7:00 pm, Downtown Norfolk. The Governor’s School for the Arts Jazz Band will be performing in the Center every Friday from 5-7pm beginning April 24th and continuing through August 28th.

Fri, Aug 7 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Frank Sings Frank’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Fri, Aug 7 - Town of Windsor Concert at the Gazebo, 6 - 9:00 pm, 18 Duke Street, Windsor. The Town of Windsor welcomes the 'Michael Clark Band’ to our Concert at the Gazebo Series on Friday August 7th. Country Boys BBQ will be on site selling food along with M.A.M.A.S. Creative sweets. Come enjoy the free concert and great food!

Fri, Aug 7 - Thank Goodness it’s Ocean View: 'Strictly Bizzness’, Ocean View Beach Park, 6 - 9:30 pm, 100 W. Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Friday night fun for the family in July and August. Music, food for sale and children’s games.

Fri, Aug 7 - Suffolk T.G.I.F. Summer Concert Series: 'Joe Gosman Band’, Bennett’s Creek Park, 6 - 9:30 pm, 3000 Bennett’s Creek Park Road, Suffolk. Join your neighbors at Bennett’s Creek Park for the TGIF Summer Concert Series in Suffolk. Enjoy this free and family-friendly event in the park,  as The Deloreans plays a variety of hits and kids enjoy the children’s area. Our aim is to get you out of your seat and enjoy your Friday night! Free and open to the public. 757.514.7267

Fri, Aug 7 - Chesapeake Movies & More Series: “Kung Fu Panda 2”, Chesapeake City Park, 6:00 pm until …, 900 City Park Drive, Chesapeake. Free and Open to the Public. Chesapeake Parks, Recreation & Tourism presents the Movies & More Series. This month’s movie is “Kung Fu Panda 2”. Before the movie begins, dance the day away with Astro DJs playing family-friendly music, let the kids bounce in our large inflatables while the younger ones play in the “waddler and toddler” area. Other activities include face-painting, lawn games, and more! Gates open at 6 pm, movie starts at 8:15 pm. (757) 382-6411

Fri, Aug 7 - Friday Night Hoedown, Virginia Beach Farmers Market, 7 - 10:00 pm, 3640 Dam Neck Road, Virginia Beach. Live Music Every Friday night from 7-10 pm. Bring a chair and/or dance to your favorite country tunes.

Fri, Aug 7 - Smithfield Friday Night Summer Concert Series featuring the 'Smithfield Strings’, 8:00 pm, the Gazebo Stage in front of the Smithfield Times, 228 Main Street, Downtown Smithfield. Please note the earlier time for this concert. Enjoy a Patriotic Concert before the town’s fireworks display. Concert is free. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a summer evening in Genuine Smithfield. For further information call 757.357.3288.

Sat, Aug 8 - Life and Apprenticeship at Taliesin: presented by Philip Weber, Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, 1:30 pm, 400 High Street, Portsmouth. Philip Weber is the featured artist in The Architect Within, an exhibit of portfolio drawings and plans which he completed while attending Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Weber will give a picture presentation of his experience studying at Taliesin. We invite visitors to this unique opportunity to meet and ask questions on Weber’s Taliesin experience. For more information, please call 757-393-8543 |http://www.PortsmouthArtCenter.com

Sat, Aug 8 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Shoes Required’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Sat, Aug 8 - “Weird Al” Yankovic: The Mandatory World Tour, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 8:00 pm, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News. With more than 12 million albums sold, three Grammys to his name and one of only three performers in history to have registered a Top 40 single in each of the last four decades, “Weird Al” Yankovic is back on the road with The Mandatory World Tour. Fresh off the release of his 14th studio album, Mandatory Fun (the first ever comedy album to debut at #1 on Billboard’s Top 200), Weird Al takes no prisoners with parodies of some of the biggest hits from 2014.

Sat, Aug 8 - Movies on the Fantail: “Frozen”, Battleship Wisconsin, 8:30 pm, Nauticus, One Waterside Drive, Norfolk. $3 per person. A series of summer movies. Bring camp or beach chairs. Concessions available for purchase. Enjoy movies from the deck of the Battleship Wisconsin overlooking the Elizabeth River. The fantail opens 45 minutes prior to the movie start-time.http://www.nauticus.org/

Sun, Aug 9 - Local Theater Series: A Contraband Opera, The American Theater, 3 - 5:00 pm, Phoebus, 125 E Mellen Street, Hampton. A meaningful blend of voices and music recounting the stories of individuals from surrounding communities who called Freedom’s Fortress Monroe “home”. Free

Sun, Aug 9 - Grace Episcopal Church Summer Concert Series: 'The Mullins Sisters’, 5 - 6:30 pm, Grace Episcopal Churchyard, 111 Church Street, Yorktown. Nashville recording artist and popular performers from Donk’s theater, this dynamic sister trio entertains with contemporary and country music. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating and pack a picnic supper. Free. 757.890.4490

Sun, Aug 9 - Groovin’ by the Bay: 'Rare Mixx’, Buckroe Beach Park, 6 - 9:00 pm, North First Street, Hampton. Sunday evenings will be rocking at the beach this summer with a musical mix including everything from beach, pop, oldies, Motown and swing. Whether listening or dancing, you’ll enjoy this evening of music on the Chesapeake Bay! FREE and open to the public. Food is available for purchase.

Sun, Aug 9 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Jennifer Gammill Trio’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Sun, Aug 9 - Sunday Movies at City Park: “Maleficent”, 7:00 pm, Portsmouth City Park, 140 City Park Ave, Portsmouth. Free. “Maleficent” – A vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child may be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land. Rated PG. For more information please call 757-393-8481.

Sun, Aug 9 - Big Bands on the Bay: 'The Terry Chesson Orchestra’, 7 - 9:00 pm, Ocean View Beach Park, Norfolk. End the weekend with a sunset celebration on the Chesapeake Bay.  Guests are invited down to the Gazebo at Ocean View Beach Park for live Big Band music and dancing. Welcome the stars every Sunday night running through September 6.

Sun, Aug 9 - Movies on Prince George: “To Have & Have Not”, with Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, 7 - 9:30 pm, Merchants’ Square Williamsburg. Enjoy FREE movies each summer Sunday evening outdoors on Prince George Street. Movies start on June 14 and run through August. Brought to you by Blue Talon Bistro with help from the City of Williamsburg, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and local businesses. Movies are free and start at dusk. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Sun, Aug 9 - Steve Tyrell in Concert, Town Point Park, 8:00 pm, Waterside Drive, Downtown Norfolk. Produced by Norfolk Festevents, admission to the concert is free and open to the public. Grammy Award–Winning vocalist Steve Tyrell will appear in concert Sunday, August 9, 2015 for a free evening waterfront performance at Town Point Park, Norfolk, Virginia. The Steve Tyrell concert is the first in a new series of 5 annual summer concerts featuring national recording artists sponsored by the Douglas and Patricia Perry Foundation. Open lawn seating is available and picnics are welcome. The evening will include gourmet artisan foods and beverages for purchase. Town Point Park will open at 5 pm for pre-concert picnics. The show begins at 8pm.

Sun, Aug 9 - Lady Antebellum, w/ Hunter Hayes & Sam Hunt, Farm Bureau Live, 8:00 pm, Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. Country fans its time to get excited! The phenomenon that is Lady Antebellum, the award winning trio are back for another round of incredioble live performances, heading to over a dozen cities in North America. Touching down at the Farm Bureau Live on Sunday 9th August. The Grammy Award winners will support their latest album relased early in 2014 '747’, which includes the smash hit 'Bartender’. Supporting the group on stage are Hunter Hayes & Sam Hunt, who will juggle shows in each city! Don’t miss some of the most sought after live performers, get your tickets now!

Sun, Aug 9 - Erykah Badu, The Queen of Neo-Soul with Phony Ppl, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 8:00 pm, 16 Crawford Cir, Portsmouth. The concert starts at 8 pm, and doors open at 7 pm. Erykah Badu, best known for her eccentric style and cerebral music, is a four-time Grammy Award winning soul singer and songwriter. Regarded as the “First Lady of Neo-Soul” and “Queen of Neo-Soul,” Badu’s unique sound — a concoction of soul, hip-hop and jazz — cannot be contained in a single genre.http://www.pavilionconcerts.com/

Mon, Aug 10 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'The Delta Daggers’, Virginia Beach Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Central Park Plaza, Virginia Beach. Come out to hear and enjoy the free ambient music at the Fountain Plaza!  Whether you are on your way to laugh out loud at the Funny Bone Comedy Club, a show at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, or a romantic date night dinner at one of your favorite restaurants, the nightly plaza music will surely set the tone.

Tue, Aug 11 - Military Band Concert Series: 'Rhythm in Blue’ with the USAF Heritage of America Band, Riverwalk Landing, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, 331 Water Street, Yorktown. A different ensemble performs each week presented by musicians from Langley Air Force Base and Ft. Eustis, VA. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Free. 757.890.3500 

Tue, Aug 11 - Peter Frampton, w/ Cheap Trick, Ferguson Center for the Arts, 8:00 pm, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Newport News. Time-tested rockers Peter Frampton and Cheap Trick co-headline this concert for the ages in the fittingly, acoustically superb, Ferguson Center for the Arts concert hall! Peter Frampton remains one of the most celebrated artists and guitarists in rock history, and with more than 5,000 performances spanning four decades and 20 million records sold worldwide, Cheap Trick is undoubtedly one of the most influential classic rock groups of the past 50 years.

Wed, Aug 12 - Ynot Wednesdays Free summer concert series: 'Borderline Crazy’, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 5 - 9:00 pm, 201 Market Street, Virginia Beach. Every Wednesday from June 3rd through August 26th, join us on the Sandler Center Outdoor Plaza for “Ynot Wednesdays?” Free summer concert series. Each week, Ynot Italian will be serving up delicious pizza, sandwiches, cold drinks & summer treats available for purchase. There will also be fresh produce from The Virginia Beach Farmers Market, games, and more. Kids Art Cart sponsored by The Sandler Center Foundation begins at 5 pm inside the Miller Studio Theatre.

Wed, Aug 12 - Virginia Health Services Summer Concert Series: 'Trademark’, 6 - 9:00 pm, Port Warwick, Loftis Boulevard, Newport News. Enjoy the summer night air on Styron Square listening to the area’s best music. The concerts are free and all are welcome! Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, food and drink, or enjoy the music from one of the Port Warwick restaurant patios!

Wed, Aug 12 - World Class Wednesday: Bourbon Street Blues(New Orleans Jazz & Blues), performances by '504 Supreme’, and 'Tom Dikon’, Peninsula Town Center, 6 - 9:00 pm, Town Square, Hampton. A weekly world class wine celebration in Town Square featuring live entertainment, food, wine, art, luxury automobiles and more. Scheduled every Wednesday (thru Sep 16) and hosted by Bonfire Magazine, Tysinger & Peninsula Town Center, this weekly event is designed to provide the ultimate in outdoor shopping and dining experiences.

Wed, Aug 12 - Merchants’ Square Summer Breeze Concert: 'USAF Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble ’, 7 - 9:00 pm, Williamsburg. The annual Summer Breeze concerts in Merchants Square return to Duke of Gloucester Street for the 24th season. Join us each Wednesday at 7 pm for one of our popular military bands from the USAF and the US Army each Wednesday in August. Bring a lawn chair. Children’s entertainment, including face painting and clowns, begins at 6:30 pm.

Wed, Aug 12 - Catch 31 Summer Concert Series: 'Bruce & The USA’ (Springsteen Tribute), Neptune Park Stage, 7 - 11:00 pm, 3105 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Celebrating 10 years of music at the Beach. Bruce In The USA is much more than just another tribute… This high-energy musical experience is a note-perfect and visually accurate recreation of a Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band show!

Wed, Aug 12 - Slipknot, w/ Lamb of God, and Bullet For My Valentine, Farm Bureau Live, 8:00 pm, Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. Are you ready for the mosh pit? Lords of metal Slipknot bring their chaotic, energetic and unpredictable show to Farm Bureau Live on Wednesday 12th August in the form of the Summer’s Last Stand Tour! With support from epic groove metallers Lamb of God and British metal legends Bullet For My Valentine, this killer show will not disappoint. Don’t miss out on these hardcore heavyweights.

Thu, Aug 13 - Thursdays by the Lake: 'Audio Sauce’, The Mariners’ Museum, 6 - 10:00 pm, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News. The Mariners’ Museum Summer Concert Series is every Thursday night from June - August. Bring a blanket or favorite chair & enjoy live music by some of the area’s hottest bands on the banks of Lake Maury. Adult beverages, soft drinks, and a variety of summer foods will be available for sale. No outside alcohol is permitted. (757) 596-2222

Thu, Aug 13 - Sunset Thursdays at Portside: 'Vinnie Knight & The Blues Riders’, 6:30 - 9:30 pm, 6 Crawford Parkway, Portsmouth. Join us every Thursday at Sunset for free live music on the Water Stage. Vendors will also be on hand. Come start the weekend early in Portsmouth. Free

Thu, Aug 13 - Music By The Bay: 'US Air Force Heritage of America Band Rhythm in Blue Jazz Ensemble’, Continental Park, 7:00 pm, Fort Monroe, Hampton. Relaxed family fun and bay-front concerts every Thursday through August.

Thu, Aug 13 - Symphonicity: Symphony by the Sea Series, Neptune Park Stage, 7:30 - 9:30 pm, 3105 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Symphonicity returns this year for the Symphony by the Sea Series at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. For more information, please visit:www.symphonicity.org?

Thu, Aug 13 - Jim Gaffigan: Contagious Tour, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 8:00 pm, 16 Crawford Cir, Portsmouth. The concert starts at 8 pm, and doors open at 7 pm. Comedian Jim Gaffigan is known for routines and skits relating to being lazy and eating food, especially his popular routines regarding Hot Pockets, cake, and bacon. http://www.pavilionconcerts.com/

Thu, Aug 13 - J.Cole: 'Forest Hills Drive’ tour, w/ Big Sean, Jeremih, & YG, Farm Bureau Live, 8:00 pm, Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. North Carolina-native lyricist and hiphop artist J.Cole is coming to Susquehanna Bank Center on Friday 31st July 2015! His distinctive merge of genres of Hip-hop R&B, slow funk, jazz and neo soul is creating a real buzz around him, especially on the urban scene. Joining him on his 'Forest Hills Drive’ tour is Detroit rapper battle winner Big Sean. Also on the line up is contemporary R&B singer Jeremih & rapper YG! The two have been collaborating on recent hit singles such as 'Don’t Tell 'Em’. This night is gonna’ be off the hook!

FARMERS’ MARKETS

Every Wed - Chesapeake Farmer Markets, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm, Two Locations: Battlefield Park at 120 Reservation Road; and Chesapeake City Park at 900 City Park Drive. This year’s season will begin June 20th and will end November 25th. The markets will operate from 8 am to 1 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with local farmers offering fresh vegetables, herbs and plants. For more information, visit the Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market page: http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/City-Departments/Departments/agriculture-virginia-cooperative-extension/farmers-market.htm

Every Wed - Suffolk Farmers’ Market, 3 - 6:00 pm (through Labor Day), Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, 524 North Main Street, Suffolk. Enjoy the best in locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables, along with eggs, honey, homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, fresh cut flowers, plants and handmade jewelry and crafts. Free and open to the public. 757.514.4130

Every Wed - Carrollton Farmers’ Market, 3 to 6:00 pm, Old Point National Bank, off Hwy 17 in the Food Lion parking lot, Carrollton. A selection of food vendors from the Smithfield Farmers Market, with produce, meat, eggs, honey, plants, food trucks and more. For further information call 757.375.3031

Every Thu - City Center Farmers Market, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Mariners Row Market Stage, City Center at Oyster Point. Enjoy a selection of locally grown fruits, vegetables, seafood, plants, herbs, baked goods, free range chickens, pork, bison, bath products, fresh bread and dog treats. Dairy products: cheese, goat’s cheese, milk, bath products, fresh bread and eggs.

Every Sat - Chesapeake Farmer Markets, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm, Two Locations: Battlefield Park at 120 Reservation Road; and Chesapeake City Park at 900 City Park Drive. This year’s season will begin June 20th and will end November 25th. The markets will operate from 8 am to 1 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with local farmers offering fresh vegetables, herbs and plants. For more information, visit the Department of Agriculture’s Farmers’ Market page:  http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/government/City-Departments/Departments/agriculture-virginia-cooperative-extension/farmers-market.htm

Every Sat - Williamsburg Farmers’ Market, Every Sat 8:30am to 12:30pm. Merchants’ Square, Williamsburg. In the heart of historic Williamsburg, Virginia.  Flowerbeds and benches offer a tranquil setting for this open-air, Virginia producer-only market.  Over 35 vendors offer a variety of local products, among which are fresh seasonal produce, chicken, beef, bison, pork, oysters, fish, crabs, prawns, herbs, potted plants, baked goods, confections, honey, cheese, cut flowers, handmade soaps, and more.http://www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com/

Every Sat - Old Beach Farmers’ Market, Every Sat 9:00 am until 12:00 noon, Croc’s 19th Street Bistro, Virginia Beach. Old Beach Farmers Market (OBFM) is a fresh outdoor marketplace in the heart of the resort area, just six blocks from the ocean and one block from the Virginia Beach Convention Center, in the parking lot of Croc’s 19th Street Bistro. We feature seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, meats (pork, bison, beef, chicken, turkey, sausages, charcuterie), eggs, seafood, cheeses, a wide assortment of baked goods (biscuits, pies, cakes, brownies and cookies), artisanal breads, and savory foods from local chefs (pasta, sauces, salsas, salads, tamales), soap, and flowers. Walk over or ride a bike. Bring a reusable shopping bag. Come discover the taste of fresh, seasonal fare.

Every Sat - Shore Drive Farmarket, 9:00 am - Noon, 2947 Shore Dr., Virginia Beach. Open June 13, 9 am-noon Saturdays, all year. Bringing fresh, locally/regionally-sourced food to Shore Drive. Come eat breakfast from our prepared food vendors, buy some locally made gifts and shop for your weekly produce, meats, seafood and baked goods–savory and sweet. Halfway between the bridge and the Woods on Shore Drive. Across from Dish.Shoredrivefarmarket@gmail.com

Every Sat - Farmers’ Fare at East Beach, Every Sat 9:00 am until 12:00 noon, Pavilion Park, 4730 Hammock Lane, Norfolk. This local seasonal marketplace will feature fresh produce, meats free range chickens and turkeys, eggs seafood, made from scratch bagels, breaks and baked goods with vegan and gluten free options. We will have artisanal chesses, peanuts, salsa, dog treats, homemade pasta and sauces, jams and marmalades, sandwiches and salads to go along with Virginia wines.

Every Sat - St. Paul’s Downtown Farmers’ Market 2015, Every Sat 9:00 am until 12:00 noon, 201 St. Paul’s Boulevard, Norfolk. Fresh produce for all our neighbors. St. Paul’s Church & Five Points Community Farm Market have partnered to bring a Farm Market to Downtown Norfolk. The St. Paul’s Downtown Farm Market is re-opening for 2015 and we want to see all your smiling faces! We’ll have food from Gershwin’s, flowers from Studio Posy and brand new Made in Virginia tent. We’re proud to offer a wide selection of products that are made in Virginia and pair nicely with our local fruits and vegetables. Free parking for those who need it, bike racks for those who don’t.

Every Sat - Olde Towne Portsmouth Farmers’ Market, Every Sat 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, 400 High Street, Portsmouth. Held every Saturday, May through November with special markets in April and December includes locally and organically grown veggies, fruits, nut, herbs, beef, chicken, eggs, seafood, artisanal breads, scones, pastries, cakes, pies, jams, jellies, salsas, fresh, dried and silk flowers, soaps, lotions, pottery, arts/crafts. On Court and High Streets outside the Courthouse Galleries Courtyard. www.portsmoutholdetownefarmersmarket.com

Every Sat - Smithfield Farmers Market’s, 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, in the Bank of Southside Virginia parking lot, 115 Main Street in downtown Smithfield. Named in 2013 & 2014 as one of the “Top 101 Farmers Markets in America!” by TheDailyMeal.com and the “Best Farmers Market” by Coastal Virginia Magazine in 2014. Now in its 14th season, the market is proud to be a Virginia Grown market offering locally grown produce, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, peanuts, plants, herbs, baked goods, coffee, cheese, honey, barbecue, wood-fired pizza, ham sandwiches, handcrafted items and more! Also featuring live music each market! Enjoy our friendly community event in the heart of historic Smithfield, Virginia. Pets are always welcome! For further information call 757.375.3031.

Every Sat - Yorktown Market Day, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown. Yorktown Market Days in its ninth season with a variety of products from new and returning producers. The Yorktown market features seasonal fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, eggs, poultry, beef and pork; fresh breads, cheeses, baked goods, peanuts, cut flowers, organic and gluten free products, potted plants, coffee, jams & jellies; dipping oils and meat rubs; quality art, chefs demonstrations and live musical entertainment.https://www.yorkcounty.gov/Portals/6/Events/15_fit_market.pdf

Sat, Aug 1 - Suffolk Farmers’ Market, First Saturday at the Market, 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, 524 North Main Street, Suffolk. Free and open to the public. The Suffolk Farmers’ Market season is underway at the Suffolk Visitor Center Pavilion, conveniently located behind the Suffolk Visitor Center at the corner of Main Street and Constance Road. Enjoy the best in locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables, along with eggs, honey, homemade jams and jellies, baked goods, fresh cut flowers, plants and handmade jewelry and crafts. The Market is held every Saturday through November 21, from 9 am until 1 pm. “First Saturday at the Market” will feature live music and the Teeny Tiny Farm Petting Zoo (10am-1pm). See our Suffolk Farmers’ Market page for the rest of the day’s activities: http://www.suffolk-fun.com/shop/suffolk-farmers-market/

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