Local Events and Happenings in Tidewater Virginia

COMMUNITY EVENTS / FESTIVALS

Now thru Jul 26 - ‘Above the Fold’ Exhibit, Hermitage Museum & Gardens, 7637 North Shore Road, Norfolk. See the Hermitage completely transformed for our spring exhibit. Wander through the various rooms of the Sloane mansion to discover innovative origami from nine internationally-acclaimed artists.

Now thru Jul 26 - Frank Lloyd Wright’s Samara, Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, 400 High Street, Portsmouth. The Samara house, also known as John E. Christian House, was built between 1954 and 1956 in West Lafayette, Indiana. The exhibition explores the creation of a Wright house through the eyes of a client who spent more than fifty years fulfilling the renowned architect’s Usonian vision. Wright used the term “organic” to convey his belief that every feature of the house, from the structure, to the interior, to the smallest details and objects, should be as one, expressive of a single idea.

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 - 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 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 - 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 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.

Fri, Jul 24 - 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 24 - Ranger Stations: Insects, Paradise Creek Nature Park, 2:00 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 - 757-399-7487 |http://www.paradisecreeknaturepark.com

Fri, Jul 24 - Dunedin Spirit Day & Basketball Tournament, M. Anne Tregembo Park, 4 - 7:00 pm, 3360 Dunedin Drive, Chesapeake. Free event. Games, activities, food, and a basketball tournament. Informational booths manned by city departments and outside agencies to provide information and to answer questions. Public safety vehicles will be on site to tour.

Fri, Jul 24 - Sunset Paddle, Sunset Creek Boat Ramp, 7:30 - 9:30 pm, Hampton. Have you ever seen the City of Hampton at sunset? What about from the water? Join a Park Ranger for leisurely sunset paddle along Sunset Creek and the Hampton River. Feel free to bring your own kayak or call the Nature Center at Sandy Bottom Nature Park in advance to reserve one to take down the river. $20.00 per person. For more information or to register call the front desk at 757-825-4657. Registration deadline is Thursday July 23 at 3 pm.

Fri-Sun Jul 24-26 - Mid-Summer Fantasy Festival, Town Point Park, park opens at 7:30 pm, performances begin at 8:00 pm, Waterside Drive, Norfolk. Norfolk Festevents presents an interactive performance art event that will emerge in Town Point Park, July 24th-26th, 2015, and will explore a meditation of Shakespearean themes with visual and performance artists, large scale art installations, musicians and event designers. This exuberant three day event is free and open to the public of all ages. Audiences are invited to dress up, bring a lawn chair or blanket, and wait to become part of the story or wander through the large scale art installations to create their own unique experience. The festival will feature a variety of unique entertainment, children’s activities, craft brews, wines and ciders, as well as gourmet specialty food selections.

Sat, Jul 25 - Dog Park Open House, Woodstock Park, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, 5709 Providence Road, Virginia Beach. Bring your pooch for free entrance into the dog park! Please bring proof of rabies shots and City dog license to obtain your pass from the park office. fun@VBgov.com, (757) 385-0400

Sat, Jul 25 - The Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge, On the Beach at 30th Street, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Registration begins at 9:30am and all participants must be registered by 11:00AM in order to race. Approximately 300 hermit crabs participate in the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge each year. Many of these come from out of state just to be with us! ALL participants will receive a medal for being a part of the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge. There are no fees for entering the Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge; the event is free for both participants and spectators. - See more at: http://www.beachstreetusa.com/festivals/mid-atlantic-hermit-crab-challenge#sthash.0tz9fU6V.dpuf

Sat, Jul 25 - 17th annual Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Inter-Tribal “Green Corn Dance” Powwow and Gathering, Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe, 10:00 am, Cattashowrock Trail, 27345 Aquia Path, Courtland. Bring the whole family and enjoy the Drums, Native American Indian Dancers in full Native Regalia and the history of Cattashowrock Town Palisade Village as narrated by Chief Red Hawk, and of course the food and drink, Fish and Chips, Corn on the Cob, and Indian Taco and Fry-bread, face painting for the Children. There will be Native American Arts and Craft Vendors on site with a host of crafts and Native American Jewelry for sale. The Ethno-historic presentation on the Palisade Village will take place at 3 pm.  visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CheroenhakaNottowayIndianTribe  or call (757) 562-7760

Sat, Jul 25 - American Girl Program: “Meet Samantha”, Riddick’s Folly House Museum, 10:00 am, 11:30 am, 1:00 pm & 2:30 pm, 510 North Main Street, Suffolk. Free. We will be giving away a Samantha doll to one of the girls who attend. Space is limited and reservations are required. Donations welcome. Ages 5 and up are welcome. Call for reservations at 757.934.0822 or email riddicksfolly@verizon.net.

Sat, Jul 25 - Tours of Historic Cedar Grove Cemetery, 10 - 11:00 am, 238 E. Princess Anne Road, Norfolk. Join local historian Cheryl Copper for a walking tour of historic Cedar Grove Cemetery. Tour lasts approximately one hour. $5 per person suggested donation benefits the Norfolk Society for Cemetery Conservation. Children 12 & under free. Follow signs to gathering area upon arrival to the cemetery. Free parking. No RSVP required. Questions? Call Cheryl at 757-621-3710

Sat, Jul 25 - FantaSci: Fantasy & Science Fiction Convention, Chesapeake Central Library, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, 298 Cedar Road, Chesapeake. The Hampton Roads fantasy & science fiction convention is back for its 13th year! Featuring art displays, lots of cool toys & games, comic books, workshops, special guests, programs and dealers in collectibles. If that’s not enough, the people showing up dressed as their favorite character make it worth the visit! All this plus a special edition of Fantasmo at 8 pm, featuring Back to the Future II (PG) and RoboCop ®. Join us for great family fun!

Sat, Jul 25 - Annual Freaky Kon-Tiki Hampton River Raft Race, Mill Point Park, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, 100 Eaton Street, Downtown Hampton. The Fifth annual Freaky Kon-Tiki! The river raft race, presented by 32nd annual Hampton Bay Days, allows a team of five people to build a raft on-site and race other contestants around a course in the Hampton River. Each participant must be at least 14 years-old to compete. Admission Fee to participate; Free for spectators.

Sat, Jul 25 - Virginia Jerk Fest, Virginia Beach Sporstplex, Noon - 10:00 pm, 2181 Landstown Road, Virginia Beach. Virginia Jerk Fest, the first of its kind in Virginia, is an annual event that will feature one of the largest Caribbean themed food and music festivals throughout the United States. Jerk Fest features one of the main events, a jerked cooking competition! Can you imagine seeing the honored judges going from tent to tent tasting a variety of jerked foods rhythm, cuisine, carnival and culture? $10, $5 ages 6-12, children 5 and younger free. - See more at: http://www.caribbean-events.com/content/virginia-jerk-fest#sthash.qqAgWVQS.dpuf

Sat, Jul 25 - Ranger Stations: Navigation Scavenger Hunt, Paradise Creek Nature Park, 2:00 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 - 757-399-7487 | http://www.paradisecreeknaturepark.com

Sat, Jul 25 - Opening Reception: Corinne Lilyard-Mitchell - A 20 Year Retrospective Exhibit & Please Touch the Art Exhibit by Sally Barker, Suffolk Art Gallery, 4:00 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. Exhibit on display through September 4. Gallery Hours: Tue-Sat 10 am-5 pm; Sun 1 pm-5 pm. 757.514.7284 or 757.925.0448.www.heartandsoulsuffolk.com

Sat, Jul 25 - 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 'Bobby Blackhat Walters’ and 'Blues On Fire’.www.hamptonblockparty.com

Sat, Jul 25 - 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.

Sun, Jul 26 - 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, Jul 26 - Sunday Funday,  Featuring Eat the Streets 757 Food Trucks, Mount Trashmore Park, 12 - 3:00 pm, 310 Edwin Drive, Virginia Beach. Gather your family and friends for some laid-back fun at Mount Trashmore Park! Games and activities for all ages! Bring blankets and beach chairs to get comfortable while enjoying music and delicious foods available for purchase from the Eat the Streets 757 Food Trucks. fun@VBgov.com | (757) 385-2990

Sun, Jul 26 - A Month of Sundaes at the Francis Land House, 3 - 6:00 pm, 3131 Virginia Beach Boulevard, Virginia Beach. July is National Ice Cream Month and the Francis Land House is celebrating with a month of Sunday Sundaes. Each Sunday’s program will feature a different topic about ice cream. This Sunday -  Top off the Sunday Sundaes experience with an old-fashioned ice cream social. Join us for ice cream themed games, crafts and activities.

Sun, Jul 26 - 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, Jul 27 - 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, Jul 27 - 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, Jul 28 - 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

Tue, Jul 28 - Chesapeake Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office Annual South Norfolk Basketball Tournament, Johnson Park, 4 - 7:00 pm, 1006 Grady Street, Chesapeake. Basketball tournament with kids and law enforcement officers playing on the same team in a round robin tournament format.

Tue, Jul 28 - PAAC Play Days, Princess Anne Athletic Complex, 5:30 - 8:00 pm, 4001 Dam Neck Road, Virginia Beach. Come out to Princess Anne Athletic Complex for some friendly competition! In partnership with Backyard Sports, families (ages 10 & up) can team up to compete in whiffle ball, kick ball, and short-sided soccer. We are also excited to introduce a  new sport - bubble soccer - for ages 14-17 and 18 & up. Other yard games such as corn hole will be available for play as well. More info coming soon! fun@VBgov.com | (757) 385-0478

Tue, Jul 28 - “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

Tue, Jul 28 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.”

Wed, Jul 29 - 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 '10 Spot’. 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 week we hold and Artisan Market. Local artists will set up their handmade/handcrafted items inside the Sandler Center lobby once a month.

Wed, Jul 29 - World Class Wednesday: Battle of the Brass Bands – Performances by local military brass bands, 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, Jul 29 - 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.

Wed, Jul 29 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 at www.aaujrogames.org for specific dates and times. Visithttp://www.aaujrogames.org/EventInfo/Tickets.aspxwww.aaujrogames.org for specific dates and times. Visit http://www.aaujrogames.org/EventInfo/Tickets.aspx for ticket information.

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 - 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 - 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 ½ - 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 - 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

LOCAL THEATER / CONCERTS / LECTURES / TALKS

Now thru Jul 26 - “Nat’s Last Struggle”, by P. A. Wray, presented by The Venue on 35th, and The Generic Theater, Thu-Sat 8:00 pm, Sun 2:00 pm, 215 St. Paul’s Blvd., Norfolk. Nat Turner, leader of the Slave Insurrection of 1831, is a fascinating, controversial and important historical character. To some he is evil – a murderer. To others he is heroic – a freedom fighter. To create Turner as a character we can understand, local playwright P. A. Wray has done what scholars do – turn to the confessions of Nat Turner, but she does one better than history, she also uses folklore, legend and her own imaginings.

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

Fri/Sat, Jul 24/25 - July Jazz, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 6:30 - 10:00 pm, 16 Crawford Cir., Downtown Portsmouth. Free. July Jazz at nTelos Wireless Pavilion features a rain or shine outdoor stage with world class music. Fri: 6:30–8 pm – Rajazz; 8:30–10 pm – National Artist Jazz Violinist, Karen Briggs. Sat: 6:30–8 pm – FORTE Jazz Band; 8:30–10 pm – National Jazz Artist, Brian Simpson. For more information please call 757-393-5143  |  http://www.pavilionconcerts.com/

Fri/Sat, Jul 24/25 - “The Wizard of Oz”, Stagelights, Williamsburg’s Theater for Children, Fri/Sat 7:00 pm, Sat 2:00 pm, Williamsburg Regional Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St., Williamsburg. Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are $8 each, with children 2 and under free (but they must have a ticket).http://stagelightstheatre.org/

Fri-Sun, Jul 24-26 - “The Magic and Music of Motown”, Hurrah Players, Fri 7:00 pm, Sat/Sun 3:00 pm, TCC Performing Arts Center, 340 Granby Street, Downtown Norfolk. During an era fraught with division and aggression, the soulfully distinct Motown sound brought people together through the magic of its music. Hurrah brings that unifying Motown vibe to Downtown Norfolk with a tribute to the music and artists that helped change America.

Fri, Jul 24 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

Fri, Jul 24 - 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 24 - Fridays @ The Fountain: the 'Deloreans’ with 'Third Stone’, 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 24 - Watermen’s Museum Outdoor Dance or Concert: 'Lou Vangieri, The LVC Project’, 6 - 8:00 pm, 309 Water Street, Yorktown. Theme dances Friday nights thru July. 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 24 - 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 24 - Thank Goodness it’s Ocean View: 'Cheap Thrills’, 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 24 - Fernando Jones’ Blues Camp Performance, the American Theater, 7:00 pm, Phoebus, 125 E Mellen Street, Hampton. After a week of learning and performing America’s root music, the “Blues Kids” camp culminates in a free public performance onstage. Enjoy more high-energy performances, pairing some of the finest young musicians with extraordinary local musical talent. Free and open to the public.

Fri, Jul 24 - 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 24 - Friday Night Summer Concert Series featuring the 'Slightly Under Par’, 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, Jul 25 - Saturday Conversations featuring Kathryn Benjamin, The Portsmouth Community Colored Library, 12:00 pm, 904 Elm Avenue, Portsmouth. “Through the Muck and the Mire – Excavating the Living History of the Great Dismal Swamp.” Kathryn Benjamin is PhD candidate if African American studies at the University of California, Berkley. Her research areas are United States slavery, comparative slave resistance through the African Diaspora, and representation and memory of United State slavery. Kathryn’s dissertation focuses on the historical legacy, public historical representation and collective memory of the Great Dismal Swamp. Free and open to the public. For more information please call 757-393-8983.

Sat, Jul 25 - Architectural Design Workshop, Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center, 1:00 pm, 400 High Street, Portsmouth. Shelter is a basic need, and we are all architects of our surroundings.  Discover and explore the architect within you with designer Philip Weber as he instructs this one day workshop for anyone ages 13 and up. The cost of the class is $15 for non-members; $10 for members and includes materials, parking and admission to museum exhibits Frank Lloyd Wright’s Samara & Beyond and The Architect Within. Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center’s Art Annex. Call 757-393-8543 for more information.

Sat, Jul 25 - Live Music at Market Stage, 'The Joe Gosman Band’, sponsored by US 106.1 FM, City Center at Oyster Point, 5 - 7:00 pm, Mariners Row, Newport News. Register to win a grand prize at the US 106.1 FM live broadcast Saturday 5-7 pm near the Market Stage. *Must be at City Center to win.

Sat, Jul 25 - Zoo Groves: 'The Deloreans’, Virginia Zoological Park, 5:30 - 8:30 pm, 3500 Granby Street, Norfolk. Concert nights at the Zoo are perfect for families! Pack your blankets and lawn chairs and join us for a rockin’ good time. Concessions with your favorite summer foods and refreshments will be available for purchase until 8 pm.

Sat, Jul 25 - 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, Jul 25 - Tidewater Bluegrass Music Association Monthly Concert, Hickory Ruritan Club, 7:00 pm, 2752 South Battlefield Boulevard, Chesapeake. The TBMA monthly concert held at the Hickory Ruritan Club features some of the best in local and regional bluegrass talent. July’s concert features music by Solid Rock. Donations are accepted at the door to cover the cost of the bands and rental.

Sat, Jul 25 - Z104 ShaggFest: Trey Songz, Farm Bureau Live, 8:00 pm, Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. Trey Songz is set to headline this year’s Z104’s 5th Annual SHAGGFEST on Saturday 25th July 2015 at Farm Bureau Live! ShaggFest is the only local music festival that blends both national and local artists all under one roof! Trey Songz keeps the music coming with the release of his recent surprise E.P. 'Intermission I & II’, containing the brand new hit, About You. As well as his sixth studio album, 'Trigga’ which brought the video release of Slow Motion in 2015! Expect to hear all this and more LIVE as he hits the Farm Bureau stage!

Sat, Jul 25 - Movies on the Fantail: “To Kill a Mockingbird”, 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, Jul 26 - Local Theater Series, Army of 1: James Armistead Lafayette, The American Theater, 3 - 5:00 pm, Phoebus, 125 E Mellen Street, Hampton. The story of an enslaved man hired by the Marquis de Lafayette to spy on the British for General George and his role in winning America’s independence. Free

Sun, Jul 26 - Grace Episcopal Church Summer Concert Series: 'Lou Vangieri, The LVC Project’, 5 - 6:30 pm, Grace Episcopal Churchyard, 111 Church Street, Yorktown. Always a popular program of varied musical selections and patriotic music. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating and pack a picnic supper. Free. 757.890.4490

Sun, Jul 26 - Groovin’ by the Bay: 'The Showmen’, 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, Jul 26 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: Salsa with 'Dance Salsa’, 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, Jul 26 - Sunday Movies at City Park: “Planes Fire and Rescue”, 7:00 pm, Portsmouth City Park, 140 City Park Ave, Portsmouth. Free.  Planes Fire and Rescue – When Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he joins a forest fire and rescue unit to be trained as a firefighter, or else his air strip will be shut down. Rated PG. For more information please call 757-393-8481.

Sun, Jul 26 - Big Bands on the Bay: 'The Khedive Notables Dance Band’, 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, Jul 26 - Movies on Prince George: “Hook” w/ Robin Williams, 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, Jul 26 - Florida Georgia Line, w/ Thomas Rhett, and Frankie Ballard, Farm Bureau Live, 8:00 pm, Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach. Everyone’s favorite country bros Florida Georgia Line will be hitting up the stage at Farm Bureau Live on Sunday 26th July with their energetic, no-holds-barred Anything Goes Tour! The boys will have stellar support in the shape of ACM New Artist of the Year nominee Thomas Rhett and the “Young & Crazy” Frankie Ballard, so y'all know it’s gonna be good! Get ready for a wild night!

Mon, Jul 27 - 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, Jul 27 - Watermen’s Museum Outdoor Dance or Concert: Yorktown Story Slam 'Worst Day Ever’, 7 - 8:30 pm, 309 Water Street, Yorktown. Theme concerts or dances Monday nights thru July. Guest and house bands and performers, sea shanty singers, nautical music and displays. Food and beverages available for purchase. Admission varies. 757.887.2641

Mon, Jul 27 - Tidewater Winds presents “Shall We Dance”, River Oak Church, 7:30 pm, 225 Great Bridge Boulevard, Chesapeake. Music moves us quite literally. Music and dance share the expression of emotion. Even the word “emotion” includes motion! All human cultures dance to music, and its kinetic power is used in everything from military marches and political rallies to social gatherings and romance. We will explore the music from Broadway, jazz, we will have a Hoe Down, and some Old American Dances, come and listen….you won’t be able to sit still. Free and Open to the Public - Donation Always Welcome. Contact: Denise Alsina-Mayo  (757) 480-0953 | execdir.tw@gmail.com

Tue, Jul 28 - 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, Jul 28 - Family Movie Series: “How to Train Your Dragon 2”, 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, Jul 28 - Tidewater Winds presents “Shall We Dance”, Regent University Chapel, 7:30 pm, (just off Centerville Tpk) 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach. Music moves us quite literally. Music and dance share the expression of emotion. Even the word “emotion” includes motion! All human cultures dance to music, and its kinetic power is used in everything from military marches and political rallies to social gatherings and romance. We will explore the music from Broadway, jazz, we will have a Hoe Down, and some Old American Dances, come and listen….you won’t be able to sit still. Free and Open to the Public - Donation Always Welcome. Contact: Denise Alsina-Mayo  (757) 480-0953 | execdir.tw@gmail.com

Wed, Jul 29 - Barefoot Puppets present: “African Trickster Tales”, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 10:00 am, 110 W. Finney Ave., Suffolk. Can a spider defeat an elephant at tug-of-war? Overpower a python? Capture a cloud of hornets? With Anansi the Spider, world famous trickster, all things are possible…if you only have a plan! This show brings traditional stories from West Africa to live with expressive rod puppets, original music, and lots of puns. It’s a high energy show with lots of laughs!  757.923.2900

Wed, Jul 29 - Ynot Wednesdays Free summer concert series: '10 Spot’, 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, Jul 29 - Concert at the Fountain Plaza: 'Iliads’, 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, Jul 29 - Virginia Health Services Summer Concert Series: 'The Janitors’, 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, Jul 29 - World Class Wednesday: Battle of the Brass Bands – performances by local military brass bands, 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, Jul 29 - Merchants’ Square Summer Breeze Concert: 'Slapnation’, 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 a variety of bands from pop to dance to party. Concerts begin on July 1 and continue through August. Bring a lawn chair. Children’s entertainment, including face painting and clowns, begins at 6:30 pm.

Wed, Jul 29 - Rob Thomas in Concert, w/ The Plain White T’s, nTelos Wireless Pavilion, 7:00 pm, 16 Crawford Cir, Portsmouth. The concert starts at 8 pm, and doors open at 7 pm. Rob Thomas has been one of modern music’s most compelling and commercially successful artists for well over a decade – between Matchbox Twenty, his solo work, and his various collaborations with iconic artists like Santana, Mick Jagger and Willie Nelson, his tally now stands at more than 80 million albums sold worldwide. Arguably he is the most accomplished singer/songwriter of his generation.

Wed, Jul 29 - Tidewater Winds presents “Shall We Dance”, 24th Street Stage, 7:30 pm, 2405 Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Music moves us quite literally. Music and dance share the expression of emotion. Even the word “emotion” includes motion! All human cultures dance to music, and its kinetic power is used in everything from military marches and political rallies to social gatherings and romance. We will explore the music from Broadway, jazz, we will have a Hoe Down, and some Old American Dances, come and listen….you won’t be able to sit still. Free and Open to the Public - Donation Always Welcome. Contact: Denise Alsina-Mayo  (757) 480-0953 | execdir.tw@gmail.com

Wed, Jul 29 - Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real, Kimball Theatre, 8:00 pm, Merchants’ Square, Williamsburg. Based out of West Hollywood, Lukas Nelson & The Promise Of The Real is relatively new on the SoCal music-scene radar. But they’re already making fans across the country while on tour.

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 - 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 Band’, 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 a variety of bands from pop to dance to party. Concerts begin on July 1 and continue through 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.

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 - Suffolk Farmers’ 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. We have lots of great programming all season long but we have “extra-special” First Saturdays of each month. See our Suffolk Farmers’ Market page for the rest of the day’s activities: http://www.suffolk-fun.com/shop/suffolk-farmers-market/

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

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