Character Events in Hampton Roads (Princesses, Superheroes & More!)
Does your child light up when a princess, a superhero or a favorite storybook character walks into the room? This is our running list of local events with character themes, costumed character visits and meet-and-greets in Hampton Roads, pulled from our daily calendar and updated all year long.
All of these events (and many more) can also be found on our Website calendar. Character events come and go with the seasons (more on that below), so this list will grow as organizers announce their dates. If you know of an event we should add to this free list, please SUBMIT IT HERE.
Each event has a link or contact for additional information. Many character events require tickets or reservations in advance, and the popular ones sell out, so please confirm the event details with the organizer before you go.
Looking for a specific character? Try our lists of Where to Find Santa in Hampton Roads, Grinch Events, Easter Family Fun and Anime, Comics & Cosplay Events.
Featured Events:
Upcoming Character Events in Hampton Roads, Virginia!
Previous Character Events (for an idea of what comes around each year):
Where to Find Character Events in Hampton Roads
If your kid has worn the same costume to the grocery store three weeks running, you already know why these are worth the drive. An hour of pure delight for them, and a camera roll you will actually keep.
Character events in Hampton Roads come from a handful of places, and knowing the pattern makes them easier to find:
Restaurants and event venues host princess brunches, character breakfasts and themed lunch cruises around the region. These are ticketed and they book up early. Most include a meal, a meet-and-greet and time for photos, but what you actually get varies a lot from one to the next, so read the description before you buy. Expect the fanciest dresses you have ever seen on a Saturday morning.
Public libraries across the region run superhero days, storybook character storytimes and “academy” style programs where kids get to dress up and play the part. Library programs are usually free, which makes them an easy yes, though the popular ones fill up and often ask you to register ahead.
Festivals and community events frequently add a costumed character or two to the lineup, especially fall festivals, holiday markets and city celebrations. When the organizer tells us a character will be there, we tag the event here.
Sports teams and attractions add character nights and theme days to their schedules, usually somewhere in the spring and summer stretch. They tend to be announced late in the season, so it is worth checking back.
Theaters and touring shows bring live character productions to the region’s arenas and performing arts centers. The show itself is a stage production rather than a meet-and-greet, but when an organizer attaches a photo op or a character greeting to it, that turns up on this list.
Party entertainers and small businesses host their own public character events, tea parties and craft sessions. If you are planning a birthday, our Birthday Party Ideas for Kids in Hampton Roads post is the place to start.
When Character Events Happen (and Why This List Gets Quiet)
This list runs all year, but it is not evenly busy all year. Character appearances cluster around the holidays, so expect quiet stretches in between. Nothing is missing when that happens, there is just less going on.
Fall: Princess brunches, plus Halloween events where kids are invited to come in costume. Plenty of October festivals build a character or two into the day. See Halloween Family Fun in Hampton Roads for those.
Winter: The busiest season by far. Santa, Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, elves, princesses at holiday teas and characters at light displays. Our Where to Find Santa and Grinch Events lists cover those in detail.
Spring: The Easter Bunny is everywhere in the weeks before Easter, along with spring princess teas and superhero days over spring break. See Easter Family Fun in Hampton Roads.
Summer: Character nights at ballgames, library summer reading kickoffs with costumed guests, and comic conventions where the whole family can dress up. For the older kids who have moved on from princesses to anime and superheroes, our Anime, Comics & Cosplay Events list is the one to bookmark.
Tips for a Good Character Event
Book early. Ticketed brunches and teas often sell out weeks ahead, and the dates scheduled closest to a holiday go first.
Check the age range. Many are aimed at preschool and early elementary ages. Younger toddlers are sometimes overwhelmed by a costumed character up close (fully expect a few tears), and older kids may be over it. The event page usually says who it is for.
Costumes are usually welcome. If your child wants to arrive as the character, they will not be the only one. Worth a quick look at the event page if you are not sure, and comfortable shoes underneath help. Note – there may be restrictions for masks, or for costumes on older kids/teens/adults.
Read the character description. Local events tend to describe their characters in general terms, so you will see “a snow queen” or “an ice princess” rather than a studio name. That is normal, and it tells you who is showing up before you go. Kids almost never care. Parents occasionally do.
Plan for the line. Meet-and-greets and photo lines move slowly. A snack and something to do while waiting saves the day.
Do you host character events? Add them to our free community calendar and let us know a character will appear so we can include it here.
Community events change often, and small ones change most of all. Please confirm the date, time, location and ticket details with the organizer (each event has a link to the original source of the information) before you go.
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