Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend – Modified for Weather (Virginia Beach)

The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival has announced additional changes to its 52nd Annual Boardwalk Weekend schedule in response to continued high winds and Friday’s forecasted conditions at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

Forecasted winds will prevent tents and other temporary event infrastructure from being safely installed along the Boardwalk on Friday. As a result, several Boardwalk Weekend activities will move to the Virginia Beach Convention Center for Saturday and Sunday, select outdoor events will proceed as scheduled and several events have been canceled.

EVENTS MOVING TO THE VIRGINIA BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

The following activities will take place at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27:

Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show

• Saturday, Sept. 26 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 27 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Poseidon’s Playground

Free family activities will include:

• The Mermaid Factory Paint Parties
• Face Painting, Balloon Artists, Fairy Hair

Young Collectors Art Gallery & Art Making Studio for Kids

• Saturday, Sept. 26 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 27 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Touch-A-Truck

• Saturday, Sept. 26 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Sunday, Sept. 27 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Youth Art Show

• Sunday, Sept. 27

The Neptune Festival Commemorative Poster and official Neptune Festival T-shirts will be available at the Convention Center.

EVENTS PROCEEDING THIS WEEKEND

Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship will open to the public Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon and remain open through Sunday, Oct. 4.

Neptune’s 8K Race will proceed as planned Saturday morning with an 8 a.m. start. Packet pickup will take place Friday, Sept. 25, from 3–8 p.m. at Smartmouth Pilot House. The race is sold out.

Hometown Heroes Reception will take place as scheduled from 3–5 p.m. at Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

WEEKEND CONCERTS

Saturday and Sunday concerts at 31st Street and 24th Street parks will proceed as scheduled.

Saturday, Sept. 26

31st Street Park

• 3–5 p.m. | Allen Hudson & the Halfmoons
• 5:30–7 p.m. | Rocky 7
• 7:30–9 p.m. | KT Tunstall
• 9:30–11 p.m. | Gavin DeGraw

24th Street Park

• 3–5 p.m. | Alec Edmonds
• 5:30–7 p.m. | Ben Phelps Project
• 7:30–9 p.m. | Bennett Walker Wales Band
• 9:30–11 p.m. | Soul Asylum

Sunday, Sept. 27

31st Street Park

• 1–3 p.m. | Intangible Cats
• 3:30–6 p.m. | Strictly Bizzness

24th Street Park

• 1–3 p.m. | Nate Sacks and the Lifehacks
• 3:30–6 p.m. | Grateful Jed

CANCELED EVENTS

The following Boardwalk Weekend events have been canceled:

• Neptune Festival Grand Parade
• Dock Dogs
• Neptune’s Atlantic Regatta
• Neptune’s Surfing Classic
• Neptune’s Volleyball Tournament
• Healthy Haven
• Sand + Street Soccer
• All non-Art & Craft Show boardwalk vendors (Marketplace, Food, and Nonprofit vendors)

Our most notable event, Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend is packed full of fun — from concerts and art shows to sandsculptures and snacks. Spanning 33 blocks at the Oceanfront, our Boardwalk Weekend has something for everyone — including an 8K race, a parade, athletic events, a family fun zone, and more!

Daily concerts at 2 festival stages feature 20+ performances from local and national bands and DJs. On the boardwalk, you can find more than 200 artisans displaying handmade work at an Art & Craft Show. Keep walking to find 22 magnificent sandsculptures created by world-renowned international sculptors at Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship. Other weekend events include Neptune’s 8k Race, Grand Parade, Dock Dogs, Touch-a-Truck, Poseidon’s Playground, Volleyball Tournament, Surfing Classic, Atlantic Regatta, Youth Art Show, and more!

Saturday, September 26, 2026
10:00am – 11:00pm

Sunday, September 27, 2026
10:00am – 6:00pm