The Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach is a beloved annual celebration of beach life and one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the Neptune Festival is an exciting event filled with live music, seaside wine tastings, art, food and fun! Here’s everything you need to know about attending the Neptune Festival.
The Neptune Festival started in 1974 as a way to celebrate the vibrant atmosphere of Virginia Beach and the community’s connection to the Atlantic Ocean. The festival is named after Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, whose statue graces the Virginia Beach shoreline. Over the last several decades, this festival has grown into a massive event that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year over the last weekend of September for the main event called Boardwalk Weekend.
The Neptune Festival is held between 1st - 33rd streets along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. It is free to attend the festival, but some events like the sand sculpting competition do require an additional ticket.
The Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend has a variety of events celebrating local culture, art, entertainment and food, so there’s something for everyone! Here are some of the highlights:
Local Food & Drink: Sample delicious seafood, wine, and other local favorites from vendors lining the boardwalk.
Music: Enjoy daily concerts scattered along 30+ blocks of the boardwalk, featuring 20+ performances from local and national artists.
Arts & Crafts: Browse the work of over 250 artists along the boardwalk at this top-rated art show.
Sand Sculpting: This world-renowned International Sand Sculpting Championship brings master sculptors to create incredible works of art right on the beach.
Neptune Festival Grand Parade: This colorful parade features marching bands, floats, and performances as it makes its way down Atlantic Avenue.
Races & Competitions: Runners can enjoy Neptune’s 8K Race, which features a flat route with great ocean views and a post-race party. Spectators can watch surfers of all ages carve some waves at the Neptune Surfing Classic or catch the boats of the Atlantic Regatta at the 24th Street finish line.
Family Fun: The weekend is packed with family-friendly activities at Poseidon’s Playground, including games, art, dancing and more.
You can get to the festival by car and find several paid parking options within a few blocks of the boardwalk. With increased traffic during Boardwalk Weekend, it may be easier to use the local trolley and shuttle services to get to the festival or navigate between festival events.
With its unbeatable beach vibes, exciting events, and beautiful oceanfront setting, the Neptune Festival is the perfect way to celebrate everything coastal. Sandbridge Blue offers over 100 professionally managed Sandbridge Beach vacation rentals, making our homes the perfect home base for attending the Neptune Festival. You'll have all the comforts of home while being less than a 30-minute drive from festival events. And you'll feel worlds away when you're back at your vacation rental, enjoying the peace and quiet of charming Sandbridge Beach.
Start planning your visit to the next Neptune Festival by reserving a Sandbridge vacation rental and planning a getaway the beach! Browse our collection of Sandbridge vacation rentals and get ready for a weekend of fun at the Neptune Festival!
