It’s Virginia Beach’s most famous party – The Neptune Festival’s Boardwalk Weekend!
This grand finale to the  Neptune Festival season includes something for everyone! Boardwalk Weekend’s signature event is the renowned Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship. Internationally known as the largest competition of its kind in the United States, this event has the richest prize purse in the country and draws professional sand artists from around the globe to cultivate their finest masterpieces. These showy sand masterpieces will be on display in the Neptune Sand Gallery, Neptune’s Land of Sand, from Friday September 27th – Sunday, September 29th.

The weekend also includes a continual series of daily outdoor concerts along 35 blocks of the Boardwalk with a variety of live music.

Past perfomers included TR3 featuring Tim Reynolds, The Connells, Langhorne Slim & The Law, Eric Paslay and Steel Pulse. Additional weekend features include the Neptune Art and Craft Show with over 250 artisans showcasing their talent along the boardwalk; a spectacular Saturday night fireworks display over the Atlantic Ocean; volleyball tournament; Atlantic Sailing Regatta; and an 8K and 5K run.

There is even a 26-yard Crab Crawl for kids up to 5. Additionally, the Grand Parade features more than 100 floats, military units, costumed characters and marching bands, including the award winning Booker T. Washington High School Marching Band, along the oceanfront.

Below is general information about Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend.

HOURS

Friday, September 27: 12:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.

Saturday, September 28: 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 P.M.

Sunday, September 29: 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Boardwalk Weekend Highlights

Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship

• Between 4th and 10th Streets on the beach under the big tent
  Entrance to Land of Sand on 7th Street.

Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship returns to the oceanfront as one of the world’s largest sandsculpting competitions.

The results of this spectacular competition will be on display under the big tent (Neptune’s Land of Sand) for 10 days beginning Friday, September 29 –Sunday, October 8 Admission to “Neptune’s Land of Sand” is $5.00 per adult with children 12 and under free when accompanied by an adult. A discount “Buy 1-Get 1 Free” lunch coupon is included with purchase. NO ANIMALS allowed. “Neptune’s Land of Sand” is wheelchair accessible. Special sand “photo ops” available.

Neptune’s “Land of Sand” hours:

• Friday, 9/28: 9 am – 11 pm
• Saturday, 9/29: 9 am – 11 pm
• Sunday, 9/30: 9 am – 9 pm
• Monday – Sunday: 10/1 – 10/7: 10 am – 6 pm

Vote for your favorite solo and team sculpture in the People’s Choice Voting available at the event. Also, receive a discount lunch coupon with admission ticket. On Friday and Saturday of Boardwalk Weekend, don’t miss the excitement of speed sand sculpting with the “Quick Sand” as master sculptors square off in a game of speed against the clock.

Amateur Sandsculpting – School Division and Freelance Sculpting Divisions

• Saturday: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  School Division: 4th – 6th Streets
  Freelance Division: 8th – 10th Streets

During Boardwalk Weekend, you can also cheer on your favorite local school or freelance entrant as the amateur division shows its style. This year’s theme is “Adventures Through Books.” Pre-registration is required to participate.

Neptune Festival Art and Craft Show

• Friday: Noon – 7 p.m. • Saturday: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. • Sunday: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
  18th – 29th Streets, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

More than 250 exhibitors present original works of art in individual displays along the boardwalk. The artists exhibiting between 25th – 28th Streets have been selected as eligible for judging for awards. Free and open to the public.

Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend Music

3 musical stages located at 17th Street, 24th Street, and 31st Street on the Boardwalk

Stages times: Fri: 6:00 p.m. – 11 p.m. • Sat: 1 p.m. – 11 p.m. • Sun: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Over 30 free concerts throughout the weekend. Visit www.neptunefestival.com for complete stage lineup.

Boardwalk Weekend Food & Exhibitors

• Friday: Noon – 11 p.m. • Saturday: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. • Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  Along the Boardwalk between 10th – 35th Streets, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

This year’s outdoor dining experience features all of your favorite festival fare – enjoy the view of the Atlantic Ocean along with fresh crab cakes, mouth watering barbecue, fresh cut French fries, savory chicken on a stick, hot funnel cakes and cool Italian ices to list just a few! You’ll find these delectable food offerings, great exhibitors and bountiful shopping all along the Boardwalk.

Neptune’s 8K run and 26-yard Crab Crawl.

Saturday: 7:45 a.m.
24th Street, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Run, jog, walk, or skip your way down Atlantic Avenue to Rudee Inlet as spectators and family cheer you on the whole way. Afterwards, bask in your achievement in the 24th Street Park while enjoying plenty of food, drinks, fantastic views of the ocean, and even a door prize or two! There is plenty of fun to be had for racers and their guests, but pre-registration is required to participate. Spectators and viewing are free and welcome along the route.
43rd Annual Event
Neptune Festival T-Shirt with 8k and 5k Registrations
Race After party in 24th Street Park includes pizza, bagels, fruit, sodas, beer, and awards!
Neptune Festival Weekend Festivities
Fast and flat course!
ROCK YOUR MOST CREATIVE NAUTICAL ATTIRE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR BEST COSTUME!
FOR THE LITTLE ONES (UP TO 5 YRS OLD): 26 YARD CRAB CRAWLER RACE

Neptune’s Atlantic Regatta

• Saturday: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

This recreational sailing event is presented in conjunction with the Broad Bay Sailing Association. Cruisers and catamarans will sail between Cape Henry and Rudee Inlet. Limited beach viewing.

Neptune Volleyball Tournament

• Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m.
  32nd– 36th Streets, Virginia Beach

2 v 2 and 4 v 4 play heats up the sand as men, women, and coed divisions compete for titles on the oceanfront. Hosted in cooperation with Volleyball Virginia, numerous skill level classes are available for entry. Set and spike your weekend to a new level by getting your piece of the beach at Neptune’s Volleyball Tournament. Games begin at 9:00am on both days.

Volleyball Virginia offers two ways to pre-register for this event – Teams can generate a printed entry form and mail in with a check or money order, or teams can enter on-line using a credit card. For more information, please contact Volleyball Virginia at (757) 497-8282.

Neptune Grand Parade

• Saturday: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
  16th – 32nd Streets, Atlantic Avenue, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

One of the highlights of the weekend, The Neptune Festival Grand Parade includes over 100 parade units from floats to marching bands, larger than life balloons, costumed characters and more! Even King Neptune XLIV and his entire Royal Court join the fun!

Fireworks Extravaganza

• Saturday: 9 p.m.
  20th Street from the ocean, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Our spectacular fireworks show just gets bigger and better each year. Watch as thousands of brilliant colors explode over the Atlantic Ocean. Produced by Dominion Fireworks Company. Free and open to the public.

Youth Art Show

• Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  27th – 28th Streets, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Open to all young artists in grades 9 – 12, this event gives them a chance to display and sell their creations in a juried venue. Prizes totaling $1,600 will be awarded in various categories, including Best in Show, Neptune Youth Artist, Photography, and Most Creative. The awards also include Visual Arts High School (HS) and Visual Arts Magnet (M) in the medium categories to encourage participation from high school visual arts programs.

NEW! Boardwalk Weekend Special Event – Tidewater DOCKDOGS!!

• Friday: 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m
• Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• 15th Street, Virginia Beach Boardwalk

The world’s premier canine aquatics competition where you can have the most fun with your dogs! Dock diving in an exciting performance sport that is all about fun for dogs, owners and spectators. During Neptune
Festival Boardwalk Weekend, dogs will participate n Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve competitions!

Any breed from the smallest Chihuahua to the largest Great Dane is welcome at a DockDogs event. Viewing is free and open to the public but pre-registration is required to participate.

LIVE MUSIC: PLEASE NOTE THIS ONLY REFLECTS LAST YEAR’S LINE-UP. NEW MUSIC LINE-UP COMING SOON!

Boardwalk Weekend fills 3 musical stages with great local and national talents. Stages are located at 17th, 24th, and 31st Streets on the Boardwalk.

31st STREET STAGE

• Tailgate Down
  6:00pm
• ERIC PASLAY
  9:00pm

24TH STREET STAGE

• Lewis McGehee
  6:00pm
• Guava Jam
  9:00pm

17TH STREET STAGE

• More Perfect Jones
  6:00pm
• Breaking Brad
  9:00pm

Saturday, Sepember 28, 2017 

31st STREET STAGE

• Joe Gosman Band
  1:00pm
• Plastic Eddie
  3:30pm
• Ben Phelps Project
  5:30pm
• Buddha Council
  7:30pm
• FIREWORKS
  9:00pm
• STEEL PULSE
  9:30pm

24TH STREET STAGE

• Brackish Water Jamboree
  1:00pm
• Intangible Cats
  3:30pm
• The Gold Sauce
  5:30pm
• THE CONNELLS
  7:30pm
• FIREWORKS
  9:00pm
• Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos
  9:30pm

17TH STREET STAGE

• Nate Sacks & The Life Hacks
  1:00pm
• Jesse Chong Band
  3:30pm
• TR3, feat. TIM REYNOLDS
  5:30pm
• Delirious George
  7:30pm
• FIREWORKS
  9:00pm
• Galaxy Dynamite
  9:30pm

Sunday, September 29, 2019

31st STREET STAGE

• BJ Griffin & the Galaxy Groove
  1:00pm
• LANGHORNE SLIM & THE LAW
  4:00pm

24TH STREET STAGE

• Bennett Wales & the Relief
  1:00pm
• Power Play
  3:30pm

17TH STREET STAGE

• The Get Down Band
  1:00pm
• The Janitors
  3:30pm

PHOTOS

Load more