Norfolk has a great lineup of July events to heat things up! From 4th of July fireworks, festivals and live music to foodie and sports events, there is plenty of fun to be had along the Norfolk waterfront and beyond!
Tides Games
Ongoing
Harbor Park
Take the family out to the ball game! Harbor Park is home to the Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. See the full schedule including fun theme nights and discounts!
Claudia Bueno: Echoes of the Heart
Ongoing
Hermitage Museum & Gardens
The Hermitage Museum is featuring internationally recognized artist Claudia Bueno for a three-month solo exhibition. Born in Venezuela, Bueno creates stunning, interactive worlds that call forth our most intimate, foundational emotions and gives them seemingly limitless space in which to fully bloom. Metaphor and biology are forever married in works of sound, light, circuits, motors, wind and film.
Barbara Earl Thomas: The Illuminated Body
Ongoing
Chrysler Museum of Art
Layers of luminous, jewel-colored paper pulse with life behind cut black-paper portraits made by Barbara Earl Thomas. These new works by the celebrated artist, writer, and thinker meditate on the visual experience of the body within a physical and metaphorical world of light and shadow. Based on real people, the portraits “elevate to the magnificent” her family, friends, and neighbors, as well as cultural icons of the African American literary landscape.
Heather Beardsley: Strange Plants
Ongoing
Chrysler Museum of Art
The varied locations have a personal connection to Beardsley as they chronicle the many places her art practice has taken her from Chicago, Vienna, Kyiv, Budapest, Beijing, Tallinn, and Hampton Roads. With postcards and textiles found in local flea markets across Europe, Beardsley juxtaposes structures with encroaching fauna, using embroidery to challenge the pejorative confines of “decorative art” or “craft”.
RNB Block Party
July 1
Scope Plaza
The RnB Block Party is back, and this time it’s a White Out edition. Summer is here! The RnB Block Party returns to the Norfolk Scope Plaza with the legendary Just Blaze, alongside DJ Bee, Lil Bacon Bear, Izzy the DJ and Markus Gold.
Gospel Mid-day Cruise
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
City Cruises Norfolk
Enjoy live entertainment, an all-you-can-eat buffet and good fellowship featuring performances by Chris Evans.
Big Bands on the Bay Summer Concert Series
July 2, 9, 16, 23
Gazebo at Ocean View Beach Park
Big Bands on the Bay ends the weekend with a sunset celebration on the Chesapeake Bay. Welcome the stars every Sunday night from 7–9 p.m. This month enjoy the sounds from Glen Boswick & the Sounds of Swing (July 2 and 23), The Top Hats Orchestra (July 9) and The Khedive Notables Dance Band (July 16).
40TH ANNUAL 4TH OF JULY GREAT AMERICAN PICNIC & FIREWORKS
July 4, 2023
Towne Point Park
Leave the grilling to Festevents on the 4th of July and bring your family and friends down to Town Point Park. Guests can buy traditional fare including hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, seafood, cotton candy and much more available for purchase! Relax on the lawn and enjoy the live entertainment, then watch as the sky lights up with the fireworks over the Elizabeth River starting at 9:30 p.m.!
See More July 4th Events Here!
July Night Market
July 6
Waterside District
Join Waterside District every first Thursday for the Night Market, a small business shopping event! Every month they’ll feature local artists and vendors selling handmade items.
Sunsets on the River
July 6, 13, 20, 27
Hermitage Museum & Gardens
Consider your Thursday nights covered as you sprawl out on the grounds of the Hermitage Museum & Gardens for their popular Sunsets on the River outdoor concert series. Relax on the shoreline and enjoy live music from across the musical spectrum, interactive activities for all guests from community artists + organizations, drinks from the bar featuring craft beer and wine available for purchase, dinner from a variety of local food trucks and a chance to experience the immersive art exhibition, Echoes of the Heart.
Friday Nights in Ocean View
July 7, 14, 21, 28
Ocean View Beach Park
Summer brings the return of exciting Friday night events at Ocean View Beach Park on the Chesapeake Bay. These events bring a diverse schedule of themed parties and family fun and movie nights that provide a great way to start your summertime weekends off right with live music, children’s activities, food, beverages and more! Enjoy a Beach Party on July 7, Backyard BBQ July 14, Reggae on the Bay July 21 and Taste of VA on the Bay July 28.
NEON Art Tour
July 8
NEON District
Join tour guide and local history buff Joshua Weinstein of Norfolk Tour Company in the NEON District for a free walking tour. Each tour provides an in-depth and up-close look at the neighborhood’s extensive public art collection, featuring murals, sculpture, temporary artwork and neon signs. The tour begins at The Plot, located at the corner of Granby Street and Olney Road, and will last about an hour.
Norfolk Taco Festival
July 8–9
Waterside District
The Norfolk Taco Festival takes over Waterside District for two tasty days of tacos! There will be 25 taco and food vendors (over 75 styles of tacos!), multiple margarita bars, Lucha Libre wrestling, hot chili pepper and taco eating contests, kids pinata smashing, carnival games and kids fun zone, queso and nacho bar, axe throwing, authentic Mariachi and folklore dancer, live bands, DJ music, cornhole and more.
Erykah Badu
July 12
Chartway Arena
Erykah Badu, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and performance artist, performs in Norfolk as part of her “Unfollow Me” Tour, along with hip-hop’s most introspective and insightful artist, yasiin bey.
Summer Specialty Beer Dinner
July 21
Grain
Join Grain for a rooftop dinner featuring a four-course dinner featuring pairings from Three Notch’d Brewing. Enjoy offerings such as a corn & pimento cheese deviled ham spread, roasted summer vegetable panzanella, a picnic plate with ribs and a blueberry pie, all paired with delicious brews.
Norfolk Latino Music Festial
July 22
Town Point Park
Eat, drink, and salsa the night away at the Norfolk Latino Music & Food Festival at Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk waterfront! Featuring explosive live music performances, an eclectic offering of Latin cuisine including tacos and empanadas, fun family-friendly activities, authentic dance lessons and performances, and much more, the festival celebrates Hampton Roads’ vibrant Latinx community!
