March is a time of transitions. It’s when winter gives way to the warmer breezes of spring, and when hockey season becomes baseball season. This March, there’s a lot to do, both indoors and out in Norfolk, Virginia. Here are a few of our favorite events.
Nonsense and Sensibility : A Jane Austen Comedy Show
Push Comedy Theater
March 1, 2026
Parodies, homages, and entirely new absurdities unfold in a mixed bill of sketches, improv, and games inspired by Austen’s most beloved themes. Expect drawing rooms under pressure, feelings expressed far too late, and at least one story created live onstage that Austen herself would have strong notes about.
Barry Manilow
Chartway Arena
March 2, 2026
At every show, Manilow will celebrate local music educators with the Manilow Music Teacher Award. Created through the Manilow Music Project, a program of the Manilow Fund, the Manilow Music Teacher Award honors educators whose passion and dedication help bring music to life for their students. Nominees will be revealed on January 22nd, the same day voting opens. The teacher receiving the most online votes will be recognized live onstage during Manilow’s concert and will receive a total prize of $10,000 — a $5,000 cash award and $5,000 in “Manilow Bucks” for classroom instrument purchases.
Norfolk Admirals vs. Idaho Steelheads
Scope Arena
March 4-7, 2026
The Norfolk Admirals hockey team will take on the Idaho Steelheads in a three-game homestand at Scope Arena March 4-7.
Giselle At Attucks Theatre
Attucks Theatre
March 4, 2026
This extraordinary production will be performed by Grand Kyiv Ballet, the most renowned Ukrainian ballet company, under the direction of Oleksandr Stoianov, one of Europe’s leading figures in classical dance. Their interpretation brings a new emotional depth and technical brilliance to this timeless masterpiece. Featuring breathtaking choreography, evocative music, and a cast of world-class dancers, Giselle promises to be an unforgettable evening of elegance, passion, and pure artistry.
Bert Kreischer
Chartway Arena
March 5, 2026
Bert Kreischer is the ultimate comedy powerhouse, known for his wild stories, larger-than-life personality, and legendary shirtless performances. From Netflix specials to sold-out arena tours and hit podcasts Bertcast and 2 Bears, 1 Cave, Bert keeps audiences laughing nonstop. Don’t miss your chance to see “The Machine” bring the party live on stage!
Cottage Chemistry: A Heated Rivalry Dance Party
The Annex
March 6, 2026
Come celebrate your favorite TV obsession as we dance to the Heated Rivalry soundtrack, the hottest queer pop anthems, and nostalgic alt hits all night long!
2026 UNCF Mayor’s Masked Ball
Hilton Norfolk The Main
March 7, 2026
Join us for the 9th Annual UNCF Hampton Roads Mayors’ Masked Ball! The premier fundraising gala and major social event focuses on raising public awareness and large donations to support deserving students across Virginia.
Bringing together individuals, small businesses, corporate sponsors, celebrities, dignitaries, civic leaders, public officials, and alumni who support UNCF’s mission, the evening encourages every attendee to invest in better futures for all.
Hampton Roads Pride ‘26 Brew Tour Kickoff
Maker’s Craft Brewery
March 7, 2026
The 2026 Hampton Roads Pride Brew Tour is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever. They’ve partnered with the best breweries in the region to bring you exclusive discounts and a fantastic way to explore the vibrant craft beer scene while celebrating Pride. The Brew Tour Kicks off at Maker’s Craft Brewery on March 7th with food, drinks, DJ, and a drag show! Pick up your Brew Tour Passport from 4-6PM, then enjoy the fun! The Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck will be here 4-10PM. DJ Bearcub Belladonna goes on from 6-10PM. The drag show, featuring Host Fushia DeVilla, Skarlett Letter, Grey Area, Anna Trocity, and Euthanasia, is from 7:30 to 8:30!
2026 MEAC Basketball Tournament
Scope Arena
March 11-14, 2026
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 55th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2025-26 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, VA., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University. The Norfolk State Spartans and the Howard Bison won the 2023 women’s and men’s titles, respectively and received bids to the NCAA Tournament.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The Wells Theatre
March 11-14, 2026
This event is part of the Norfolk Theatre Festival in March-April 2026. Virginia Stage Company presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Lyrics by Tim Rice and Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber This beloved musical reimagines the Biblical story of Joseph, a magical tale packed with adventures, beguiling characters (like the Elvis-inspired Pharoah), and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s brilliant score, full of catchy songs from country-western (“One More Angel in Heaven”) to Caribbean (“Benjamin Calypso”), along with the unforgettable classics “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.” Directed and Choreographed by Billy Bustamante.
Celebrating F. Ludwig Diehn
Chandler Recital Hall, ODU
March 11, 2026
One man’s lifelong love of music fueled a composing career and endowed programs that would nurture artists for generations to come. F. Ludwig Diehn, a successful businessman with degrees in law and chemistry, fulfilled his musical dreams by composing works for orchestra and chamber ensembles that have been performed around the world. He chose Norfolk as his home, and left a legacy to the community whose impact is vast, touching the lives of aspiring artists, students, and audiences alike. Virginia Arts Festival joins Hampton Roads Community Foundation to celebrate Diehn’s life and music in this memorable performance of his works featuring some of the region’s finest musicians.
St. Patrick’s Day PArty at COVA
COVA Brewing Company
March 14,, 2026
Join the Party after the Parade at COVA on Saturday, March 14th! Green beer will be flowing all day. Enjoy live music, food, drinks and an Irish good time.
RNB Block Party
Scope Arena
March 14, 2026
The RnB Block Party will welcome a headlining set from international mixtape DJ and producer DJ Drama. Additional sets will be played by national DJ and host Jae Murphy; RnB Block Party resident DJ, Izzy The DJ; Chris Brown’s tour DJ, DJ Fresh; and Sony Da Goat, DJ Flood, and Malika.
What Remains: 10th Annual Immersive Series
Hermitage Museum & Gardens
March 19 – April 4, 2026
Step into What Remains—an immersive, audio-guided journey through a house alive with memory and myth. Guests witness a magical dinner, taste elixirs, and descend into a dark night of the soul, guided by light, sound, and story. Created by ROŪGE—the team behind Dream Clinic, Gretels, and Pride & Prejudice & Dragons—this reimagined Victorian fable rises from the ether, where invention meets possession and the past refuses to stay buried. This event is part of the Norfolk Theatre Festival.
Jonathan Richman
Attucks Theatre
March 19, 2026
Richman says it best himself: “The music we’re doing now works well in quiet places like theaters and performing art centers. We still don’t use a program or a set list, so we don’t know what we’ll do until we do it. Please do not expect old songs. Many singers my age do a retrospective; this show is not like that. It’s mostly stuff made up in the last 3 and 4 years. Some of the songs presented might be in different languages; this is not to be esoteric or clever, it’s because the different languages help me express different feelings sometimes. One last thing, my idea of a good show has nothing to do with applause. It’s about if all the songs I sang that night were ones that I felt.”
Governor’s School for the Arts Wearable Arts Show
Chrysler Museum of Art
March 20, 2026
The Chrysler Museum of Art and the Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) proudly present the 12th annual Wearable Arts Show, a one-of-a-kind runway event celebrating the innovation and ingenuity of more than 50 students. Inspired by the Chrysler Museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, this long-standing collaboration encourages young artists to use museums as sources of inspiration and artistic growth.
Dance Theatre of Harlem: Firebird
Chartway Arena
Feb. 28, 2026
In 2026, Virginia Arts Festival proudly welcomes the return of Dance Theatre of Harlem—this time bringing one of the company’s most beloved signature works: Firebird. This legendary production reimagines the classic Russian folk tale of love’s triumph over evil in a lush, Caribbean setting. With John Taras’ masterful choreography, Igor Stravinsky’s iconic score (1945 version) performed live with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and Geoffrey Holder’s dazzling costumes and sets, Firebird is a feast for the senses. First created in 1982, this Dance Theatre of Harlem classic has toured the world and enchanted audiences everywhere. As The New York Times declared: “…it does one thing other versions do not – send its audience into a whooping spell of delirium.”
Primary Trust
NSU Brown Memorial Hall Mainstage Theater
March 27-29, 2026
This event is part of the Norfolk Theater Festival in March-April 2026. Learn more here. This 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner is a touching comedic drama about a young man named Kenneth and his journey towards new beginnings as he finds the courage to really enter the world for the first time. Primary Trust contains adult content.
NOrfolk Tides Home OPener
Harbor Park
March 27, 28, 29, 2026
The Norfolk Tides, the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, will kick off their 2026 season with a three-game homestand against the Nashville Sounds on March 27 (6:35 p.m.), March 28 (6:35 p.m.) and March 29 (1:05 p.m.) at Harbor Park.
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony
Harrison Opera House
March 27, 2026
Be astounded by the world’s most revered composition, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. This cornerstone of Western music takes audiences on a euphoric journey of fate, from tragedy to triumph, from sorrow to joy, and serves as the fitting grand finale of our fifth symphony celebration. Revel in Mozart’s compositional brilliance with his Sinfonia Concertante featuring the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s own Principal Viola Celia Daggy and Principal Second Violin Elizabeth Vonderheide.
Love, George & Ira: The Gershwins on Broadway
Robin Hixon Theater
March 28, 2026
Famed Broadway music director and the Festival’s Goode Family Artistic Advisor for Musical Theater and the American Songbook, Rob Fisher cut his musical teeth on Gershwin. The uniquely American music that George and Ira Gershwin created fused classical, Broadway, jazz and Tin Pan Alley to form an exhilarating new kind of music for the 20th century and beyond, conquering stage and screen with enduring classics like “Embraceable You,” “Summertime,” “Love is Here to Stay,” and “Rhapsody in Blue” a favorite for audiences and orchestras. Rob Fisher curated the Carnegie Hall Gershwin Centennial celebrations of Ira’s in 1996 and George’s in 1998. The Gershwin brothers’ timeless songs explore the joys and disappointments of love, brought vividly to life by Ross Lekites (Brigadoon, Frozen) and Patti Murin (Frozen, Wicked). In this must-hear concert, Fisher gathers Broadway singers and a swinging quartet for a trip down a memory lane of greatness, courtesy of the immortal Gershwin brothers.
David Spade at Chrysler Hall
Chrysler Hall
March 28, 2026
David Spade became a household favorite during his tenure as a cast member on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”. Spade has starred in film and television highlights such as JOE DIRT, GROWN UPS, THE WRONG MISSY, “Rules Of Engagement” and “8 Simples Rules”. For his memorable role as Dennis Finch on “Just Shoot Me”, Spade received nominations for a 1999 Emmy Award, Golden Globe, and American Comedy Award. Spade continues to be a box office draw, touring his stand-up shows nationwide. He can be heard co-hosting the hit podcast “Fly on the Wall”, alongside fellow SNL alumni Dana Carvey, and their spin-off pop culture podcast “Superfly”. Currently, Spade is in production on BUSBOYS, a film he co-wrote, is co-producing and co-starring in alongside Theo Von.
All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Attucks Theatre
March 29, 2026
In this moving, inspiring play, Supreme Court Justice “RBG” welcomes a friend of the family to her cozy chambers to convey fascinating and often funny moments of her life and its many trials: losing her mother the day before she graduated as valedictorian of her Brooklyn high school … being one of only nine young women studying law at Harvard while also raising a daughter and helping her husband battle cancer … fighting for women’s rights in the 1970s… and taking courageous stands for human rights as a voice of reason amid a splintering and increasingly politicized Supreme Court. An evening with a great and compassionate icon of American justice–an RBG who is not only “notorious” but victorious as she takes a stand for ordinary people facing the many challenges of a changing world.
