Arts and Entertainment

Undrowned with Alexis Pauline Gumbs: A Hymn to Returning River Life

August 28 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Elizabeth River Project - Ryan Resilience Lab 4610 Colley Ave, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA, Price: Make sure to register

The Ryan Resilience Lab welcomes Alexis Pauline Gumbs, acclaimed author of Undrowned: Black Feminist Lessons from Marine Mammals, for an evening that brings the wisdom of the water directly to our shores. In her groundbreaking work, Gumbs invites us to listen—truly listen—to the practices of marine mammals and the ways their survival strategies can guide our own collective resilience.

In a region shaped by the long struggle to restore the Elizabeth River, her insights land with particular power. Once declared “dead” by many scientists, the Elizabeth River has become a living testament to what healing looks like when communities commit to restoration. The return of marine life—especially the joyful reappearance of bottlenose dolphins—has become one of the river’s most celebrated signs of recovery.

Gumbs’ storytelling offers a profound bridge between the resilience of marine mammals and the resilience of the river, its wildlife, and the people who fight for its future. Her talk will invite us to imagine the river not only as an ecosystem but as a teacher—one whose lessons echo the themes of interdependence, endurance, and transformation woven throughout Undrowned.

Following her talk, Alexis will host a book signing, with on-site book purchases made possible through Eleanor’s Norfolk.

Arrive early for an optional guided tour of the Ryan Resilience Lab at 5:00pm.

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Arts and Entertainment

Sensory Friendly Morning

November 8 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Virginia Zoo 3500 Granby St Norfolk, VA 23504, Price: Due to limited capacity, timed tickets will be required for entry to the Zoo for this time and date.

November 8 @ 9:30 am – 12:30 pm EST

Join us as we partner with Autism Society Tidewater Virginia, Complete the Puzzle, and Destination Family Services to provide guests of all abilities and needs, along with their families, the opportunity to visit the Virginia Zoo in a less overwhelming environment. On this special date and time we will provide stress-free activities for your Zoo visit through adapted programs and a reduced number of visitors. With access to animal ambassadors, activity carts, Run Wild! Discovery Zone nature play, and more the whole family can enjoy this sensory-friendly morning at the Zoo.

COMING SOON

All activities are being conducted as they would during standard operations with some modifications to create a calmer environment with reduced lights, sounds, and crowds.

  • African Village Restaurant
    • Chicken tenders, burgers, pizza, fries, snack items
    • Soda, juice, water, beer, wine, Waters Edge Serpentine Sangria
Tickets

Due to limited capacity, timed tickets will be required for entry to the Zoo for this time and date. Individuals with an ADA-Recognized Disability and One Companion can receive free admission upon request. ADA Admission is only redeemable at the ticket booth. All additional family and friends attending are required to purchase & reserve your tickets ahead of time.

🎧 Member Adult (18+): Free

🎧 Member Child (2-17): Free

🎧 Non-Member Adult (12+): $20

🎧 Non-Member Senior (62+): $18

🎧 Non-Member Child (2-11): $17

🎧 Children under 2 are free but require a reserved ticket

Event Reminders
  • Tickets are non-refundable. All sales are final. Should a ticket holder be unable to attend the event, the purchase will be considered a donation.
  • As an outdoor venue, events are rain or shine unless otherwise indicated. If any changes are made, an announcement via an email to our members and/or ticket holders and on the Virginia Zoo social media channels will be issued prior the event.
  • The Zoo is a smoke-free facility; no smoking is allowed inside the Zoo. This also includes e-cigarettes and vaping. Inability to follow this rule will result in dismissal from Zoo grounds without a refund.
  • By purchasing an event ticket, you agree to abide by the Virginia Zoo’s Rules & Policies.

Questions regarding this event? Please email info@virginiazoo.org or call (757) 441-2374.

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Arts and Entertainment

Wild Wheels

July 28 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Virginia Zoo 3500 Granby St Norfolk, VA 23504, Price: TBA

A new program that invites our little learners (0 to 4 years old) in their strollers to join us in a walk around the zoo with stops and activities along the way to get the wiggles out! Check signs in the Plaza for meeting location. Be ready to stroll at 10:30 am!

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Arts and Entertainment

Adult Night: Summer Camp

July 18 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Virginia Zoo 3500 Granby St Norfolk, VA 23504, Price: Price may vary

Craving a 90’s summer? Salute your childhood by joining us for a 21+ nostalgic night out at Adult Night: Summer Camp on Saturday, July 18 from 5-8pm at the Virginia Zoo!

As your Camp Director, we’ve got the ultimate itinerary planned for you! Get ready for a throwback camp experience with tug of war, sack races, volleyball, beer pong, bounce houses, lawn games, yoga, local vendors, and more. Whether you’re feeling competitive or just here for the vibes, this is your chance to relive camp – minus the bunk beds and bug bites.

Refuel with camp-inspired eats, specialty cocktails, adult juice pouches, mocktails and s’mores and all the summer-night nostalgia while exploring the Zoo after hours.

One, two, three, four, we declare a COLOR WAR! The Virginia Zoo camp teams are: the Red Pandas, the Orange Bongos, the Blue Iguanas, and the Green Parrots. Pick your team at checkout, and don’t forget to wear your team color on the day of the event.

The only thing scarier than campfire stories is missing your chance to get tickets – so get them before they are gone!

Event is Ages 21+ and ALL IDs will be checked before entering.

Activities

Included with your ticket:

  • 5 – 5:30pm: Animal Ambassador Greeters
  • 7pm: Scary Tales, a special edition of Zoo Tales, at the ZooLive! Stage
  • Sack Races and Tug of War with Astro Event Company
  • Beer Pong (with water) and Volleyball with CLUBWAKA
  • Bounce House and Bounce Agility Course from Just Jump A Lot
  • Beer samples from Elation Brewing
  • Pop-up class with Sky’s the Limit Yoga
  • Submit your memories table
    • Share your Virginia Zoo memories with us for a chance to be featured in our 125th anniversary time capsule.
  • Community Organizations
    • Tidewater Compost
    • Norfolk Kayak
    • The Adventure Park

Available for an additional cost ($):

  • Tinsel Town Fairy Hair
  • Artfully Yours Face Painting
  • Mocktail Bar from Free Life LLC
  • Vendor Market:
    • Tumbeezy Cookies
    • Pop.Roxie
    • Lavender Designs
    • S’mores Amore
    • xedmade
    • Stay Weird Vintage
    • Huckleberry Handmade
    • Chalk Dust Dyes
Food & Drinks ($)
  • Food Trucks
  • African Village Restaurant open from 5 – 7:45pm serving a limited summer camp themed menu.
    • Mac & Cheese Bites
    • Flatbread Pizzas
    • Chicken Quesadilla with Peppers & Onion served with Sour Cream & Salsa
    • Adult Icees with Vodka or Tequila
  • Virginia Zoo Specialty Cocktails (while supplies last): All drinks will be served in a 12 oz. cup, $10 per drink.
    • Zoo Punch: Bacardi Superior, Malibu, Orange Juice, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine
    • Camp Cooler: Smirnoff Vodka, Fresh Lemonade Watermelon Pucker, Sprite
💲Ticket Prices💲

Please note, prices may increase as the event date nears, so don’t wait — early birds get the best deal!

Tickets available to Zoo Members beginning 6/5 and on sale to the public beginning 6/12.

This is a 21+ only event. IDs will be checked upon entry.

☀️ Member Adult: $13

☀️ Non-Member Adult: $28

  • Limited number of tickets available. Advance ticket sales end when sold out (get yours early!). If tickets remain on the day of the event, gate sales may be limited to credit card transactions only.
  • Tickets are non-refundable, and all sales are final. If a ticket holder is unable to attend the event, the purchase will be considered a donation. If the Virginia Zoo cancels or reschedules an event, tickets will automatically transfer to the next event in the series when applicable. Guests unable to attend the new date may request a refund within a communicated timeframe. If no additional event is scheduled, tickets will be automatically refunded.
  • As an outdoor venue, events are rain or shine unless otherwise indicated. Event updates will be shared via the Virginia Zoo website, email, and, social media channels whenever possible prior to the event.
  • The Zoo is a smoke-free facility; no smoking is allowed inside the Zoo. This also includes e-cigarettes and vaping. Inability to follow this rule will result in dismissal from Zoo grounds without a refund.
  • By purchasing an event ticket, you agree to abide by the Virginia Zoo’s Rules & Policies.

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Arts and Entertainment

Coffee Concert: Peter and the Wolf & Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

April 9 2027

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Harrison Opera House 160 West Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk, Virginia 23510, Price: Aug 3 at 10:00 AM

Helen Martell, conductor

Benjamin Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf

Created to introduce young people to the instruments of the orchestra, these timeless works contain beloved music that will entertain symphony audiences of all ages. 

 

 

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History

Virtual Book Talk: The "Rape" of Japan, The Myth of Mass Sexual Violence During the Allied Occupation

July 23 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
MacArthur Memorial 198 Bank Street Norfolk, VA 23510, Price: Free
Virtual Book Talk: The "Rape" of Japan, The Myth of Mass Sexual Violence During the Allied Occupation
Thursday, July 23, 2026

Dr. Walsh will discuss the primary sources he used in debunking this longstanding myth regarding sexual violence by American occupation forces in Japan from 1945-1951 and his conclusions about the truth behind this largely accepted fiction.


On Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST, the MacArthur Memorial will present a free virtual lecture by Dr. Brian Walsh on his recent publication, The “Rape” of Japan: The Myth of Mass Sexual Violence During the Allied Occupation (2024).

Dr. Walsh will discuss the primary sources he used in debunking this longstanding myth regarding sexual violence by American occupation forces in Japan from 1945-1951 and his conclusions about the truth behind this largely accepted fiction. An audience Q&A will follow this presentation.

Brian P. Walsh has lived, worked, and studied in Japan for eighteen years. He received a master’s degree in Japanese Studies from the University of Washington in 2003 and a Ph.D. in modern Japanese history in 2016. His major areas of study are US-Japanese relations in the 1940s and 1950s and problems surrounding the development of a new postwar Japanese national identity. He has published articles in the Journal of Military History, the Journal of American-East Asian Relations, and the Pacific Historical Review. He supervised his wife Ayumi’s Japanese translation of Richard B. Frank’s biography of Douglas MacArthur. At present, he is at work on a project about the end of the Asia-Pacific War and the myths that have developed in both Japan and the United States about that subject. He teaches Japanese history and international relations at Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya, Japan.

Register now on StreamYard!

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Arts and Entertainment

ERT + Roll N' Vibes™ - Social Group Skates!

October 15 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Meetup outside FR8 House Coffee Co. 2330 Bowdens Ferry Road Norfolk, VA 23508, Price: Free
The VIBEZ are rolling in hot this summer. You don’t want to miss a single one. All Wheels Welcome – bikes, skates, boards, you name it!
Every 3rd Thursday, from May to October, Join Roll N’ Vibez™ for a social group skate outing on the Elizabeth River Trail!
Come roll, connect, and celebrate. This more than just skating; this is a real community builder. There are connections, support, and belonging for every person who straps on a pair of wheels.
June, Aug, Oct
In the EVEN-NUMBERED MONTHS: Meetup outside FR8 House Coffee Co.
2330 Bowdens Ferry Road, Norfolk, VA 23508

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ERT + Roll N' Vibes™ - Social Group Skates!

September 17 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Meetup outside FR8 House Coffee Co. 2330 Bowdens Ferry Road Norfolk, VA 23508, Price: Free
The VIBEZ are rolling in hot this summer. You don’t want to miss a single one. All Wheels Welcome – bikes, skates, boards, you name it!
Every 3rd Thursday, from May to October, Join Roll N’ Vibez™ for a social group skate outing on the Elizabeth River Trail!
Come roll, connect, and celebrate. This more than just skating; this is a real community builder. There are connections, support, and belonging for every person who straps on a pair of wheels.
May, July, Sept
In the ODD-NUMBERED MONTHS: Meetup outside the ERT Headquarters
715 Orapax Street, Norfolk, VA 23507
June, Aug, Oct
In the EVEN-NUMBERED MONTHS: Meetup outside FR8 House Coffee Co.
2330 Bowdens Ferry Road, Norfolk, VA 23508

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ERT + Roll N' Vibes™ - Social Group Skates!

August 20 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Meetup outside FR8 House Coffee Co. 2330 Bowdens Ferry Road Norfolk, VA 23508, Price: Free
The VIBEZ are rolling in hot this summer. You don’t want to miss a single one. All Wheels Welcome – bikes, skates, boards, you name it!
Every 3rd Thursday, from May to October, Join Roll N’ Vibez™ for a social group skate outing on the Elizabeth River Trail!
Come roll, connect, and celebrate. This more than just skating; this is a real community builder. There are connections, support, and belonging for every person who straps on a pair of wheels.
May, July, Sept
In the ODD-NUMBERED MONTHS: Meetup outside the ERT Headquarters
715 Orapax Street, Norfolk, VA 23507
June, Aug, Oct
In the EVEN-NUMBERED MONTHS: Meetup outside FR8 House Coffee Co.
2330 Bowdens Ferry Road, Norfolk, VA 23508

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Arts and Entertainment

Ian McConnell at The Annex

October 19 2026

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
The Annex 2500 Church Street, Unit A Norfolk, VA 23517, Price: On sale 6/12
October 19, 2026 at The Annex
Ian McConnell
with special guests to be announced
Doors 7pm // Music 8pm
All Ages

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