Being On The Water

2026 ERT + NKR Group Paddles

September 12 2026

8:30 a.m.
Elizabeth River Trail 715 Orapax St, Norfolk, VA 23507 ·, Price: Free
ERT + Norfolk Kayak Rentals are excited to offer a FREE kayak experience on the Elizabeth River. Join us for a 90-minute group paddle, launching from the Plum Point Park kayak launch. Previous kayak experience is REQUIRED.
Arrive: 8:30-8:45 AM
Launch: 9 AM
Return: 10:30 AM
Distance: 3-5 miles.
– Kindly reserve *ONLY ONE* group paddle date for the ENTIRE 2026 season to allow this free paddling opportunity to reach as many trail users as possible.
-Limited free kayaks are available, followed by discounted kayak rentals. Or bring your own Kayak!!
NO EXCEPTIONS, EACH RESERVATION NAME IS LIMITED TO:
– Up to TWO (2) Single-seat Kayaks -OR- ONE (1) Tandem Kayak
**Please note that a credit card will be required for the reservation but will not be charged unless the reservation is canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice. **
Parking:
1) There is limited free public parking (8 spaces total) located at the Plum Point Park Trailhead
331 Riverview Avenue
2) Ample, free public parking lot located across from the ERT Trailside Headquarters in Chelsea. Yes, you are allowed to park in this lot on the weekends! **Includes a 5-minute walk down the ERT to Plum Point Park.
715 Orapax Street
3) A garage at the Riverview Medical Building, for $1 on weekends.
301 Riverview Avenue
Learn more about Norfolk Kayak Rentals at NorfolkKayaks.fun.
Free kayak reservations are thanks to Elizabeth River Trail donors! Visit https://elizabethrivertrail-bloom.kindful.com/ to become a Trailblazer today!

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Being On The Water

2026 ERT + NKR Group Paddles

September 12 2026

8:30 a.m.
Elizabeth River Trail 715 Orapax St, Norfolk, VA 23507 ·, Price: Free
ERT + Norfolk Kayak Rentals are excited to offer a FREE kayak experience on the Elizabeth River. Join us for a 90-minute group paddle, launching from the Plum Point Park kayak launch. Previous kayak experience is REQUIRED.
Arrive: 8:30-8:45 AM
Launch: 9 AM
Return: 10:30 AM
Distance: 3-5 miles.
– Kindly reserve *ONLY ONE* group paddle date for the ENTIRE 2026 season to allow this free paddling opportunity to reach as many trail users as possible.
-Limited free kayaks are available, followed by discounted kayak rentals. Or bring your own Kayak!!
NO EXCEPTIONS, EACH RESERVATION NAME IS LIMITED TO:
– Up to TWO (2) Single-seat Kayaks -OR- ONE (1) Tandem Kayak
**Please note that a credit card will be required for the reservation but will not be charged unless the reservation is canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice. **
Parking:
1) There is limited free public parking (8 spaces total) located at the Plum Point Park Trailhead
331 Riverview Avenue
2) Ample, free public parking lot located across from the ERT Trailside Headquarters in Chelsea. Yes, you are allowed to park in this lot on the weekends! **Includes a 5-minute walk down the ERT to Plum Point Park.
715 Orapax Street
3) A garage at the Riverview Medical Building, for $1 on weekends.
301 Riverview Avenue
Learn more about Norfolk Kayak Rentals at NorfolkKayaks.fun.
Free kayak reservations are thanks to Elizabeth River Trail donors! Visit https://elizabethrivertrail-bloom.kindful.com/ to become a Trailblazer today!

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Arts and Entertainment

Legacy of War: Guardian of the Sky Film Screening

September 26 2026

8:30 a.m.
The MacArthur Memorial Visitors Center 198 Bank Street Norfolk, VA 23510, Price: Free
Legacy of War: Guardian of the Sky Film Screening
Saturday, September 26, 2026

Ralph Blackman introduces the documentary film that follows his journey of discovery into his family history as he tracks his father’s service as part of a bomber crew in the Pacific during WWII.


Ralph Blackman joins the MacArthur Memorial to introduce the documentary film Legacy of War: Guardian of the Sky, which follows his journey of discovery into his family history as he tracks his father’s service as part of a bomber crew in the Pacific during WWII. An audience Q&A will follow the screening. This event is free and open to the public. More details to come.

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Arts and Entertainment

Norfolk Taco Festival - 8th Annual

July 11 2026

8:30 a.m.
Waterside District 333 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510, Price: Price may vary

Norfolk Taco Festival – 8th Annual

Taco Heaven returns to the Waterside District on July 11th & 12th, 2026! Get ready for the biggest taco festival in Virginia history!

About this Event

The Norfolk Taco Festival is taking over the entire Waterside District on July 11th & 12th, 2026! This iconic waterfront entertainment complex will be transformed into a full-scale taco paradise—featuring massive outdoor activations along the Elizabeth River, multiple indoor venues, bars, and high-energy spaces built for the ultimate festival takeover.

This will be the BIGGEST Taco Festival in Virginia! Get ready for an action-packed weekend filled with an incredible variety of tacos, margaritas, games, and taco-themed fun, plus live bands across multiple stages, authentic Mariachi music, and more. Come hungry and experience the Norfolk Taco Festival!

🌮 GET READY FOR…

– 30+ taco & food vendors (over 100 styles of tacos & related foods)

– Multiple margarita bars

– Giant nacho station

– Lucha Libre wrestling

– Kids piñata smashing

– Live bands, DJs & performances (multiple areas)

– Tequila flight expo

– Authentic Mariachi & folkloric performers

– Full access to Waterside District (indoor & outdoor takeover)

– Hot chili pepper & taco eating contests

– Live music on the waterfront outdoor stage

– Giant general vendor market

– Mechanical bull riding

* Carnival games, activities & fun for all ages

* FREE Kids Fun Zone (face painters, bounce houses, balloon twisters)

* And much more!

🎟️ TICKET DETAILS

GENERAL ADMISSION (2PM-8PM)

– 2PM Entry

– Live cover bands, Mariachi, Lucha Libre wrestling show & more

– Kids 10 & under FREE

– Free Kids Fun Zone & so much more

VIP ADMISSION (12PM-8PM)

– 2-hour express early entry (12PM–2PM)

– 5 taco vouchers

– Unlimited free nacho bar (12PM–2PM)

– 4 drink vouchers

– Exclusive VIP area

– Private bar & restrooms

– 25% off official merchandise

– Commemorative VIP gift bag, custom shot glass, giveaways & unlimited bragging rights

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 KIDS & UNDER 21 ADMISSION

– Kids 10 & under are FREE (no ticket required)

– Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

🍹 DRINKS, DRINKS, DRINKS!

Rivers of margaritas and ice-cold beers will be flowing from full-service bars, beer tubs, and drink stations throughout the festival along with these EXCLUSIVE for Taco Festival…

– Tequila flight expo

– Frozen & soft-serve margaritas

– Dirty soda mocktail bar (non-alcoholic options)

– Traditional margarita bars

🎫 TICKET VOUCHER SYSTEM & BEVERAGES

All food vendors operate on a voucher system. Purchase taco vouchers ($4 each, sold in sheets of 5 for $20) and redeem them for tacos, elotes, nachos, and more.

Alcohol and beverages are available for purchase via cash or credit. ATMs will be on-site, but cash is recommended for faster transactions.

🎡 KIDS FUN ZONE

Enjoy free activities for the whole family, including face painters, bounce houses, piñata smashing contests, carnival games, and more

🌶️ EATING CONTESTS

Compete in taco and hot chili pepper eating contests for prizes and bragging rights. Sign-ups coming soon!

🚗 PARKING

Public transportation, rideshare services, and alternative transportation are strongly recommended. Parking in the area will be limited due to downtown and waterfront activity.

⚠️ REFUND & EXCHANGE POLICY

All ticket sales are final. This is a rain or shine event. In the event of postponement, all tickets will be honored for the rescheduled date. Ticket prices are subject to change at any tim

 

Also check out other Festivals in NorfolkKids events & activities in NorfolkSports events in Norfolk.

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Festivals

Chesapeake Bay Art Association Fall Festival

October 3 - October 4 2026

8:30 a.m.
Lakewood Park 1612 Willow Wood Dr. Norfolk, VA 23509, Price: Free

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Arts and Entertainment

Strategic Coffee Insights Brewed by Cafely

June 3 2026

8:30 a.m.
Cafely 740 Boush St, Norfolk, VA 23510, Price: TBD

Come along with us at Cafely as we dive into the latest Starbucks statistics and uncover the pivotal trends shaping the vibrant coffee industry today. We’re thrilled to host this engaging online event where we’ll explore eye-opening data, such as Starbucks’ staggering 36,000+ global locations and their $29.1 billion revenue in 2023. These figures not only highlight the immense scale of the coffee market but also provide a backdrop for understanding consumer behaviors and industry shifts. At Cafely, we’re passionate about decoding these numbers to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) like yours grasp what drives success in this caffeinated world. How can these insights spark growth for your own ventures? Let’s compare the sheer magnitude of global coffee giants with the nimble, innovative approaches SMBs can adopt, contrasting scale with agility to reveal untapped opportunities. Delving deeper, let’s contrast the historical evolution of coffee culture—where giants like Starbucks grew from a single Seattle store in 1971 to a worldwide phenomenon—with the modern, localized strategies that Cafely champions for today’s entrepreneurs. Starbucks’ journey, fueled by a loyalty program boasting 34.3 million active U.S. members, showcases the power of customer retention, a mechanism rooted in rewarding repeat engagement. Meanwhile, Cafely focuses on empowering SMBs to craft personalized experiences, mirroring this loyalty concept but on a community-driven scale. By examining Starbucks’ 6% revenue growth in 2023 against the backdrop of inflation, we uncover the underlying process of resilience through premium pricing and innovation—principles that smaller businesses can adapt by prioritizing quality over quantity. This seminar will break down these dynamics, ensuring accessible insights for all attendees, whether you’re a budding café owner or a seasoned retailer wondering how industry trends impact your bottom line. In conclusion, while the coffee market’s titans set a formidable benchmark with their vast reach and financial prowess, Cafely is here to translate these lessons into actionable strategies for SMBs, fostering growth through tailored innovation. We invite you to join us for this enriching session, designed with accessibility in mind, to ensure everyone can brew their own success story. Ready to sip on transformative ideas and ask, “How can my business thrive in today’s coffee culture?” Reserve your spot now and let Cafely guide you through the trends and tactics that will elevate your brand in this dynamic industry.

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Arts and Entertainment

Virginia Chorale presents poor hymnal

June 7 2026

8:30 a.m.
232 Chapel St 232 Chapel Street Norfolk, VA 23504, Price: TBA

The Virginia Chorale concludes its 42nd season with an encore performance of poor hymnal, the 2023 concert-length grammy-nominated work by Pulitzer Prize winning composer David Lang. Set to sacred and secular texts about community and compassion, poor hymnal is a “thoughtful, moving, and inspiring” work that received its Virginia premiere on October 2025 by the Chorale. The Virginia Chorale was only the second choral ensemble to ever perform this work. This performance will be offered to the community as a gift at Norfolk’s Basilica of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, the only African American Basilica in the US and one of the Foodbank’s longest-standing partner agencies. Artistic Director Charles Woodward will conduct. The Virginia Chorale recognizes that one in 8 of our neighbors are food insecure. In the spirit of poor hymnal, proceeds from this concert will be directed to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore as they begin their campaign against summer hunger. We are inviting our patrons to make a monetary gift to benefit the Foodbank. Founded forty-two years ago, the Virginia Chorale has grown from a community-based early music chorus to today’s dynamic group of professional singers, performing repertoire ranging from the Middle Ages to the music of today.

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3548271-0

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3548271-2

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Arts and Entertainment

Mixed Media Interactive

July 22 2026

8:30 a.m.
Norfolk Public Library: Park Place Branch 620 West 29th Street, Norfolk, Va 23508, Price: Free entry

Explore patterns, color, and texture with Arts for Learning Virginia’s Ashley Ault as you create your own mixed media artwork, such as a personal mandala or an African Kente cloth, in this fun, hands-on workshop.

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Drumming FUNdamentals

June 24 2026

8:30 a.m.
Norfolk Public Library: Van Wyck Branch 1368 De Bree Avenue Norfolk, VA 23517, Price: TBD

Grab a drum and join the beat! Arts for Learning Virginia’s Gary “G” Garlic, Jr. shows kids how to create their own rhythms and jam together—no experience necessary!

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Arts and Entertainment

Corporate Leadership Alliance Program 2026

June 8 2026

8:30 a.m.
Chrysler Museum of Art 1 Memorial Pl, Norfolk, VA 23510, Price: Free, registration required.

We are honored to invite you to a special event featuring Shannon O. Pierce, President and Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Natural Gas, who leads the delivery of clean, safe, and reliable natural gas service to more than 310,000 customers across southeastern Virginia. Throughout her career, Ms. Pierce has been recognized for her dedication to community engagement, championing workforce development, education, and economic mobility. Ms. Pierce will offer a unique perspective shaped by her extensive leadership experience and deep commitment to making a positive impact.

Please RSVP by May 22, 2026

Free, registration required.

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