Student Tours

Our diverse city offers students an endless array of opportunities to explore, perform and learn! With a multitude of festivals, internationally-acclaimed museums, performing arts, attractions and one-of-a-kind dining, Norfolk offers students a multitude of activities!

 

Attractions

Battleship Wisconsin

Downtown Norfolk’s Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin make for a truly unique venue.

• 500–1,000 students
• Open: Tuesday - Sunday
• Outdoor & indoor facilities, electrical outlets & chairs

Norfolk Botanical Garden

This 155-acre garden also serves as a performance venue.

• 50–1,000 students
• Hours: Monday - Sunday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• Outdoor & indoor facilities, electrical outlets & chairs

MacArthur Memorial

The Memorial is located in downtown Norfolk’s restored 1850 City Hall building.

• 25–200 students
• Open: Tuesday - Sunday
• Outdoor facilities & electrical outlets

 

Education & Entertainment

We know the value of an excellent educational experience for our visiting student groups in Norfolk and it is important to us to offer a variety of quality educational and entertainment opportunities.

American Rover Field Trip

This educational cruise features hands-on activities that allow students to become active participants. Students will help to set the sails, steer the ship, learn how to navigate, tie knots and much more!

MacArthur Memorial

The MacArthur Memorial offers a variety of free education programs, tours, and hands on activities for student groups. Topics include WWI, WWII, and the Korean War.

Plan a Field Trip to Nauticus!

A field trip to Nauticus is a fun and exciting way to help your students learn about the fascinating world of science! Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin offers a number of educational programs and workshops for student of all ages.

Virginia Arts Festival and WorldClass© Education Program

Virginia Arts Festival is considered a premier cultural event in the mid-Atlantic showcasing performing artists from around the world, presenting more than 80 performances, events, and educational programs. Students and teachers can enjoy student performances, master classes, clinics, backstage tours and pre or post performance conversation. The Virginia Arts Festival has developed educational guides for many of the programs they offer. Particular focus has been given to provide materials and information that will assist educators in helping their students meet the Virginia Standards of Learning. While the programs are obviously suited for music, choral, orchestra, band, theater, and dance classes, programs have received positive feedback from language arts and social studies teachers who have found that arts events are a great way of introducing subject matter in a fresh and exciting way. Education guides will be emailed to participating teachers before the performance and can also be downloaded on the website.

Virginia Symphony Orchestra

The acclaimed Virginia Symphony Orchestra can arrange a “Question & Answer” session with conductor and music director, JoAnn Falletta or other guest musicians, including a special backstage tour afterward.

 

Exciting Events

Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Student marching bands from around the world are welcome to join a Norfolk tradition with over 40 years of history. Bands and festivalgoers will feel the Irish spirit both in and along the 1.5-mile parade route with streets lined by thousands of spirited festivalgoers. It is considered one of the largest events of its kind on the East Coast. Event Details: Parade will be held in the Ocean View Neighborhood of Norfolk, VA. For more information on marching in the parade and available packages

Virginia Arts Festival

March to June

Virginia Arts Festival is considered a premier cultural event in the mid-Atlantic showcasing performing artists from around the world, presenting more than 80 performances, events, and educational programs. Student groups have the opportunity to perform prior to most of the programs offered by the Virginia Arts Festival. The Virginia Arts Festival will work with student groups to make a magical music performance. Then students can enjoy the performance with 50% off ticket prices!

Virginia International Tattoo – All American Chorus

April 27 – 30, 2017 & April 26-29, 2018

The Virginia International Tattoo will offer a unique performance opportunity for choruses 9th grade or higher. Participating choruses perform as part of a massed chorus along with the Virginia Symphony Chorus and more than 1,000 cast members from all over the world. Choral groups can also apply to showcase their talents at the Tattoo Hullabaloo, an outdoor festival before the show.

Virginia International Tattoo

April 27 – 30, 2017 & April 26-29, 2018

The Virginia International Tattoo is a patriotic display of marching bands, military drill teams, massed pipes, drums and Celtic dancers from all over the world. The Tattoo is an international sensation with four performances by roughly 800 performers from seven countries! Event Details: Performance schedule: Wednesday 2:30 p.m., Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. Hullabaloo: 3 hours prior to each show, the Scope Plaza will come alive with dancers, musicians and much more. Students receive 50% off ticket prices!

Virginia International Music Festival

April 27 – 30, 2017 & April 26-29, 2018

Music students from elementary to college levels are invited to join the fun at the Virginia International Music Festival. Participating students will come away with a sense of affirmation, motivation and stimulation. Don’t forget performance workshops and educational classes can be arranged for interested student groups. Event Details: Choral and instrumental ensembles will perform on Friday. Marching bands will represent 1 of 28 members of NATO during the Parade of Nations on Saturday. Visit vafest.org.

 

Daily Itineraries

Would you like a detailed itinerary for your group? Check out our student group itineraries below:

Explore the Bay Student Tour
Bands and Battleships Student Tour

 

Getting to Norfolk

Centrally located along the mid-Atlantic coast, with easy access from Norfolk International Airport, the Greyhound Bus Station, Amtrak train station, and two interstate highways, as well as by boat, via the Elizabeth River and Chesapeake Bay, Norfolk is as easy to get to as it is to get around!

City

• Baltimore, Maryland – 230 miles
• New York City – 380 miles
• Richmond, Virginia – 93 miles
• Virginia Beach, Virginia – 17 miles
• Washington, DC – 195 miles
• Williamsburg, Virginia – 45 miles
• Outer Banks, North Carolina – 82 miles

Norfolk International Airport (ORF)
Over 200 flights daily through:

• American
• Delta
• Southwest
• United

Click here for more travel information.

 

Meet Our Team

Once you’ve made the decision to bring your student group to Norfolk, the award-winning, highly-trained professional staff at VisitNorfolk will be by your side. We will be ready to attend to every detail with an array of services designed to make your groups’ stay memorable and your performance or educational adventure a tremendous success.

 

Testimonials

“For almost twenty years, Performing Arts Consultants has been annually hosting bands, choirs, orchestras and dance teams in Norfolk, VA. I have to admit, when I first visited Norfolk, I was not expecting much. Boy, was I surprised! This city is full of great things for all types of student groups to experience. Over the years, the City of Norfolk has become my personal favorite student travel destination for all types of performing groups.”

-Dr. Mike Mazzarisi President, Performing Arts Consultants

Contact

Contact Mel Hopper, Associate Director of Tour and Travel, at 757.403.5802 for more information.