Summer 2026: So Much to See and DO

Step into the action as Norfolk, Virginia’s summer heats up. Kick it at the beach or enjoy sips and flavors on the waterside, explore our historic areas and more.

Summer Guide

Botanical Garden Butterfly House Voted No. 1 Again

Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) has been voted the # 1 Best Butterfly House in the United States
through the USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the second year in a row. 

Read Story

CHART YOUR COURSE

Find the perfect venue, neighborhood or restaurant for your next trip to Norfolk, Va.

Norfolk, VA

Norfolk, Virginia is a city on the water, but never watered down. Built on character, by characters, we’re a melting pot of people, cultures, and ideas.

Explore Our Neighborhoods

Downtown

Norfolk’s walkable, waterfront downtown is the urban hub of the city full of shopping, entertainment, restaurants and excitement!

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Historic Freemason District

The city’s oldest standing neighborhood, Historic Freemason features beautiful tree-lined cobblestone streets, manicured gardens, historic homes and water views.

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NEON DISTRICT

The creative center of the city, NEON’s 80+ pieces of public art, live performances and eclectic restaurants are destined to inspire.

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GHENT

Ghent is filled with character, culture and delicious cuisine — not to mention tons of eclectic eateries, unique shops, art galleries and antique stores.

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Chelsea

Chelsea is one of the most walkable and bikeable neighborhoods in the city, with the celebrated Elizabeth River Trail (ERT) passing through the center.

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park place / Railroad district

Lined with local breweries, eateries and street murals, the industrial neighborhoods of Park Place/Railroad District are sure to get any visit on the right track.

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Riverview

From zoo animals to wildly delicious restaurants, the LGBTQ+ friendly neighborhood of Riverview truly has something for everyone.

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Larchmont / lochhaven

Next door to Old Dominion University, Larchmont and Lochhaven are home to history, local restaurants, outdoor fun and perfect water views.

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Oceanview

The relaxing beachside communities of Ocean View and East Beach are the perfect place to unwind with fresh seafood, sand and sun!

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Military Highway

Ideal for people on the move, Military Highway plays host to Norfolk International Airport and an abundance of shopping options.

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What’s happening

July 2026 Events

Baseball, fireworks, concerts and so much more happen as summer heats up in Norfolk, VA. Explore our top events right here.
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Your Guide to Cruising from Norfolk

Looking for up-to-date cruise schedules, parking information, lost luggage contacts, maps, deals and related tips on cruising in and out of Norfolk, VA.? Here’s your complete guide.
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June 2026 Events Guide

June is the month of all months in Norfolk for 2026. It’s when dozens of ships sail from across the globe to descend on Town Point Park for the 50th annual Harborfest celebration. There’s much more to do, too!
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Events

Every season is event season in Norfolk. See what’s on deck.

Jul032026

The RnB Block Party presents Sounds of Summer featuring K Camp

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Jul032026
Jul052026

Jaws returns to Naro Cinema(July 3rd, 4th, 5th)

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Jul042026

Fourth of July

Celebrate the Fourth in Norfolk The 43rd Annual Fourth of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks on…

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Jul042026

RnB Block Party

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Jul042026

RnB Block Party

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Jul042026

4th of July at the Virginia Zoo

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Jul052026

Waterside District

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Jul052026

Ocean View Art Walk

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Jul072026
Jul112026

Norfolk Tides vs. Syracuse Mets

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Jul082026

Women Making Waves: Leadership & Baseball at Harbor Park

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Jul102026

Family Movie Night at The PLOT

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Jul112026

3 Year Anniversary Party – Afterglow Brewing

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Jul112026

Ocean View Summer Market

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Jul122026

Norfolk Tides vs. Syracuse Mets

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Jul122026

Book & Look: The Devil Wears Prada

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Jul132026

The Fixx

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Jul012026
Nov302026

Random Acts of Kindness Spree in Norfolk

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May142026
Nov192026

Super Casual Wednesday Ride

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Jul012026

Social Cycling Ride with Bike Norfolk

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Jun062026
Jul112026

Metal Transformed

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Jun252026
Jul062026

Bike Nights at Norfolk Botanical Gardens

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Jul012026

Exploring Fossils

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Jul012026
Jul302026

July Member Exclusive: Gardening for Pollinators

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Jun242026
Jul292026

BAM in the Wild! @ Michael and Kimthanh Lê Digital Theater and Planetarium

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Jul012026

My Battleship Backyard

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Jun012026
Aug142026

Summer Art Camps for Ages 6-10

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Jul012026

Abandon Ship

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Jul012026
Sep162026

Wednesday Blind Tasting

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Jun082026
Aug072026

Summer Pottery Camp

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Apr302026
May312027

Special Exhibit: No Turning Back, MacArthur and the Occupation of Japan 1945-1951

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Jun162026
Aug012026

Jeep and Comics Activities @ Activity HQ

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Jun062026
Jul112026

Wilderness Photography Foundation’s Traveling Exhibit, Nature’s Generosity

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Jul012026

Volunteer Day: Knitting Mill Creek Park Conservation Landscaping

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Jul012026
Dec312027

FULL CLASS SERIERS, 6 CLASSES ALL IN ONE SPOT!

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Jul012026

Sound Phones

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Jul012026
Jul312026

Nutty Norfolk Scavenger Hunt

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Jul012026

Abandon Ship

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Jul012026
Jul292026

Wonder Wednesday: America250

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Apr022026
Sep302026

Bike Nights at Norfolk Botanical Garden

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Jul012026
Aug312026

Custom Perfume-Making Class

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Jul012026
Jul312026

Virginia Zoo Member Swap

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Jul012026

Abandon Ship

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Jul022026

Community Engagement Street Team (CEST) at Hunter’s Square

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Jul022026

Karaoke Night at PBR Norfolk

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Jul022026

Silver Social Club

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Jul022026

Mixtape: Revolution/Revelation

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Jul022026

Abandon Ship

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Jul022026

Tours of Elizabeth River Project’s Ryan Resilience Lab

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Jul022026

Smell Like A Sturgeon

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Jul022026

Mixtape First Thursday: Pasta Making

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Jul022026

Zoo Tales

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Feb122026
Sep082026

BAM in the Wild!

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Jul022026

The Bill Miles Band

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Jun042026
Aug272026

Darts Night

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Jul022026

My Battleship Backyard

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Jul022026

Sound Phones

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Jul022026

Abandon Ship

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Jul032026

Shore Thing Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks Display

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Jul032026

Abandon Ship

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Jul032026

Rope Making

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Jul032026

Signal Flags

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Jul032026

DJ/Band on Blue Moon Outdoor Stage

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Jul032026

Kendall Street Company: Hot Dog Banger 2026

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Apr102026
Aug212026

Website Build Lab: Create Your Fashion Boutique Site

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Jul032026

Signal Flags

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Jun192026
Sep252026

Friday Night Live Music

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Jul032026

Girl-Prov : A Girl’s Night Out with Improv Comedy

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Jul032026

Verses n Vibez Open Mic

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Jul032026

Reggae Fridays

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Jul032026
Jul312026

Friday Night Dance Discovery Series with Live Body Brave

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Jul032026

Toot Sweet Boom – Paint and Sip in Norfolk | Classpop!™

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Jul032026
Sep042026

Goth Night

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Jul032026

Kendall Street Company: Space Is the Place Tour 2026

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Jul032026

Midnight Rain- A live band tribute to Taylor Swift

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Jul042026
Aug082026

Midas Touch Book Club

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Jul042026
Jul252026

Cocktails + Convo: Norfolk | A Night Out with New Friends

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Jul042026

Exploring Colors

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Jul042026

4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest at Maker’s Craft Brewery

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Jul042026
Aug292026

Fashion Business Fundamentals: How to Start & Sustain a Boutique

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Jul042026

Mid-Atlantic Black Farmers’ Market

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Jul042026

4th of July: Great American Picnic

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Jul042026

Signal Flags

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Jul042026

Toes in the Sand – Paint and Sip in Norfolk | Classpop!™

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Jul042026
Jul052026

4th of July Weekend Brunch

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Jul042026
Dec262026

Foodies + New Friends: Norfolk | Wrestling Fans Edition

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Jul042026

ELSEWHERE

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Jul042026

Sing To Me

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Jul042026

Smell Like A Sturgeon

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Jul042026

ELSEWHERE

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Jul042026

Summer Service Community Cookout

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Jul042026

Sing To Me

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Jun232026
Aug012026

Special Display | The WAVES of WWII

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Jul042026

Do The Red, White, & Brew Pub Crawl in Norfolk!

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Jul042026

Free 4th of July Cookout at “The Plot” NFK

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Jul042026

My Battleship Backyard

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Jul042026

TrapxCanvas – The 757

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Jul042026
Jul052026

4th of July Weekend Brunch

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Jul042026

4th of July Great American Picnic & Fireworks

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Jul042026

Storybook Tea Party – Bumblebee Theme

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Jul042026

Red, White & Boots Country DJ Night

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Jul042026

Red, White and Brew Patio Party

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Jul042026

July 4th Fireworks Cruise

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May022026
Nov212026

East Beach? EOV – The Farmers Market

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Jul052026

Unfairy Tales : Comedy Retells the Classics

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Jul052026

ROCK THE DOCK SZN 2 : Ep 004

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Jul052026

History Speaks: Strategic Waters – Norfolk’s Military History

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Jul052026

Art History 101 Tour: Modern Art

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Jul052026

Unfairy Tales : Comedy Retells the Classics

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Jul052026

Tour de ORF

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Jul052026

Throw Yourself Into Pottery

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Jun122026
Oct112026

Handwork at the Hermitage

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Jul052026

Yoga on the beach Sunday morning

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Jul052026

37th and Zen Drag Brunch

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Jul052026

Blushing Branch – Paint and Sip in Norfolk | Classpop!™

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Jun072026
Aug302026

Coffee with Conservatives: Norfolk | College Edition

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Jul052026

GLEN BOSWICK & THE SOUNDS OF SWING

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Jul062026
Jul272026

Little Sprout Explorers July Series

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Jul062026

Little Zoo

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Jun292026
Sep142026

Pub Quiz

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Jul062026
Jul102026

Flameworking: Basics and Beyond with Sally Prasch

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Jul072026
Jul282026

Critter Club July Series

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Jul072026

Knotted Mermaid Tail Keychains

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Jul072026

Cruise Market Days

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Jul072026

Wild Babies

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Jul072026

Help Plant a Wetland – Norfolk

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Jul072026

Virginia in the World Wars Teacher Institute

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Jun092026
Oct272026

Trivia Night at COVA

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Jul082026

Volunteer Day: Ryan Resilience Lab Conservation Landscaping

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Jul082026

Norfolk Historical Society Monthly Lecture Series: TBD

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Jul092026

Surviving Through Mental Health: Family Matters – Part 2

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Jul092026

Fairy & Gnome Summer Homes

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Jul092026

Constellations: Contemporary Jewelry from the Dallas Museum of Art Exhibition Preview Celebration

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Jul092026

Help Plant a Wetland – Norfolk

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Jul092026

The French Girls – Sketch Comedy

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Jul102026

A Tribute to the Grateful Dead

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Jul102026

Lord of the Rings Trivia at Maker’s Craft Brewery

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Jul102026

Niiasii, The Moment, Warrington, Eras

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Jul102026
Jul112026

The Goonies at Naro Cinema

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Jul102026

Kingdom Kin: Adult Prom 2026

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Jul102026

Niiasii, The Moment, Warrington, Abbi Jean

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Jul102026

Family Twilight Trek – Cicada Night

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Jul102026

Beaded Suncatcher

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Jul102026
Jul152026

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy at Naro Cinema

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Jul112026

Silent Disco

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Jul112026

Silent Disco at Waterside

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Jul112026

NACC Waggin’ Wheels Mobile Pet Pantry

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Jul112026

Norfolk Taco Festival – 8th Annual

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Jul112026

The Unusual Suspects: A Wild Murder Mystery

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Jul112026

2026 ERT + NKR Group Paddles

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Jul112026

Wax Monkey w/ The Hookz at The Annex

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Jul112026

Boombox Rides

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Jul112026

COVA’s Gone Country 🤠

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Jul112026
Jul252026

Member Exclusive: Jr Master Gardeners

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Jul112026

Wax Monkey at The Annex

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Jul112026

Morning Meditation @ the Museum

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Jul112026

Second Saturday Stand Up Comedy

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Jul112026

Second Saturday Open Studio

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Jul112026

Matt Maeson

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Jul112026

Historic Theaters: A Downtown Norfolk Walking Tour

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Jul112026

Jazz at The Wells presents: An Evening with the Tidewater Winds Jazz Big Band

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Jul112026
Jul122026

Norfolk Taco Festival

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Jul112026

COVA’s Gone Country

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Jul112026

Special Edition Wild Tykes

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Jul112026

Fight of Faith

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Jul112026

Ice Cream Workshop

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Jul122026

Breakfast with the Animals

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Jul122026

JUL 12TH A FESTIVE SOUTHERN BRUNCH WITH FRINS

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Jul122026

Fused Stringers

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Jul122026

Daredevil with a Daguerreotype: The story of Jessie Tarbox Beals

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Jul122026

ERT – Silent Read Along Sundays

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Jul122026

Bloom Bingo Social

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Jul132026

Clay Kids Summer Camp (Ages 5-13)

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Jul132026
Jul272026

Little Zoo

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Jul132026
Aug242026

Mondays Are A Joke at Maker’s Craft Brewery

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Jul142026

The Art of Yoga

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Jul142026

Earl Sweatshirt + Mike

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Jul142026

Wild Wheels

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Jul152026

Improvement Movement at The Annex

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Jul152026

SILVERSTEIN+ STORY OF THE YEAR

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Jul152026

Improvement Movement at The Annex

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Jul152026

Sunset Kayak Tour

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Jul152026

Improvement Movement with Feign Kin at The Annex

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Jul162026

Glass After Dark: July

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Jul162026

Teacher Two-Day Workshop

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Jul162026

ERT + Roll N’ Vibes™ – Social Group Skates!

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Jul162026

Improv Comedy Alchemy

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Jul162026

Ocean View Business Association General Meeting

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Jul162026

LNK Happy Hour

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Jul162026

Glassmaking Demo

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Jul162026

Dinosaurs in the Garden

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Jul162026

Music Bingo at COVA 🎶

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The Latest

Read our blog for the latest — and greatest — happenings in the city.

Vote for Norfolk as the Local Palate’s “Best Culinary Town of the South”

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NBG Named Top Butterfly House in the U.S. a Second Year in a Row

Norfolk Botanical Garden (NBG) has been voted…

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The Art of the Sailor’s Knot: John Trevvett and the Craft of Sennit Frames

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Sail250® Virginia FAQs: Know Before You Go 

Event Overview What is Sail250® Virginia? Sail250® Virginia is a…

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Norfolk Juneteenth Events

When Juneteenth became officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, it marked a pivotal moment in African…

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Hot Out? Best Things to Do Indoors in Norfolk, VA

Norfolk is known for its sprawling water views and outdoor activities…

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July 2026 Events Guide

July is special because it marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, leading to…

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Summer 2026: So Much to See and Do

If summer is when Norfolk’s waterfront comes alive, then 2026 will be one of the liveliest years…

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