Memorial Day means so much more than a three-day weekend, and here in Norfolk, there are several important ways to observe the holiday and honor the men and women who have died serving in the U.S. armed forces. Home to the world’s largest naval base as well as the last and largest battleship built by the U.S. Navy, Norfolk is rich with military history. Here are some ways to commemorate Memorial Day in Norfolk, Virginia.
Cover photo: @tripodphil, Instagram
Attend the 2024 Patriotic Festival
Whisper Concerts and SevenVenues join forces for the 20th Annual Patriotic Festival Country Weekend featuring performances by country music sensations Zac Brown Band, HARDY and Bailey Zimmerman. Performances will take place Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26 at the Scope Arena in Downtown Norfolk. Three-day tickets and single show tickets for all concerts are available at the Scope Arena box office, Ticketmaster.com and PatrioticFestival.com.
Spend Time at the Armed Forces Memorial
This very special memorial connecting to Town Point Park features 20 inscriptions from letters written home by U.S. service members who lost their lives in war. The letters have been cast in thin sheets of bronze and are scattered across the ground as if blown there by the wind.
Visit Nauticus, Battleship Wisconsin and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum
Learn about Norfolk’s maritime history by exploring Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin. Located Downtown along the Elizabeth River, this maritime discover center features fun and hands-on education for all ages. Also on site, the Hampton Roads Naval Museum celebrates the history of the fleet in Hampton Roads.
Experience a Naval Base Tour
The Victory Rover is your front-row seat to the U.S. Navy’s Norfolk-based fleet. Departing from a berth just a short walk along the Downtown Norfolk Harbor from Nauticus, the Victory Rover offers a 2-hour narrated naval base tour. Passengers will witness the majesty of the Navy’s aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, guided missile cruisers and other vessels that make up the world’s most powerful sea-going armada.
Explore the Cannonball Trail
Take part on this self-guided tour through 400 years of Norfolk and American history. Walk the cobblestone streets of West Freemason—the earliest residential streetscape in Norfolk—before strolling Downtown where you’ll see narrative plaques that mark places and events of historic interest. You’ll even find a Civil War-era cannonball still lodged in the wall of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church!
Visit the MacArthur Memorial
Located Downtown, the MacArthur Memorial is dedicated to the life and legacy of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur but also pays tribute to the millions of Americans who served during the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War.
Have a Beach Day
Soak up the sun over the long weekend at the beach! Norfolk has three beaches in the low-key Ocean View area that are perfect for swimming. These include Sarah Constant Beach Park, just east of 4th View Street, Community Beach Park, and Ocean View Beach Park, farther east near Norfolk Avenue.
Support a Veteran-Owned Business
Home to the world’s largest naval base, Norfolk has understandably become home to many veterans who have proudly served our country. Take the opportunity to support them and thank them for their service as you observe Memorial Day weekend in Norfolk.
