September 28, 2022

Due to Forecasted Hazardous Wind & Rain Conditions, Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend 2022 has been Cancelled

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the unfortunate,  yet necessary, cancellation our 48th Annual Neptune  Festival Boardwalk activities planned for September 30 – October 2, 2022. Due to the forecasted heavy rains, tidal flooding, and gusty winds for this weekend, we are unable  to guarantee a safe and enjoyable environment.

However, the International Sandsculpting Championship  tent will open to the public Wednesday, October 5th  through Sunday, October 9th.

We will also move forward with our indoor event,  Neptune’s Final Toast: Celebrating our Hometown Heroes,  featuring 4x Super Bowl Champion, Rocky Bleier, scheduled for Sunday, October 2nd at the Hilton Virginia Beach  Oceanfront. More information regarding this event and tickets can be found on our website – https://www.neptunefestival.com/events/hometown-heroes-neptunes-final-toast

“While the Neptune Festival hosts more than 40 events each year, Boardwalk Weekend is our flagship celebration for which we literally plan all year long,” said Kit Chope, Neptune Festival CEO. “With the support of more than 900 dedicated volunteers, we welcome more than 400,000 visitors during the three-day event. Add to that 225 artists, 150 vendors and nonprofit partners, all event participants, and you have a lot of moving parts. This heartbreaking decision was not made lightly, but it’s the right one. The community’s safety is paramount.”

Event cancellations include:

  • Neptune’s Art & Craft Show
  • All Concerts at 24th and 31st Street Parks
  • All Boardwalk vendors
  • Neptune’s Healthy Haven
  • Neptune’s 8k Race
  • Poseidon’s Playground Family Fun Zone
  • Neptune’s Touch-A-Truck Experience
  • Neptune’s Grand Parade
  • Neptune’s Surfing Classic (potential postponement)
  • Atlantic Regatta
  • Youth Art Show
  • Chrysler Museum Mobile Glass Studio
  • Sandsculpting Clinics

The Neptune Festival office will be in touch with all vendors, artists, and event participants regarding refunds and other pertinent information. Please be patient as we reach out to everyone individually.

About Virginia Beach Neptune Festival
The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival is a private, non-profit 501-C3 organization, producing over 40 events per year, which generate tens of millions of dollars in the local economy and contribute to the charitable, educational, and recreational development of Hampton Roads. The economic impact to the area of its flagship event alone, The Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend, was $23.8M in 2018. The annual weekend event is ranked among the Top 100 Events in North America and within the Top 20 Events in the Southeastern US by recognized tourism industry organizations. Neptune’s Sand Sculpting Championship is considered one of the best competitions of its kind in the world. 2022’s Boardwalk Weekend was scheduled for September 30th through October 2nd this year. For more information, call the Festival office at 757.498.0215 (1.866.NEP.FEST) or visit NeptuneFestival.com.
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