2025 Year in Review
Another fantastic year
Celebrating the Beach Life
It’s been another amazing turn around the sun! We’re proud to bring together the people of Virginia Beach and our surrounding communities to enjoy the best the Beach has to offer.
Our Mission
To celebrate the spirit of Virginia Beach through authentic experiences that foster joy, community, and connection for all.
Our Vision
To create a sense of community where everyone feels like a local — and celebrates the beach life together.
Our Core Values
We Love Our Community.
We exist to unite, inspire, and uplift the people of Virginia Beach. We are proud to be a part of this unique community and passionately share the joys of beach life.
Everyone is Welcome Here.
We foster a sense of community where everyone – locals, visitors, volunteers, and businesses – feels valued, included, and connected.
Life is Meant to be Celebrated.
We believe in bringing joy and happiness to others through shared experiences.
Provide Authentic Experiences.
We stay true to the spirit of Virginia Beach – the people, culture, and way of celebrating life.
Value the Past, Embrace the Future.
We honor our rich history and long-standing traditions, while embracing opportunities to evolve for future generations.
Local Collaborations
Creative Moments
Commemorative Items
2025 Festival Attendance
This year, our community showed up strong. In addition to the impressive number of attendees at the 52nd Annual Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend, 75% of guests visited our events more than 1 day and 61% of guests attended all 3 days. Thank you for joining us to celebrate the beach life while supporting the Virginia Beach community!
Built by Locals, Loved by All
From the Spring Wine Festival in May to the last day of Boardwalk Weekend in September, the Neptune Festival would not be possible without the crucial support of our volunteers! Beyond pure logistical assistance, Neptune Festival Volunteers bring a special atmosphere of community involvement, ownership, and fun to our events.
In 2025, 800 volunteer positions were filled by dedicated members of our community – resulting in a
total of 4,250 volunteer hours in service to the Festival and our special city by the sea.
405,400
Total Boardwalk Weekend Attendance
Economic Impact
Our Boardwalk Weekend events alone generate a $26.1 million economic impact in Virginia Beach annually.
The City earned approximately $1.35 million in local tax revenues from Neptune Festival attendee spending.
Attendees generated up to 27,003 hotel room nights in Virginia Beach.
The Neptune Festival is proud to reinvest directly into our community by spending more than $2,000,000 with local businesses, service providers, vendors, and suppliers annually.
Magnini, V. (2023). The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of the 2023 Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Institute for Service Research, Virginia Beach, VA.
A Celebration All Year Long
Did you know even before Boardwalk Weekend arrives, we’ve already hosted a wide variety of beachy events?
12,000+
Attendees at early season events
including
30th Annual Neptune’s Invitational Golf Tournament
Neptune’s 20th Annual Spring Wine Festival
14th Annual Symphony by the Sea Series(feat. five free concerts!)
Neptune’s 10th Annual Coastal Craft Beer Festival
Seniors' Gala
Neptune’s 28th Annual Fall Wine Festival
End of Summer Bay Bash
Boardwalk Weekend
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people celebrate with us on the boardwalk, enjoying concerts, sandcastle competitions, art shows, craft fairs, and so much more.
4,518
volunteer hours
20
free concerts
40
hours of live music
Athletic Adventures
Part of what makes Virginia Beach a great place to live and visit is our beautiful weather, sandy beaches, and a shared love of being active in the sunshine.
1,050
Participants in Neptune’s 8K Race (SOLD OUT!)
170
Participants in 9 Healthy Haven fitness classes taught by local instructors
23
boats racing in the Atlantic Regatta
118
Surfers riding the waves
120
Competitors in Neptune's Volleyball Tournament
Home to
2025 USA Volleyball National Training Development Program
Family Fun Zone
The Neptune Festival truly has something for everyone, with fun and free activities for visitors of all ages!
617
Ornaments painted with Mermaid Factory at Poseidon’s Playground
92
Parade Units in the Grand Parade
18
Vehicles at our newly expanded 2-day touch-a-truck event
Dock Dogs
Full audience all weekend long!
International Sandsculpting Championship
A signature event since its inception, our International Sandsculpting Championship has distinguished itself as the premier event unlike any other, with artists joining us from countries around the world.
33,000
Visitors came through the sandcastle tent
900,000
Pounds of sand were used to construct the sculptures
250
Families learned how to build a sandcastle from a pro
12
Countries represented
32
Sculptors participated
22
Sculptures showcased
Young Collectors Tent
In 2025, we saw the return of our Young Collectors Tent. Designed to spark a love for the arts, this new initiative gave children aged 6-12 the chance to start their very own art collection.
For just $5, kids chose a professional piece of art to take home, fostering creativity and appreciation for the arts at an early age.
200+
Young collectors who came through the tent
Art & Craft Show
We turn the Boardwalk into an open-air gallery, featuring more than 200 artists from across the country with unique, handmade creations in a variety of styles and mediums!
204
Artists in Art & Craft Show
23
States Represented
Youth Art Show
An art show unlike any other, the Youth Art Show is a Boardwalk Weekend staple. Open to all young artists, grades 4-12, this event gives them the chance to display and sell their creations in a juried venue.
188
Artists in Youth Art Show
335
Art submissions in Youth Art Show
Stroll Our Showcase
Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend featured more than 400 vendors on the boardwalk. In addition to the above Art & Craft Show vendors, the Marketplace offers more Festival fun – with 182 food, shopping, and nonprofit vendors, and nearly three miles of smiles, this event is a true standout!
42
Food & drink vendors
89
Shopping Vendors
32
Local Nonprofits given free space
Beyond the Boardwalk
We not only pride ourselves on having a positive economic impact on the City of Virginia Beach and all of Hampton Roads, but we also focus on opportunities to extend that benefit to other nonprofits and charitable organizations in our area.
NONPROFIT PARTNER OF THE YEAR
In both 2024 and 2025, we were honored to highlight
Ability Center of Virginia
as our Nonprofit Partner of the Year, furthering our commitment to making a meaningful difference in our community.
Organizations supported
32 local non-profit organizations were given free space on the boardwalk to tell their story and engage event attendees.
The Governor’s School for the Arts’ involvement in the International Sandsculpting Championship as docents and venue staff earned their organization $27,000.
An additional $9,500 went to Ability Center of Virginia, Town Center Kiwanis Club of Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach Rotary Club, EQUI-KIDS, Virginia Beach Lifesaving Association, Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum, and LIFT Fitness Foundation for their support of Neptune Festival events.
16 Hometown Heroes were honored at Neptune’s Final Toast, featuring keynote speaker NBA Referee, Tony Brothers!
Heroes from Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia Beach Fire Department, Virginia Beach Department of EMS, Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office, US Army, US Navy, US Marine Corps, and US Coast Guard were honored at a reception by the sea.
2025 Neptune Festival Royal Court
The Royal Court is comprised of a King or Queen Neptune and Tritons, Princes, and Princesses.
King or Queen Neptune and Tritons are chosen from nominations submitted by the general public. The selection process weighs criteria such as demonstrated involvement and contribution to the quality of life in Virginia Beach and active participation in the activities of community life. Princes and Princesses are selected through an application process, and have demonstrated active participation in school, community and/or civic organizations and endeavors.
Once chosen, the Royal Court become ambassadors for the City throughout the year.
Queen Neptune LI
Buffy Barefoot
TowneBank
2025 Tritons
Dave Bellis
ADS, Inc.
Bart Dexter
Hourigan
Melinda Hancock
Sentara Health
Dan Heatwole
Ripley Heatwole
Jason Kies
KPMG
Tim Paice
BDO
Anthony Walters
YMCA of South Hampton Roads
2025 Prince & Princesses
2025 Prince and Princesses represent Bayside High School, Cape Henry Collegiate, Cox High School, Kellam High School, Kempsville High School, First Colonial High School, Norfolk Academy, and Princess Anne High School.
Kennedy Armstrong
Maren Baxley
Londyn Coleman
Beverly Cuffee
Grace Curran
Carson Gaddy
Aditya Jain
Vedha Nuthi
Hattie Novario
Lily Rouse
Sadie Ruane
Sami Sager
Aubrey Swain
2025 Neptune Festival Sponsors
Supreme + Premier Sponsors
Major Sponsors
Leading Sponsors
Official Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Contributing Sponsors
Friends
AARP of Virginia
Barry Art Museum
Beacon Harbor Wealth Adv
Beach Gallery
Black Tie Beach Shop
Blue Legacy Advisors
C&M Industries
CHKD
Chrysler Museum of Art
Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers
Core Assurace Partners
Mike and Joyce Field
Hunter and Kara Hanger
Hercules Fence
Hampton Roads Transit
iFly
IKEA
Jerry’s Artarama
Jody’s Popcorn
Kimley-Horn
Kotarides Development
Mermaid Factory
MSP Design Group
Navy League of Hampton Roads
Norfolk International Airport
Operation Smile
Rockafeller’s
P.G. Harris Construction
Southern Bank
The Somers Group, Merrill Lynch
Wall, Einhorn, and Chernitzer
Scepter Society
John & Regina Amick
Stephen & Ashley Armbruster
Jason & Buffy Barefoot
Thomas & PJ Barton III
Thomas & Ann Barton Jr.
Robert & Renée Broermann
David & Anne Burton
Lonnie & Heather Bush
Adam & Kylene Carroll
Steve & Denise Childs
Stacy & Aimée Cummings
Douglas & Ellen Ellis
Taylor & Emily Franklin
Peter & Karen Graham
Brad & Molly Hobbs
Robert & Wendy Howard
Jeremy & Lisa Ingram
Akhil & Nita Jain
Kyle & Mollie Korte
Pat Litz
George & Gwen MacDonald
John & Harriet Malbon
Ronald & Terri McIntosh
Cheryl McLeskey & Bob McDonnell
George & Kim Melnyk
William & Laura Morrison
Victor Philleo & Laura Jens
Scott Sadler & Tonie Wallace Sadler
Gregory & Becky Sawyer
Will & Bev Sessoms
Patrick & Kim Shuler
Jim & Joan Spore
Ros & Katherine Willis
