Neptune Festival Announces Additional Boardwalk Weekend Schedule Changes in Response to High Winds

Select events move to Virginia Beach Convention Center; Sandsculpting Championship, Neptune’s 8K Race and weekend concerts remain scheduled

Sept. 24, 2026 – Virginia Beach, Va. – The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival has announced additional changes to its 52nd Annual Boardwalk Weekend schedule in response to continued high winds and Friday’s forecasted conditions at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

Forecasted winds will prevent tents and other temporary event infrastructure from being safely installed along the Boardwalk on Friday. As a result, several Boardwalk Weekend activities will move to the Virginia Beach Convention Center for Saturday and Sunday, select outdoor events will proceed as scheduled and several events have been canceled.

Friday Boardwalk activities remain suspended following the previously announced delay in artist and vendor load-in. Farm Aid Family Reunion programming will not continuing in 31st Street Park on Friday evening. 

“Our priority is the safety of everyone participating in Boardwalk Weekend — from our guests and volunteers to artists, vendors and event teams,” said Kit Chope, president and CEO of the Neptune Festival. “Our team has worked to preserve as much of the weekend as possible, and we look forward to welcoming the community to events at the Convention Center and throughout the oceanfront beginning Saturday.”

Attendees are encouraged to check NeptuneFestival.com and our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram (@NeptuneFestival) before traveling to the oceanfront for the latest schedule information and event updates.

EVENTS MOVING TO THE VIRGINIA BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

The following activities will take place at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27:

Neptune Festival Art & Craft Show

  • Saturday, Sept. 26 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 27 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Poseidon’s Playground

Free family activities will include:

  • The Mermaid Factory Paint Parties
  • Face Painting, Balloon Artists, Fairy Hair

Young Collectors Art Gallery & Art Making Studio for Kids

  • Saturday, Sept. 26 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 27 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Touch-A-Truck

  • Saturday, Sept. 26 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 27 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Youth Art Show

  • Sunday, Sept. 27

The Neptune Festival Commemorative Poster and official Neptune Festival T-shirts will be available at the Convention Center.

 

EVENTS PROCEEDING THIS WEEKEND

Neptune’s International Sandsculpting Championship will open to the public Saturday, Sept. 26, at noon and remain open through Sunday, Oct. 4.

Neptune’s 8K Race will proceed as planned Saturday morning with an 8 a.m. start. Packet pickup will take place Friday, Sept. 25, from 3–8 p.m. at Smartmouth Pilot House. The race is sold out.

Hometown Heroes Reception will take place as scheduled from 3–5 p.m. at Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

WEEKEND CONCERTS

Saturday and Sunday concerts at 31st Street and 24th Street parks will proceed as scheduled.

Saturday, Sept. 26

31st Street Park

  • 3–5 p.m. | Allen Hudson & the Halfmoons
  • 5:30–7 p.m. | Rocky 7
  • 7:30–9 p.m. | KT Tunstall
  • 9:30–11 p.m. | Gavin DeGraw

24th Street Park

  • 3–5 p.m. | Alec Edmonds
  • 5:30–7 p.m. | Ben Phelps Project
  • 7:30–9 p.m. | Bennett Walker Wales Band
  • 9:30–11 p.m. | Soul Asylum

Sunday, Sept. 27

31st Street Park

  • 1–3 p.m. | Intangible Cats
  • 3:30–6 p.m. | Strictly Bizzness

24th Street Park

  • 1–3 p.m. | Nate Sacks and the Lifehacks
  • 3:30–6 p.m. | Grateful Jed

 

CANCELED EVENTS

The following Boardwalk Weekend events have been canceled:

  • Neptune Festival Grand Parade
  • Dock Dogs
  • Neptune’s Atlantic Regatta
  • Neptune’s Surfing Classic
  • Neptune’s Volleyball Tournament
  • Healthy Haven
  • Sand + Street Soccer
  • All non-Art & Craft Show boardwalk vendors (Marketplace, Food, and Nonprofit vendors)

 

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ABOUT VIRGINIA BEACH NEPTUNE FESTIVAL

Founded in 1974, the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that produces more than 40 events each year celebrating the spirit of Virginia Beach through authentic experiences that foster joy, community and connection for all. The Festival’s flagship event, Boardwalk Weekend, has an economic impact of $26.1 million, attendance of more than 405,000 and recognition as one of North America’s Top 100 Events. The 2026 Boardwalk Weekend will take place Sept. 25-27. For more information, visit NeptuneFestival.com or call (757) 498-0215.