ABOUT

NEPTUNE FESTIVAL ROYAL COURT

ABOUT
HISTORY & FACTS
DEMOGRAPHICS
BEYOND THE BOARDWALK
STATUE
LEADERSHIP
ROYAL COURT
STAFF

The Neptune Legend

The legend of Neptune says that this Roman god was King of the Sea. Carrying his trident, a three-pronged spear, Neptune would drive in his dolphin-pulled chariot over the waters, calming the waters wherever he went. Since the beginning of the Neptune Festival, people from the Virginia Beach community have been chosen to play the part of King Neptune and his Royal Court.

King Neptune & His Royal Court

The King is chosen by the Neptune Festival committee from nominations solicited from 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. Once chosen, the King and his Court become ambassadors for the City throughout the year.

2018 Neptune Festival King Neptune
David Burton
David Burton is a partner with the law firm of Williams Mullen in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk offices. He serves as a member of Williams Mullen’s Executive Management team and is the Regional Managing Partner for Hampton Roads, as well as a member of Williams Mullen’s Board of Directors.

David has been named among Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business Magazine; selected to the Virginia Super Lawyers list, including its top 100 lawyers list; recognized as a leading Labor & Employment attorney by Chambers USA; and named among the top lawyers in Coastal Virginia by CoVa Biz Magazine. David is also listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management and Labor & Employment Litigation. In 2016, Best Lawyers named him “Lawyer of the Year” for Labor-Law Management in Norfolk.

The newly crowned King Neptune is deeply involved in giving back the community. He serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Neptune Festival, as well as a member of its Executive Committee. In 2017 the Neptune Festival awarded David with the John J. Kruger Award for outstanding service to the Festival and the community. David also serves on the Board of the Virginia Aquarium and of the Princess Anne Country Club. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of Cape Henry Collegiate and the Virginia Stage Company. David also serves on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section.

David earned his Bachelors of the Arts degree with honors from Elon College in 1988 and his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the T.C. Williams School of Law of the University of Richmond in 1991. Prior to joining Williams Mullen, David served as a law clerk at the Virginia Supreme Court from 1991 to 1993.

David and his wife Anne live in Virginia Beach and have been married since 1993. They are the parents of two children, Maurie and Campbell.

2018 Neptune Festival Tritons
Joining King Neptune are Tritons, men of the community, who are also selected by nomination and an understanding of the spirit of the Neptune Festival.

James Church, Sr. | Priority Automotive
David Clower, Sr. | Architectural Graphics, Inc
Akhil Jain | Landmark Hotel Group
George MacDonald | MacDonald & Ingram Wealth Mgmt Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
George Melnyk, Jr. | Premier Millwork & Lumber Company, Inc
James Noel, III | The Franklin Johnston Group
Victor Philleo | Waterfront Advisory Group of Raymond James
Stephen Sager | TowneBank Mortgage

2018 Neptune Festival Princesses
The Neptune Princesses are chosen in an open competition November of their junior year of high school.

Brianna Arluk
Georgia Barefoot
Elizabeth Collins
Sydney Doyon
Elena Duncan
Gabriella Gianascoli
Virginia Hobbs
Emily Marks
Lauren Matacunas
Ireland Miller
Madison Thomas
Christine Underwood
Katherine Vittone

2018 Court Attendants and King's Page

Beverly Cuffee | Madeline Hobbs | Avery Hunn | Peyton McDonald