March 25, 2023
The 49th Annual Neptune Festival Crowns William “Bill” Lascara King Neptune XLIX
A Servant-Leader Honored for His Volunteer Spirit
The 49th Annual Neptune Festival is delighted to announce William “Bill” Lascara was crowned King Neptune XLIX at a ceremony held Saturday night (3/25) at the oceanfront. Lascara will now enjoy a nine-month reprieve from daily shaving as he grows in a full beard to complete his required royal regalia. King Neptune, with his lady Laura Lascara at his side, will serve as the ceremonial leaders of all of Neptune Festival’s events, from the Symphony-by-the-Sea Concert Series and Wine and Craft Beer Festivals to the Annual Boardwalk Weekend and International Sandsculpting Championship and more.
“As you know, King Neptune’s identity prior to the annual announcement is probably one of the most closely held secrets in Hampton Roads. Not even the Neptune Festival staff know his identity until the kickoff celebration,” said Kit Chope, President and CEO of the Neptune Festival. “Everyone was so pleased at tonight’s announcement. We couldn’t have chosen a more deserving King Neptune than Bill. He is truly a servant-leader. After years of service to the Neptune Festival in almost every volunteer role available, it is wonderful to see a couple who has invested so much into our community honored in this way. As the reigning royal couple, Bill and Laura will serve as exemplary ambassadors for the Neptune Festival and our city.”
King Neptune’s Royal Court is comprised of Tritons and their partners, who are community leaders selected by nomination, and rising high school senior Princes and Princesses, selected on the basis of their participation in school, community and/or civic organizations and initiatives. The Royal Court serves throughout the year as goodwill emissaries for the City of Virginia Beach. More about the 2023 Neptune Festival Royal Court can be found at https://www.neptunefestival.com/about/royal-court/
A Shareholder and Director at Pender & Coward, P.C., Lascara is a graduate of Norfolk Academy, University of Virginia and received his Juris Doctor from the Marshall Wythe School of Law, College of William & Mary. He is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Virginia Bar Association, Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association, and Virginia Beach Bar Association.
Lascara has been on the Neptune Festival Board of Directors for over 10 years, having served in a variety of positions and capacities, including as a Triton in the Royal Court, on the Neptune Festival Board of Directors’ Executive Committee and as Celebration Chair. He served on the Virginia Beach Vision Board of Directors and is currently on the Board of Directors for The Jefferson Trust, University of Virginia.
With widely recognized expertise in government contracts, construction law, general commercial litigation and real estate, Lascara is a celebrated and sought-after seminar speaker on a broad range of legal topics. He was voted by peers as Legal Elite for construction law in a poll conducted by Virginia Business Magazine for many consecutive years, repeatedly named among Coastal Virginia’s Top Lawyers-Construction Law, and named among the Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law. Bill, and his wife Laura, reside in the Birdneck Point area of Virginia Beach.
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 or visit NeptuneFestival.com.
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