15 May 2025
Virginia Beach is gearing up for a summer of exciting new experiences and unforgettable adventures. From groundbreaking attractions and outdoor thrills to sweet summer treats and ocean views, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Catch the wave of the newest openings and experiences you can look forward to in the destination this summer:
EVENTS, EXPERIENCES & SERVICES
Jackalope Fest brings back the heat
The world-famous action sports festival returns to Virginia Beach from May 30 to June 1! Watch some of the best skateboarders, boulderers and BASE jumpers in the world compete in a three-day display of thrilling athleticism on the oceanfront. The festival also will feature the premiere of the documentary film “Across America,” which follows skateboarder Chad Caruso's cross-country, Guinness World record-setting journey from Venice Beach to Virginia Beach on his board.
Sip hops and slurp half shells at the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center on May 18 for a one-night-only celebration of freshly-shucked oysters, local brews and live music on the water. At Hops & Half Shells, guests can enjoy locally-farmed oysters on the half shell, charbroiled or in po'boys, and an open bar stocked with beer and wine all while learning about the impact of oysters on local ecosystems from representatives with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Aquarium's Sensible Seafood Program. All shells will be collected and recycled to support reef restoration efforts. Tickets are available for purchase here. Guests must be 21+.
Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum reopens to the public
After being closed for several months, the original United States Coast Guard Station watchtower has been restored and updated. Home to the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum, it officially reopens on May 21 and chronicles the city's rich legacy of lifesaving services balanced with modern surfing exhibits including a new surfline camera.
Savor spring flavors at the Strawberry Fest at the Beach
The newly designated Artery District will host its first-ever Strawberry Fest at The Beach on Saturday, May 17, along Laskin Road at the Oceanfront. Honoring the long-running festival held in the city's Pungo district, this vibrant new event will feature live music, a variety of local strawberry vendors, and a pie eating contest.
PLACES TO PLAY
Playgrounds Get a Major Upgrade at Mount Trashmore and Little Island Park
Families can look forward to fresh air and new adventures at two upgraded playgrounds in Virginia Beach. At Mount Trashmore Park, a $1.6 million renovation has transformed part of the hillside into an imaginative play zone, with slides built into the slope, climbing structures and a 3,200-square-foot expansion of the Kid's Cove. In Sandbridge, Little Island Park now features a brand-new beachfront playground, with sand mounds separating the play area from the beach, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge just steps away.
Owl Creek Landing debuts a first-of-its-kind attraction
Just across the creek from the Virginia Aquarium and Adventure Park, a new attraction is rising at Owl Creek Landing! Nautilus Lookout Tower, a fully ADA-accessible, outdoor climbing structure, circles to a height of 65 feet to immerse visitors in nature. Opening in June, Nautilus Tower is the first of its kind in the USA and includes the nation's longest stainless-steel slide at 171 ft. spiraling back to the ground. For more information on tickets, see here.
Surf new waves at Atlantic Park
Slated to open this summer and heralded by Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams, the brand-new surf park is a $350M, 10-acre, mixed-use development centered around the two-acre surf lagoon using emerging wave technology.
The Dome debuts May 4
Virginia Beach's newest entertainment venue features a flexible design with doors that open to the outdoors, welcoming audiences up to approximately 5,000. The venue name is an homage to the dome-shaped Alan B. Shepard Convention Center (circa 1958) that sat in the same location and was torn down in 1994. Three Dog Night was the last band to perform at this iconic venue and will be the first performance at the new opening on May 4, 2025. In its opening weeks, The Dome also will host performances from Grammy-winning singer Melissa Etheridge, Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer Pat Benatar, and comedy legend Kevin James among others. See the full schedule and get tickets here.
HISTORICAL MILESTONES
10 years of ViBes
April marked 10 years of the ViBe Creative District as the city's arts and culture hub. Home to working artisans and colorful streetscapes, the district has grown into a dynamic destination for art, food and community since its founding in 2015. Visitors can celebrate the milestone at signature happenings like First Fridays, Mural Walking Tours and the eighth annual Mural Festival (Oct. 3-12), where artists create 10 new murals in real time.
False Cape becomes newest Civil War Trails Site
False Cape State Park is the newest stop on the Civil War Trails. Known for its untouched beaches and remote natural beauty, the park site marks the 1863 escape of 70 Confederate prisoners from the USS Maple Leaf. After hiking nearly six miles along the shore, visitors are rewarded with a new interpretive historical marker to commemorate the Civil War Trails site.
Historic landmark designation bestowed upon Oceanfront cottages
A beloved piece of Virginia Beach's coastal history has earned official recognition, as the 37th Street Cottages Historic District has been designated a historic landmark by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Built between 1913 and 1928, the oceanfront cottages reflect a quintessential early-20th-century resort style and served as vacation rentals, wartime housing and later, family-run accommodations. The district now joins the Cutty Sark Motel on the Virginia Landmarks Register, with nomination to the National Register of Historic Places underway.
HOTEL + SHORELINE UPGRADES
The Cardinal Restaurant and Bar at DoubleTree
With live music several nights a week, rotating art showcases, and a regionally inspired menu, the newest restaurant at the DoubleTree by Hilton aims to be a vibrant gathering place for locals and visitors alike. The Cardinal Restaurant and Bar incorporates the artistic flourish of the ViBe District, with the interior featuring a bold mural by artist Jeff Tarkenton, offering a fresh new space where good food meets local culture next door to the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach Town Center
As part of the renovations of Crowne Plaza Virginia Beach Town Center, the hotel's new Flagship Restaurant & Lounge is now open and serving up coastal American fare with locally-sourced ingredients. The renovations also include 148 revamped guest rooms equipped with modern furnishings, as well as a reimagined lobby and refreshed meeting spaces that blend comfort with functionality.
Oceanfront beach replenishment project underway
In an effort to restore eroded areas of the coastline, the city is adding nearly one million cubic yards of sand between 15th and 45th Street to extend the shoreline to 400 ft. wide at high tide. With the last beach restoration in 2019, the project takes place every five to seven years to mitigate damage caused by climate events from storms to floods and protect the coastline. The beach remains open during this project that wraps ahead of the summer season kickoff.
SWEET BITES
Nearly two years after a devastating fire on Atlantic Avenue destroyed several longtime businesses, a new breakfast spot is opening in tribute to the beloved Maple Tree Pancake House, which served the Virginia Beach community for 42 years. Atlantic Waffle Company, led by the former Maple Tree property manager, brings back familiar favorites—including the pancake house's signature crepe-style Swedish pancakes. With many original staff members returning, the restaurant stands as a heartfelt symbol of resilience and community spirit.
Virginia Beach has a new cozy corner for year-round treats with The Barn Ice Cream, a family-run shop that's as charming as it is delicious. Housed in a red barn-style building, the shop offers 24 flavors of Blue Bell ice cream, funnel fries, churros, s'mores and a rotating lineup of house-made soups and chilis. Open just in time for summer, guests can enjoy their treats on swings and picnic tables outside while listening to live acoustic music or gather around the fire pit with a s'mores kit in hand.
Splurge Cheesecakes and Treats
Opened by former home baker Cheryl and her partner James, Splurge Cheesecakes and Treats features a tempting selection of decadent, handcrafted mini cheesecakes, each served in tulip-shaped baking cups. Fan favorites include seasonal eggnog, raspberry swirl, and Boston cream, along with an array of other baked goods such as lemon bars, cupcakes, and crumbly coffee cake.
Blue Cow Ice Cream is bringing their small-batch, artisan scoops to Pungo with the opening of their second Virginia Beach location. The Roanoke original is known for their handcrafted flavors like Strawberry Balsamic and Three Ships Coffee Chip, offering something for everyone, including dairy-free and gluten-free options.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS
A new spot for boba lovers has arrived in Virginia Beach with the opening of Khoalitea Café (pronounced qua-li-tea). Founded by Vietnam native Khoa Pelczar, the cafe specializes in loose-leaf milk and fruit teas, fresh sugarcane drinks and select Vietnamese coffee staples. From refreshing wintermelon tea with bursting boba—an ode to Khoa's roots—to locally inspired creations like the Virginia Peach milk tea, the menu offers thoughtfully crafted drinks that are sure to delight every palate.
Gran Patron's sixth and newest location opened last month on the Oceanfront. The longtime Hampton Roads favorite will offer their signature homemade margarita mix, authentic Mexican dishes and an expanded seafood menu featuring crab cakes, salmon and coconut shrimp. With a covered outdoor patio with ocean views and a rooftop space for private events, the new restaurant is poised to become a lively social hub along Atlantic Avenue.
Step inside this cozy, family-owned Argentinian restaurant serving up bold, homemade flavors. With only five tables, the intimate spot offers a focused menu of appetizers, salads and sandwiches, including standout options like chicken or beef milanesa and juicy chicken empanadas.
