The late September air has taken on the barest hint of autumn, but the warmth of the summer sun isn’t quite ready to abandon the pristine Virginia Beach oceanfront. It’s the perfect weather for the Neptune Festival – one of the largest special event celebrations on the east coast. Each fall, 400,000 festival lovers come out to stroll the boardwalk, rent pedal surreys, eat festival food and see the amazing sand sculptures.

The Neptune Festival was created in 1974 as a way to inspire community pride and fellowship among the families, athletes, military, seniors, and young adults of Virginia Beach. The annual entertainment and events staged by the non-profit organization are all designed to “Celebrate Our Community” and they are quick to include visitors in that community, because tourists are a vibrant part of this oceanfront resort city.

The month-long Neptune Festival includes over 35 community events, including the Grand Parade with extravagant floats, lively marching bands and, of course, King Neptune and his Royal Court. Participants can compete in Neptune’s Atlantic Regatta, Neptune’s Surfing Classic, a triathlon and several different run/walks. These events require registration to participate, but cheering them on is free.

Neptune Festival Boardwalk Weekend

The grand finale of the Neptune Festival is Boardwalk Weekend – one of the best family-friendly and dog-friendly “fest-events” you’ll find. On Saturday and Sunday, a 32-block section of the boardwalk is lined with hundreds of talented arts & crafts artisans presenting their original works, as well as food stands serving up mouthwatering Atlantic seafood and favorite festival fare. Travel Maestro tip: Fresh Chesapeake Bay crab cakes and a sugary funnel cake are THE best!

A continual series of free outdoor concerts play at three separate stages along the seemingly endless boardwalk. Many permanent restaurants and bars have patio tables overlooking the boardwalk, beach and ocean where you can take a break from the strolling and enjoy some people watching while you refuel. Or you can sip and savor fine Virginia wines at an annual fall wine festival in an oceanfront park on the boardwalk (ticket required). On Saturday night, crowds ooh and ahh at the glittering colors of the Fireworks Extravaganza as they explode over the Atlantic in a dazzling nighttime display.

North American Sand Sculpting Championship

Now you may have made sand castles as a kid, but I’m willing to bet they never came out like this signature event of the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival! International master sculptors compete for cash prizes in one of the largest sand sculpting competitions in the world. 12 Solo artist and 10 doubles teams each get a 12’x12’ plot inside a 30,000 square foot tent (that’s the size of a football field!), a big pile of sand and three 8-hour periods to create their intricate artwork. The outcome is simply astounding!  For $3.00 visitors can view the masterpieces from covered, handicapped-accessible walkways on the sand. Please enjoy the photos below of the fabulous sand sculptures.

If you would like an oceanfront room with a balcony overlooking the boardwalk for next year’s Neptune Festival, contact Covington Travel to make your arrangements.

Some of my favorite sand sculptures this year were: