Events & conventions

2026-08-29 – 2026-09-05

Artists in Residence: Open Studio

Norfolk

Free public Open Studio sessions during The Hermitage Museum & Gardens' 2026 juried Artists in Residence program — visit with 8 resident craft artists (ceramics, fiber, glass, paper, and beadwork) and watch them work as they discuss their processes and techniques.

Organizer: The Hermitage Museum & Gardens

2026-09-04

The first Friday of each month, 6–8 p.m.

First Friday (Manteo)

A free, family-oriented monthly evening event in historic downtown Manteo — live music, artisans, food, and drinks — centered at Dare Arts Gallery and running alongside the concurrent Manteo Stroll celebrating local galleries, shops, and restaurants. Its own confirmed music lineup names September 4, 2026 as the next scheduled date.

Organizer: Dare County Arts Council

2026-09-05

Before every ODU home football game, Fall 2026, at Kaufman Mall, Old Dominion University.

BAM in the WILD @ ODU Home Football Tailgates

A hands-on art-making pop-up series from Barry Art Museum at ODU's Kaufman Mall, ahead of every ODU home football game, while the museum's own building is closed for expansion construction.

Organizer: Barry Art Museum, Old Dominion University

2026-09-07 – 2026-09-12

Suffolk Plein Air Festival (6th Annual)

Suffolk

A juried plein-air painting festival inviting artists 18 and older to paint on-site across Suffolk's historic downtown, waterways, and countryside, culminating in a Wet Paint Sale & Soiree and a Quick Draw competition timed to Suffolk's Taste of Suffolk street festival. Cash awards include $3,000 for Best in Show plus category prizes for Historic, Waterfront, Farmland, Rural, and Cityscape paintings.

Organizer: Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, Suffolk Art League, Downtown Suffolk, and Suffolk Tourism

2026-09-12

The second Saturday and Sunday of most months.

Handwork at the Hermitage

Norfolk

A recurring craft-demonstration and hands-on program at The Hermitage Museum & Gardens, with a different featured craft or artist each session.

Organizer: The Hermitage Museum & Gardens

2026-09-19

Hermitage Handmade Festival

Norfolk

A craft and handwork festival at The Hermitage Museum & Gardens, part of its broader 'Handwork at the Hermitage' program.

Organizer: The Hermitage Museum & Gardens

2026-10-03 – 2026-10-04

An Occasion for the Arts (2026)

Williamsburg

An annual juried outdoor visual-arts festival in Williamsburg's Merchants Square, presenting over 150 juried artists from around the country working in painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, jewelry, wood, glass, fiber, and mixed media, alongside local-artist programming.

Organizer: An Occasion for the Arts (with the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg)

2026-10-09 – 2026-10-11

Virginia MOCA Boardwalk Art Show (70th Annual)

Virginia Beach

One of the longest-running art shows on the East Coast, featuring fine art and contemporary craft from artists nationwide along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, with an artist prize fund including a $10,000 Best in Show award. Presented by Atlantic Union Bank and supported by the City of Virginia Beach.

Organizer: Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art

2026-10-16 – 2026-10-18

Poquoson Seafood Festival (41st Annual)

Poquoson

The City of Poquoson's annual salute to the working watermen of the Chesapeake Bay and the city's coastal heritage, at Poquoson Municipal Park — regional entertainment on two stages, seafood vendors, a children's area, and the Poquoson Art League's own Juried Arts & Crafts Show featuring roughly 175 local artisans.

Organizer: City of Poquoson

2026-10-17 – 2026-10-18

Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival 2026

Norfolk

The fall 2026 occurrence of the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival, a juried outdoor art festival in Ghent, Norfolk.

Organizer: Hope House Foundation

Part of the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival series.

2026-11-06 – 2026-11-07

HELIOS: Public Arts Festival at ODU (6th Annual)

Norfolk

A festival celebrating Old Dominion University's research and creative talent at the intersection of art and science, presented by Barry Art Museum. 2026 is its 6th annual edition.

Organizer: Barry Art Museum, Old Dominion University

2026-12-31

Lights of the Albemarle Lantern Parade

A community lantern parade through downtown Elizabeth City, NC, organized by Arts of the Albemarle. 2026 is its second annual edition.

Organizer: Arts of the Albemarle

2027-05-15 – 2027-05-16

Stockley Gardens Spring Arts Festival 2027

Norfolk

The spring 2027 occurrence of the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival, a juried outdoor art festival in Ghent, Norfolk.

Organizer: Hope House Foundation

Part of the Stockley Gardens Arts Festival series.

First Friday of the month, 6–8 p.m., May through October 2026.

BCAC First Friday

A recurring evening gathering at Bertie County Arts Council's downtown Windsor gallery. The July 3, 2026 date is cancelled in favor of the Town of Windsor's own Independence Day fireworks celebration at River Center.

Organizer: Bertie County Arts Council

2026-08-21

Monthly, the third Friday of each month.

CreativeMornings VB

Virginia Beach

A free monthly breakfast speaker-series event for Virginia Beach's creative community, part of the international CreativeMornings network. Organized by Kate Pittman (ViBe Creative District), Robert Fiveash (Brand Fuel), and Tessa Hall Duquette (The Creative Well Arts Foundation), with grant support from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission. Free to attend; registration required to reserve a seat.

Organizer: CreativeMornings Virginia Beach / The Creative Well Arts Foundation

2026-08-21

Friday evenings, seasonally (summer through early fall).

Fridays at Lemon Tree

Northampton County

A recurring free Friday-evening live-music series at Lemon Tree Gallery and Studio, featuring a rotating lineup of local and regional musicians with a cash bar.

Organizer: Lemon Tree Gallery and Studio

The first Friday of every month.

Gloucester Arts on Main First Friday Opening Reception

Gloucester County

A recurring monthly opening reception celebrating Gloucester Arts on Main's new rotating exhibit, held the first Friday of every month.

Organizer: Gloucester Arts on Main

Every Saturday, April–October; 1st and 3rd Saturdays, November–March.

Old Beach Art & Eco Market

Virginia Beach

A recurring artisan and eco-friendly vendor market at ViBe Park in the ViBe Creative District, run by a community partner celebrating over 10 years of incubating small, artisan and eco-friendly businesses.

Organizer: ViBe Creative District

The third Monday of every month (unless otherwise posted), 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

PAL Watercolor Club

Hertford

A recurring watercolor painting meetup for Perquimans Arts League members of all skill levels, at the Perquimans County Recreation Center.

Organizer: Perquimans Arts League

Twice yearly, in spring and fall, since 1984.

Stockley Gardens Arts Festival

Norfolk

A juried outdoor art festival in Stockley Gardens Park in historic Ghent, held twice a year (spring and fall) since 1984. Organized by Hope House Foundation; 100% of proceeds support individuals with developmental disabilities served by the foundation.

Organizer: Hope House Foundation

2 confirmed occurrences of this series are also listed.

Annually in May, at Dowdy Park, Nags Head, NC — 37 consecutive years as of 2026.

Artrageous Kids Art Festival

A free, family-friendly annual arts festival at Dowdy Park in Nags Head, NC featuring painting, sculpting, dancing, singing, an artisan market, live music, and food vendors for kids and families. Proceeds benefit Dare Arts' cultural programming and scholarships for Dare County high school seniors pursuing fine or performing arts in college. 2026 was its 37th consecutive annual edition (started 1989).

Organizer: Dare County Arts Council

Annually each spring, at Chesapeake City Park — six consecutive years as of 2026.

Chesapeake Spring Art Festival (6th Annual)

Chesapeake

An annual art, beer, and food festival at Chesapeake City Park, presented by the Rotary Club of Chesapeake in conjunction with the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission, which juries the festival's artist applications. 2026 was its sixth annual edition (April 25–26). No 2027 date has been announced as of this capture.

Organizer: Rotary Club of Chesapeake

Annually each June, in Gloucester Courthouse, VA, running for over a decade as of 2026.

Gloucester Arts Festival

Gloucester County

An annual multi-day arts festival in Gloucester Courthouse, running for over a decade, presented in association with Fine Arts Museum of Gloucester (The Cook Foundation). Its 2026 edition included a Plein Air Gala (June 13) unveiling roughly 150 paintings from a week-long plein-air painting competition, and a Book Fair (June 20, its second annual year) celebrating literary arts. No 2027 date has been announced as of this capture.

Organizer: Fine Arts Museum of Gloucester / The Cook Foundation

Annually, historically in March, at the Hampton Roads Convention Center.

Hampton Roads Tattoo Expo

Hampton

An annual multi-day tattoo convention at the Hampton Roads Convention Center presented by Folk City Tattoo and Twisted Ink magazine, featuring hundreds of tattoo artists and vendors, live music, and contests. Historically held in March; no date has been announced for the next edition as of this capture.

Organizer: Folk City Tattoo and Twisted Ink Magazine

2026-08-22

Palette & Palate Dinner with Artist Olivia Dupree

A ticketed evening dinner event at Bertie County Arts Council featuring artist Olivia Dupree (spelled 'Oliva Dupree' in the source's own page title). Reservations by PayPal or by phone.

Organizer: Bertie County Arts Council

2026-06-19 – 2026-06-21

Tattoo Party Hampton

Hampton

A three-day tattoo convention at the Hampton Roads Convention Center presented by Black Tattoo Experience, featuring over 100 tattoo artists, live DJ sets, live tattoo competitions and awards, and a vendor marketplace. A distinct event from the also Hampton-hosted Hampton Roads Tattoo Expo, held under a different organizer.

Organizer: Black Tattoo Experience

2026-04-26

Art on the Square (60th Annual)

Williamsburg

An annual juried outdoor art show in Merchants Square featuring over 100 artists showing original, handcrafted work across a range of mediums. Organized by the Junior Woman's Club of Williamsburg; booth-fee proceeds benefit visual and performing arts organizations in the Williamsburg, James City, and York counties area. Free and open to the public.

Organizer: Junior Woman's Club of Williamsburg

2025-10-16 – 2025-10-17

The NEON Festival (10th Annual)

Norfolk

A free two-evening celebration of Norfolk's NEON District marking a decade of creative energy. The Chrysler Museum's Perry Glass Studio campus hosts live performances and glass-blowing demonstrations on the first night; Granby Street and The Plot host street closures, vendor markets, live music, and interactive art installations on the second.

Organizer: Downtown Norfolk Council / NEON District