2025 Oceanfront Event Season: Community Meeting Urges Planning Ahead for Traffic, Parking and Safety

What do City of Virginia Beach-sponsored events like Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Summer, Jackalope Fest, the North American Sand Soccer Championship and Point Break Music Festival all have in common? They are a part of the Oceanfront Event Season, a series of events offered annually by the City in the Resort Area drawing more than 10,000 attendees a day. 

Officials from the City’s Resort Management Office, Police Department and Communications Office led a community meeting on April 24. They provided valuable traffic, parking and safety information and logistics to help residents and visitors navigate to these and other major events at the Oceanfront with greater ease when encountering such large crowds. 

The community meeting, presented before a sub-committee of the Resort Advisory Commission and widely promoted to invite the general public, covered the first half of the 13-event season for 2025 from Shamrock Marathon Weekend through the Fourth of July Stars & Stripes Celebration. The next meeting on July 31 will provide logistical details for the remainder of the season. The meeting was recorded for those unable to attend and the recording is available at VirginiaBeach.gov/EventInfo.  

For each event season, the City’s aim remains the same — to enable residents and visitors to have an enjoyable experience at the Oceanfront and ensure that the City can address matters such as traffic, parking, safety, crowds, and communications. 

Meeting attendees were urged to plan and prepare before heading to their event destination by checking out VirginiaBeach.gov/EventInfo. It’s there that residents and visitors can learn more about uses of the Waze app for real-time traffic planning and the VB Go app to explore real-time parking options.  

The City recommends that the public carpools, ride shares, bicycles and walks in after parking further out to reduce traffic and parking congestion. Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), a community partner to the City, also offers year-round and seasonal bus routes to Virginia Beach, in addition to the seasonal HRT VB Wave Trolley, so you can leave the driving to HRT. 

• Watch Meeting Presentation

Stay Informed 

VirginiaBeach.gov/EventInfo is the central communications hub for event logistics and impacts throughout the year. Prior to each event, “know before you go” information is added. The information also is shared on City social media, such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, along with email channels before each event. 

• Visit VirginiaBeach.gov/EventInfo to view potential impacts to residents and visitors, such as road closures and parking restrictions, prior to each event. This page also has a “Resources’ section with downloadable materials, such as an event flyer and social media graphics.
• Enroll in VBAlert text notifications to receive updates and emergency alerts during all major events at the Oceanfront. Text VBEVENTS to 67283 to sign up. You can opt out at any time by replying LEAVE VBEVENTS. 
• Register to receive the City email newsletter at VirginiaBeach.gov/BeInTheKnow 
• Follow the event season or specific events on social media: Facebook | X | Instagram 
• Submit questions about event logistics to OceanfrontEvents@vbgov.com

Stay Safe 

Several City of Virginia Beach departments work closely each year to plan and implement safety measures and access to traffic and parking at the Resort Area, so everyone can have a safe and enjoyable experience. The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) has a zero-tolerance policy for crimes that threaten the safety of residents and visitors. 

Planning for events and activities is a large part of the process. Several departments and offices work together, along with key stakeholders – residents, business owners and civic leagues. 

VBPD has a Special Event Task Force dedicated to public safety planning throughout the year, and it plans collaboratively with Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Communications and Citizen Services (ECCS), Emergency Management, Fire, Public Works, Sheriff’s Office and partner agencies.  

Police, Fire and EMS all have response plans and staff for the entire Oceanfront area. Citywide situational awareness and monitoring occurs during all of the events. For unexpected emergencies, contingencies are also in place.  

All public safety agencies are at a single command during events to ensure real-time, integrated communications. During event weekends, the agencies are staffed for the entire city, in addition to the event area. The departments review post-event reports for all events during the planning process to address issues and create future best practices. 

Any impacts for major Oceanfront events can be found at VirginiaBeach.gov/EventInfo. 

Event Schedule & Logistics 

There are 13 major events planned for the 2025 Oceanfront Event Season with an anticipated attendance of 10,000 or more people per day. These events have special traffic, parking and public safety planning needs. For a full list of events, visit VisitVirginiaBeach.com. (Note: Event details are subject to change.) Shamrock Marathon Weekend was held in March. 

Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Summer, May 23-25 

• Time: 7-11 p.m., Friday-Sunday
• Locations: 17th Street, 24th Street and 31st Street parks. Free and open to the public.
• Traffic: Heavy traffic expected. No road closures planned.

• Parking: Expect 9th Street, 25th Street and 31st Street parking garages to be at capacity.

Jackalope Fest, May 30 – June 1 

• Time: 5-11 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday
• Locations: 31st Street Park and on the beach between 28th and 32nd streets

• Traffic: Heavy traffic expected on 31st Street between Atlantic and the Laskin Road roundabout. No road closures planned.
• Parking: Expect 25th Street and 31st Street parking garages to be at capacity.  

North American Sand Soccer Championship, June 6-8 

• Time: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday
• Locations: 2nd-35th streets on the beach
• Traffic: Heavy traffic expected. No road closures planned.
• Parking: Expect 9th Street, 25th Street and 31st Street parking garages to be at capacity.  

Point Break Festival, June 21-22 

• Time: Noon to 11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday
• Locations: 4th-8th streets on the beach and Boardwalk
• Traffic: Heavy traffic expected south of 17th Street. Expect road closure around Rudee Loop during festival hours of operation.
• Parking: Expect 9th Street, 25th Street and 31st Street parking garages to be at capacity.  

Fourth of July Stars & Stripes Celebration, July 4 

• Time: 7-11 p.m. (fireworks at 9:30 p.m.), Friday
• Locations: 17th Street, 24th Street and 31st Street parks. Fireworks at 24th Street. Free and open tot he public. 
• Traffic: Heavy traffic expected. No road closures planned.
• Parking: Expect 9th Street, 25th Street and 31st Street parking garages to be at capacity.

• Event Info