Parks After Dark Program Returns to Virginia Beach This Summer

Free evening live music, movies, lawn games, food, video game tournaments and more are returning to Williams Farm Park this summer.

The popular Parks After Dark event series from Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation will be 6-11 p.m. on most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from June 6 through Aug. 24.

“We are excited for the return of Parks After Dark this summer to offer free, family fun for all,” said Michael Kirschman, director of Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation. “This is a program created for the local community, by the local community. In 2023, Parks After Dark hosted 28 evening events with more than 12,000 visitors over the course of the summer.”

Parks After Dark also provides employment opportunities for young leaders from the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). Around three quarters of the Parks After Dark staff reside in the immediate area. SYEP participants are involved in every element of the program, leading each event by providing food tickets, serving food, monitoring safety, creating and leading arts and crafts, and implementing recreational activities for any age group.

Parks After Dark first launched in 2023 to establish a safe space for fun, family-friendly activities during evening hours when fewer activities are available for youth and teens. The park program brings together a wide range of community groups and resources for attendees, including the Mayor's Youth Violence Prevention Task Force, local neighborhoods and civic leagues, Virginia Beach Public Library, Western Bayside Community United, Virginia Beach Police Department and Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

Recreation center membership is not required to take part in Parks After Dark. Visitors will check-in at the Guest Services tent to receive a hand stamp and food voucher ticket (while supplies last). For full details of activities and vendors taking part each week, visit virginiabeach.gov/ParksAfterDark.

About Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation

Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation strives to promote healthy lifestyles and protect the City's coastal environment, as well as to ensure all residents – regardless of their physical, social and economic circumstances – can access Parks & Recreation programs. The department's vision is to be the national leader in providing enriching and memorable lifelong experiences. Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is the 2023 National Gold Medal Award winner for excellence in Parks and Recreation Management in the Class I category by the American Academy for Parks and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association. Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA, the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association.