Free events in Hampton Roads, VA

Stop by the Chesapeake Friday Farmers Market for a community-friendly market featuring fresh produce and a wide variety of local goodies. You can browse items like meat, cheese, eggs, breads, microgreens, sauces, sweets, treats, and more, plus there will be food trucks each week. The market setup is on Knells Ridge, one block west of Battlefield Boulevard, behind Chesapeake Regional Healthcare. Weather permitting.

Enjoy a relaxed gathering to play games and take part in complimentary raffles. There is no entry fee.

Head to the Western Branch Splash Park for the Glow in the Park summer event. Expect games, music, giveaways, and photo opportunities, and it’s free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so bring your own folding chairs or picnic blankets. Note that the park will be closed from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. for setup.

The Williamsburg Farmers Market hosts a Music Series featuring LCV Project on the market stage in downtown Williamsburg. Visitors can explore seasonal produce, baked treats, and handmade goods from local vendors while live music adds a welcoming community vibe. It is a lively mix of shopping and performance that celebrates local makers and musicians.

Dairy Day at Lee Hall Mansion shares the site's 20th century history, highlighting the years it operated as Lee Hall Dairy, one of the small dairy farms on the Virginia Peninsula. Visitors can browse dairy farm artifacts and photographs, take part in family games, and create a dairy cow puppet. The program is part of the Explore with Your Library Card series. Hampton Roads area library card holders receive free admission by showing their library card, and all other guests are admitted with regular museum admission.

At Hampton Public Library in Hampton, VA, The Cemetery Lady leads a welcoming conversation about the history, care, and protection of Virginia’s cemeteries. The program is designed for anyone interested in local history, genealogy, historic preservation, archaeology, or learning more about Hampton’s heritage. The discussion covers subjects such as family and historic burial grounds along with why cemeteries matter. It also addresses Virginia cemetery laws, neglected and abandoned sites, preservation practices, development and safeguards, research approaches for genealogy, and the meanings behind headstone symbols. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions, whether about assisting an old cemetery, caring for a family plot, or understanding what state law provides for historic sites. This free event is open to the public and is guided by an educator, researcher, and cemetery preservation advocate known as The Cemetery Lady, with a focus on honoring the past and protecting the future.

Oozlefinch’s Creekside Vibes Summer Concert Series returns for a second summer with free outdoor shows on the creekside stage. Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos are the featured act for this edition. Guests can expect live music, cold drinks, and food trucks on site in a laid back summer setting. The event is family friendly. Outside food is allowed with cooler checks, though outside alcohol is prohibited. A valid ID is required. Since the concerts are outdoors, rain delays or postponements may occur, with updates shared on social media.

Everyone has a story to tell. This storytelling open mic focuses on body art and invites attendees to share the meaning behind their tattoos or piercings. It is part of the No Rusty Ears Storytelling Series presented by Hampton Storytelling and takes place at the Hampton History Museum. Admission is free. Presented in partnership with the Unity Commission, with support from Virginia Organizing and Sonesta Simply Suites.

Admission is free for live music at Buckroe Beach, where shoreline scenery pairs with a relaxed summer vibe. Attendees can bring lawn chairs and gather with friends and family while taking in ocean breezes and the soundtrack of the season. A favorite Hampton tradition, this summer concert series offers a lively atmosphere by the water.

Come enjoy an evening of music and dancing at the free, family-friendly Groovin’ by the Bay concert series at Buckroe Beach. This concert runs from 5 to 8 p.m., and you can also look forward to local food trucks. Free parking is available in Buckroe Beach lots and in legal on-street spaces as marked. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating along with their dancing shoes. Note that pets are not allowed in the park and beach areas east of First Street (including the greenspace, facilities, boardwalk, and beach) from May 15 through Sept. 15, and only service animals are permitted. The playground is also off-limits to non-service animals year-round.

Catch a free movie on the big screen in the Ella Fitzgerald Theater as part of the Summer Movie Series. The lineup includes titles like Zootopia 2, Wicked: For Good, The Super Mario Galaxy movie and more. Each week features a different film, and admission is free.

Join us every Tuesday for a free movie screening at the Ella Fitzgerald Theater at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. The series runs on Tuesdays and features family-friendly movies, with this showing taking place from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Head to DowningGross.org for the full lineup and ticket information.

Join a free summer writing workshop for tweens and teens where you’ll write, imagine, and share your ideas. This workshop is designed to build creativity and storytelling skills, and week three focuses on plot structure.

Enjoy a free outdoor yoga session on the green at Tech Center Marketplace, presented by the Onelife Fitness group fitness team. Instruction is led by Sharyn and Dannielle, with occasional guest presenters. Bring a mat or a beach towel and take time to move, breathe, and reset in a welcoming open-air setting. Check the event page for updates and any weather-related notices.

Entry is free. Drop in for a chance at free raffles.

Test pacing skills at the Tom Ray Memorial Predict Your Time 5 miler, part of a summer fun run series held on the Newport News Park Bike Trail. Watches are not permitted, and participants predict their finish time before covering the distance. The closest match between predicted and actual time determines the winner. Instead of a registration fee, bring two canned donations, one for people and one for pets.

Enjoy a free, family-friendly open mic at 25 Mics that brings the community together to celebrate local talent. Budding musicians, comedians, poets, and storytellers are invited to step up to the mic and share their voices, while others can sit back and take in a lively mix of performances and good vibes.

Celebrate museum lovers every day with summer guided tours of Fort Monroe. Enjoy a free, 45-minute tour that sets out from the Visitor Center and explores different areas of the fort. The route changes daily and no registration is required.

Pokemon League play is available with free entry. Have fun and earn promo packs.

Join Zoo Tales, a popular story-time program with two new stories and an animal encounter featuring a zoo animal ambassador. Each week ties into a changing monthly theme. You can find the exact meetup spot in the Zoo’s Fountain Plaza by checking the signs posted on the day of your visit. Admission is free with general admission.

SafeHaven Empowerment Center offers a weekly, free grocery distribution that helps ensure families in the community can access nutritious food. In collaboration with THRIVE Peninsula, the program provides an array of fresh, quality options at no cost and welcomes all, with distribution taking place in the order that people arrive. Visitors can expect fresh produce, breads and baked goods, pantry essentials, kid-friendly choices, and proteins when available, with enough variety for households to select what fits their needs. Volunteers create a warm, respectful setting where people choose what works for them without judgment or pressure, and no forms are needed to receive assistance. This ongoing effort addresses rising food insecurity by offering relief, stability, and hope. Community members can help extend its reach by sharing the information, volunteering, or donating food, funds, or other resources.