Family events in Virginia Beach, VA

Toddler Time is a parent and me-style program focused on rhymes, music, movement, and books, designed for toddlers ages 2 to 3.

Bring the kids for an afternoon packed with bounce houses, games, prizes, pizza, and music. It’s a laid-back family event with nonstop fun during the summer series.

Enjoy a creative outing with a one-day pottery wheel class at Enchanted Pottery Studios. It is a fun choice for date night, a girls night, or a family activity. Reserve a spot in advance online or at the studio, then attend the session you selected.

Ease into the weekend with an evening tram tour through the wildlife refuge. As daylight fades, watch for wildlife and take in views as the sun sets across Back Bay. This relaxed outing showcases the refuge at one of the most picturesque times of day.

VB Master Gardener Water Stewards lead a hands-on workshop where you will assemble a sealed 55 gallon rain barrel. Each barrel costs $85 and comes with a diverter kit at no additional charge for installation on your existing downspout. The session is family friendly. To help prevent algae, plan to paint the white barrel before installing it. The workshop takes place at VB Farmers Market, in the Rural Heritage Center on the back loop. Advance registration is required.

Come out for the MTC Summer Sizzle Car Show at Cavalier Ford Chesapeake Square. This family-friendly show welcomes all years, makes, and models of passenger cars, trucks, and motorcycles, and it’s a judged classes event with multiple class awards plus top awards including Best in Show, Dealer’s Choice, VFW Choice, and Club Participation. There’s also a 50/50 drawing at the conclusion of the show. Registration is onsite only, and spectators do not pay.

Meet up with Virginia Beach Master Gardeners for an informal “Ask a Master Gardener” session at Naval Air Station Oceana. You can stop by to get help and answers for gardening questions. The event runs every other Saturday with hours from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It’s located by the Navy Exchange inside a building next to the nursery, and it is before base entry with access for all visitors.

Build something awesome with stackable bricks and other materials using your imagination. This program is designed for children in grades K-5, and registration is not required.

Join for a Storytime session with a few stories read aloud, plus an activity afterward. It’s a laid-back hour for kids and families to enjoy some reading time together.

Kids can create a refreshing stop for pollinators by turning a terracotta pot and tray into a colorful watering station. With guidance provided, participants paint with bright hues that butterflies, bees, and other pollinators love, choosing a playful mushroom style or designing their own look. This hands-on workshop is offered only at the Independence Blvd location. It is recommended for ages 3 and up, and parental assistance may be needed. The cost is $15 and includes all supplies and instruction. Register in the store or online, and walk-ins are welcome while supplies last.

The Virginia Beach Street Food Festival is a fun weekend for food lovers, bringing in Virginia Beach’s best restaurants and food trucks for an outdoor food-and-entertainment lineup at The Shack. Most items are priced at $5 or less so you can sample from lots of vendors, with live music and DJs, plus extra activities like a cornhole tournament, mechanical bull riding, a kids fun zone, giant orange crush garden, and eating challenges. General admission runs 2 PM to 8 PM, and VIP includes a 2-hour early entry along with beverage and food vouchers and access to an indoor VIP area. Children 10 and under are free.

Join in for a family-friendly Air Band Jam where kids can feel like rock stars without needing musical talent. You’ll have inflatable instruments, temporary tattoos, hair chalk, and stage-ready fun before you step into the spotlight. Families can lip-sync a favorite rock song, strike a pose for a pretend album cover photo, and cheer on everyone taking part. Drop in anytime during the event window.

Enjoy Summer Fest at Town Center with a live music lineup featuring local performers. The Fountain Plaza will be the heart of the evening, and you can also make it a full family night with plenty of dinner options nearby that include outdoor seating within earshot of the music.

This guided stroll along the Virginia Beach Oceanfront uncovers the boardwalk’s darker legends, sharing ghost stories, pirate lore, accounts of shipwrecks and tragic endings, and whispers of Blackbeard’s buried treasure. The Virginia Beach OceanHaunt Walking Tour runs about one hour and covers roughly a mile on foot. The route begins where the Boardwalk meets 22nd St at the oceanfront, so comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing are recommended. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children. If the tour is canceled due to rain or low turnout, ticket holders will receive a full refund and will be notified by email. No refunds are issued for no-shows, and spots often fill quickly. The subject matter includes mature themes, so parents should use their discretion when deciding if their child is ready for this experience.

At The Void, a family-friendly market celebrates creativity, entrepreneurship, and community. This first Kids Market will feature only kid vendors and vendors whose products, services, or experiences are made for children. Look for handmade goods, baked treats, kid-centered activities, and other creative offerings as young entrepreneurs set up shop and share what they have been building. Kids Yoga with Skys the Limit Yoga will take place in the Earth Studio, and school supply donations will be collected to support local schools as students head back into the classroom. A full vendor list will be shared closer to the event, and the focus remains on giving kids a proud moment to present their work, learn the basics of selling, and feel inspired to keep pursuing their ideas.

Groovin’ by the Bay is back for a free, family-friendly summer concert at Buckroe Beach. Enjoy a mix of oldies, Motown, top 40, pop, and rock favorites, plus dancing and local food trucks to round out the evening. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating and comfortable shoes for dancing.

Fond Memories brings a lively set to the Town Center Plaza in Virginia Beach, showcasing a five-singer lineup that celebrates favorites from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond. For this performance, former member Frank Cubillo, also known as Frank Sings Frank, returns to step in for his friend Jim Groeninger, also known as Jimmy G Sings, who is unavailable. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and dancing shoes for a fun concert.

This beginner-friendly Rock 101 music camp is designed for kids ages 7 to 12 with no prior experience. Students will explore instruments through music-based games and hands-on activities, work on songs during the week, and wrap up with a concert performance for family and friends. The camp runs Monday through Friday, with daily sessions from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Critter Camp is a nature and wildlife themed day camp for children ages 3 to 5. Kids will learn about the environment through hands-on activities like crafts, storytelling, nature exploration, animal identification, and outdoor field trips. The camp meets at Northwest River Park each day during the week with an outdoor focus, plus water games. Parents must participate, and families should send children with water, lunch, sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, and (as needed) a change of clothes. DEET-free bug spray can be applied before camp starts if preferred.

A summer playgroup from FIT4MOM Southwest Chesapeake at Mount Trashmore features a DIY Boats activity where children design and build simple boats for imaginative water play. The hands-on session encourages creativity, problem solving, and sensory exploration as caregivers and kids make, experiment, and enjoy time together with the FIT4MOM community.

Brighten up your Monday with a family movie matinee at the library. Movies will be rated G to PG, with the featured lineup including The Good Dinosaur (June), The Croods (July), and Ice Age (August).

A playful, hands-on playgroup from Camp FIT4MOM Southwest Chesapeake at City View District Park features DIY Lemonade Bags and Boats. Kids make lemonade using bags, then create simple boats for imaginative play and exploration. The activities emphasize creativity and sensory fun while bringing together the FIT4MOM community.

Babygarten is a parent-and-baby storytime built around fun rhymes and songs. Expect movement activities, colorful toys, board books, and helpful resources for parents, all geared toward growing a happy, healthy baby one rhyme at a time.

Curious about the sewing studio but not ready for a full season? Kids can try out a group trial class where they’ll get oriented to the sewing machine and complete a drawstring backpack project to take home. All supplies are included, and kids ages 5 to 12 will work individually with an instructor during the session.

Join in for Little Farmers: Storytime on the Farm at Cullipher Farm. Kids will listen to a farm-themed story featuring animals, nature, and life on the farm. After the book, children take part in a simple hands-on activity inspired by the story to explore, create, and play. The class is designed for young learners (recommended ages 3-7), is free, and requires a reservation since capacity is limited. Parents can attend with no additional ticket.

Bond with your baby through rhymes, repetition, and music at this drop-in early learning storytime. You’ll have access to board books and one-on-one book sharing. This program is for babies ages 3 to 12 months with a caregiver, and no registration is required. Please note that because it starts before regular library hours, staff will allow entry only between 9:20 and 9:30 a.m., and latecomers won’t be admitted after 9:30 a.m.

Art workshops return to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, with each session focusing on a new painting and step-by-step instruction from an artist. Participants may explore a range of painting techniques, and everyone finishes with a unique, completed artwork to take home.

Enjoy a drop-in family craft where all supplies are provided. This is a no-registration event for families with kids ages 3 to 5, 5 to 7, and 8 to 11.

Join for a relaxed hour of coffee, treats, and playful activities designed for babies up to 24 months. It is a chance for caregivers to connect while little ones explore and play with other children. The event is free to attend and open to all guardians, and there is no JCC membership required. Registration/notice is requested ahead of time.

Bring your little one for an open-play hangout at Oceanfront Area Library. This is a relaxed social time for caregivers and children to play together, with no registration needed. The event is for ages 12 to 36 months and is designed for caregiver-child participation.

Join a caregiver-and-toddler storytime designed to help build early language skills as your child transitions from crawling to walking. The session includes rhymes, books, and hands-on activities focused on pre-reading development and large motor skills. Registration is required for this program for ages 12 to 23 months, with caregivers attending as well.

Bring your child to a fun KinderSTEM program designed to help with getting ready for kindergarten. Through group activities, story time, and hands-on exploration, kids will learn basic concepts. The main formal portion runs for about 30 minutes, and after that there’s free play with a craft plus a fresh set of special KinderSTEM learning toys each week.

Stop by the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library for the 2nd Annual VB TRIAD Community Collaboration Expo: It’s a Family Affair, a free, family-friendly event focused on bringing the Virginia Beach community together. You can browse community resources, health and wellness exhibitors, and safety and crime-prevention information, enjoy fun activities and games, listen to music and entertainment, and connect through networking opportunities. There will also be giveaways and prizes, and there’s free parking. Doors open at 11:15 AM, and registration is required.

Get creative with a fun hands-on brick-building session where kids can use stackable bricks and other materials to imagine and build their own creations. This is for Pre-K through 5th grade, and registration isn’t required.