NORFOLK, Va. – Come out and celebrate the Virginia Children’s Festival’s 31st birthday!
The 31st Annual Virginia Children’s Festival will return to Norfolk’s Town Point Park on Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Photo: Norfolk Festevents
More than 100 fun, creative and interactive activities will be incorporated into this year’s theme of “Under the Sea.” Activities include storytelling, hands-on workshops, educational displays, cultural experiences, arts and crafts, military demonstrations, costumed characters and more.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Norfolk Mermaid, the festival will feature two live mermaids, the costumed cast of “The Little Mermaid” and mermaid-themed arts, crafts and apparel.
The festival will be organized into separate aquatic-themed zones, with each zone offering a unique educational experience.
Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats, WHRO’s Mr. Steve with special guest Skye Zentz and the Hurrah Players will headline this year’s live performances.
Tickets are $5 for all ages. Infants age one and under get in free. Click here to purchase.
Below is the complete list of entertainment at the 31st Annual Virginia Children’s Festival:
Stage, Activity & Storytelling Schedule
WHRO Public Media Lights! Camera! Action! Stage
10:15 a.m. NEW! Hurrah Players present The Little Mermaid
11:00 a.m. NEW! WHRO Public Media presents GreenBeats with Skye Zentz and Steve Songs
11:50 a.m. Baby Shark Dance!
12:00 p.m. NEW! Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
12:45 p.m. NEW! Hurrah Players present The Little Mermaid
1:30 p.m. NEW! WHRO Public Media Presents Steve Songs with special guest Skye Zentz
2:15 p.m. Baby Shark Dance!
2:30 p.m. NEW! Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
Ready, Set, GO! Stage
10:10 a.m. AOM Suzuki Strings Program
10:40 a.m. Ballet Virginia
11:10 a.m. Todd Rosenlieb Dance
12:10 p.m. Little Gym Jets
12:40 p.m. Evelyn Ott School of Dance
1:10 p.m. NEW! Zumba Kids with Tanecia & Tamerah
1:45 p.m. BellA Dance
2:15 p.m. Mad Science of Hampton Roads – Interactive Science Show
Mid-Autumn Moon Stage
10:30 a.m. NEW! Tidewater Chinese School Cucurbit Flute Performance
10:40 a.m. Tidewater Chinese School Band Performance
11:00 a.m. NEW! Er Hu by Tidewater Chinese School
11:15 a.m. NEW! Tidewater Chinese School Zither Ensemble
11:30 a.m. NEW! Tidewater Chinese School Zither Solo
11:45 a.m. NEW! Chinese Kungfu by Confucius Center Institute at ODU
12:00 p.m. NEW! Vocal Solo by Confucius Center Institute at ODU
1:30 p.m. Jow Ga Kung Fu Martial Arts Demo
2:00 p.m. Jow Ga Kung Fu Chinese Lion Dance Performance
Pirate’s Den School for Pirates with the Defiant Crew:
11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.
Lemonade Ripple Book Nook:
10:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m.
Back Bay Mermaid Book Nook:
10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:00 p.m.
NEW! REACH Book Nook with Florenza Lee:
11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
NEW! Storytime with Mermaid Bryn:
10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Education Station
- Make your own tiara, visit the costumed dancers’ dance shoe petting zoo, and enjoy performances with Ballet Virginia.
- Performances by Evelyn Ott School of Dance.
- Enjoy performances by BellA Dance.
- NEW! Zumba demos and performances by Zumba Kids with Tanecia & Tamerah!
- Watch performances by Todd Rosenlieb Dance Center and VBT professional dancers along with youth performers and visit their booth to win free tickets to this weekend’s “Stories for the Young” production!
- Go crazy with science at the Mad Science of Hampton Roads tent doing hands on experiments with chemical reactions, dry ice and electricity!
- The Brain Balance Center will stimulate brain development through fun creative movement stations.
- Pirates from the Defiant Crew! Learn about a pirates’ life at their School for Pirates!
- Stay up to date with the The Virginian-Pilot, the #1 news source for Hampton Roads.
- The Norfolk Public Library is back by popular demand … crafts, costume meet and greets with Pete the Cat, and the Bookmobile!
- Stop by WHRO Public Media’s PBS Kid’s Village to meet Super Why and Jet from Sid the Science Kid & have fun at their interactive environmental station!
- NEW! Visit GEICO to learn about safe driving to protect you and your family on the road.
- Join ODU Physics and check out a hands-on interactive physics lab.
- Enjoy a wooden craft project with the Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America!
- NEW! Stop by the VA 529 booth to learn how you can financially plan for your child’s college career.
- Plant, tree or flower? Name that smell with the VCE Norfolk Master Gardeners!
- NEW! Learn about car seat safety and participate in a raffle for a car seat with CHKD Trauma Services, Nursing Services & Therapy Services.
- NEW! Join CHKD Respiratory Therapy for asthma education and an interactive “Test your lung strength” game.
- NEW! Make your mermaid headband or pirate bandana at the Kids Art and Crafts Tent.
- NEW! Learn to cook with Now You’re Cooking Culinary Studio –offering culinary demonstrations all day long!
- Giant Lawn Games!
- NEW! Chalk the Walk! Draw a picture of your favorite sea creature on the walkways of Town Point Park help decorate the park with your spark!
The Fun Zone
- Quench your thirst and learn about doing something sweet from your friends at the Foundation for Community Betterment. Listen to stories at the Lemonade Ripple Book Nook.
- Super Market Sweep! Shop for breakfast lunch and dinner at the play grocery store.
- Check out Hot 100, Virginia’s hit music channel.
- NEW! Craft away with LemonDrop Makery!
- NEW! Listen to music that makes you feel good from today and back in the day with Movin 107.7.
- Meet a professional dancer and make your own nutcracker craft with the Richmond Ballet!
- NEW! Make and take a bookmark at REACH and enjoy story time with Children’s author Florenza Lee!
Discovery Dock
- Visit with the fairest Real Fairy Tale Party princesses in all the land.
- Explore the world of plants with the Norfolk Botanical Garden!
- Learn about your future as a Monarch at ODU.edu, and be on the lookout for Old Dominion University’s Big Blue!
- Get moving with The Little Gym! Performances at the Ready, Set, GO! Stage.
- Play Doh Island Imagination Station!
- Legoland! Put your creative thinking cap on and build a structure with thousands of Legos.
- Play a plinko game and make a friend with the Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.
- NEW! Stop by the Under the Sea Coloring Station where you can meet Hurrah Player’s sea creatures, color a life-size mermaid, and learn the baby shark dance!
- Grab a seat, meet a mermaid and hear a story read at the Back Bay Mermaid Book Nook!
- Teddy Bear Tea – Have a picnic in the park with your favorite teddy!
- Set up camp, dress up, and imagine at the Little Soldiers tent.
- Dress up like royalty in the Princess Pavilion.
- NEW! If you’re looking for spiritual enrichment programs for your entire family, take a moment to speak with the representatives of The Mount.
Cultural Coast
- Visit with the Confucius Center Institute at ODU and practice your calligraphy!
- NEW! Learn about oriental brush painting with Blue Heron Chapter, Sumi-e Society of America.
- Learn Chinese and enjoy performances with the Tidewater Chinese School!
- Brush up on your martial arts and learn about the traditional Chinese Dragon dance with Jow Ga Kung Fu.
- Enjoy performances on the International Stage by the Eastern Virginia Chinese American Association!
- NEW! Norwegian crafts, coloring pages and more with Sons of Norway!
- See and learn about traditional Chinese artifacts with First Chinese Baptist Church.
- Brush up on your Chinese calligraphy and art with the Organization of Chinese Americans-Eastern Virginia Chapter.
River Walk
- NEW! Learn about how Optima Health can provide healthy lifestyle options for you and your family.
- NEW! Brush up on your biofacts and spin a prize wheel with the Virginia Zoo!
- NEW! Learn about hurricane preparedness and weather safety with JES.
- Go fishing for rubber duckies with CHIP of South Hampton Roads!
- Let your imagination soar with the Children’s Museum of Virginia!
- Play a recycling drop game with Hampton Roads Recycling Perks.
- Check out the sound of now with 94.9, The Point Radio Station.
- NEW! You work hard for your money, let ABNB Federal Credit Union teach you how to save and invest!
- NEW! Let Anthem help you find the health insurance plan which best suits your household’s needs.
Friendship Beach
- Gear up for a family road trip with Southern Auto Group!
- NEW! State Farm is here to educate you on a variety of life, auto, homeowners, and renters insurance plans that fit your family’s budget.
- NEW! Visit the IBM booth where you can get a free tattoo and learn to code by turning your initials into a key ring!
- NEW! Let out your wild side with the Virginia Living Museum!
- NEW! For wireless family plans with great coverage, Metro PCS is available to get you started today.
- NEW! Stop by and meet your favorite mascot, Salty, and try on hockey gear with the Norfolk Admirals!
- Town Point Train Depot… CHOO CHOO!! Take a ride on the Town Point Express ($)
- NEW! Make your favorite balloon sea creature animal with Dilly Dally Clowns!
- Enjoy free sea-worthy face painting with Funny Faces by Julie!
- NEW! Storytime with Mermaid Bryn!
Toddler Town
- Toys and tikes galore in a gated area for our younger festival guests! Climb, jump, run & skip in this festival playground in the Festival Baby Ball Pits! To enter, toddlers must be 3ft tall or shorter. Here you will find Gymboree.
- NEW! Stop in for a hot slice with Pizza Hut!
TowneBank Fountain Park
- NEW! Touch a Boat- Experience up close & personal views of all your favorite sea crafts!
- NEW! Let your energy SOAR in Inflatable Land!
VCF Costumed Characters
- Andy the Octopus
- Ariel
- Back Bay Mermaid
- Bryn the Mermaid
- Cinderella
- Defiant Crew Pirates
- The Little Mermaid Cast
- Moana
- Mr. Steve of WHRO
- Pete the Cat
- Rapunzel
- Sandy the Sea Turtle
- Sid the Science Kid
- Star Wars Storm Troopers
- Super Why
VCF Food Vendors
- Cogan’s Pizza
- Deep Fried Kettle Corn
- Grace & Sarah American Cuisine
- Grapevine Greek Food
- Hawaiian Sno
- Kraffles Krazy Waffles
- Pollard’s Food Truck
- Seafoam Cotton Candy
- Spud’s American Cuisine
VCF Retail Vendors
- The Bear Necessities
- Usborne Books
- Whimsical Wonderhaven
Click here for more information.
