NORFOLK, Va. - The City of Norfolk made an announcement that the annual Patriotic Festival would take place in Norfolk in 2022.
The city held a press conference Monday at 9:30 a.m. at Chrysler Hall.
The head of the festival confirmed that this Patriotic Festival is the same festival that usually takes place at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said they couldn’t accommodate them on Memorial Day weekend, thus the switch, but the Patriotic Festival did not mention that reason.
"We [the City of Virginia Beach] wish them the best," said Dyer. "We couldn't accommodate a change to Memorial Day weekend, and it's certainly true that outdoor events are subject to weather impacts."
The decision to move the festival to Norfolk was kept confidential. The decision to move the festival indoors was to utilize more indoor space.
Officials told News 3 that negotiations with artists are still ongoing and vaccination requirements at concerts will be determined by the artists.
According to festival officials, other festival planners had nothing to do with the pulling of the Something in the Water festivalor the Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon from Virginia Beach.
The plans to move the Patriotic Festival were in motion September 2020. The coronavirus pandemic gave the festival committee a chance to step back and plan strategically.
"This was a business decision, and COVID allowed us to sit back and look at our long-term goal," said Festival President Ira Agricola.
They say this event will honor our armed forces and will feature live concerts, military and corporate displays and other attractions at Town Point Park and the Norfolk Scope Arena.
An artist lineup should be announced soon.
"This is a festival where more than 130,000 people attend and it generates more than 23 million dollars into the local economy," said Agricola.
