Here we are together again for a weekend chock-full of Hampton Roads events. So, let’s get started.
There are thousands of things going on this weekend, but here are a few that made the list…
4th Annual Wounded Warriors Softball Tournament
If you don’t have a special place in your heart for our armed forces, I am sure you will after seeing over 30 wounded warrior teams compete in an all-day softball tournament at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex Saturday. Thirty-four teams from Iraqi and Afghanistan fleets will match up in support of the upcoming Wounded Warriors Cruise V which will take place November 8-15, 2015. All proceeds will go to providing the warriors and their spouses free cabins during the trip. First pitch is at 8:00 a.m.
Southern Fried Festival
Doesn’t the sound of competing BBQ teams just make your mouth water? Well, get on down to the 2015 Virginia Southern Fried Festival in Hampton Saturday & Sunday for an all-weekend long BBQ competition for the title “Virginia’s Best BBQ”! But BBQ isn’t just the only thing to be excited about. Presented by Ocean City, Maryland-based Live Wire Media, the festival will be part of a series of weekend events that include The VA Hot Rod & Custom Car Show and the VA BBQ Championships. Plus, attendees to this year’s Southern Fried Festival will see some of the hottest pro street cars, classics, hot rods, race cars, modern muscle cars, custom bikes, 4×4 trucks, and street trucks around. So, race on to the Langley Speedway located at 11 Dale Lemonds Drive in Hampton for what is sure to be a true celebration of Hot Rod Culture.
45th Annual Seawall Art Show
Looking to buy and make a difference? The Portsmouth Museum and Fine Arts Commission and the Portsmouth Museum Foundation is hosting the 45th Annual Seawall Art Show that will allow you to do that and more at High Street Landing. This prestigious event of showcased juried fine arts and crafts draws large crowds of site seers and art buyers. All proceeds go to fine arts of Portsmouth. The event starts at 10:00 a.m.
John F. Kennedy Keel Laying Ceremony
Aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is getting its start Saturday during a Keel-Laying ceremony at Huntington-Ingall’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. Catch the entire ceremony right here on WTKR.com starting at 10:00 a.m.
3rd Annual Back 2 School Youth Rally
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Logan Park, and Tidewater Lodge #106 present the 3rd annual Back2School Youth Rally Saturday, August 22 at the Titustown Recreation Center in Norfolk from 11a.m. – 4p.m. There will be games, cookout-style fresh food, a motivational speaker, music, fun, and even a basketball game. Thought that was it? Hardly! Area beauty and barber beauticians will provide over 100 FREE back to school hairstyles and haircuts! Children can participate in various fun activities and receive over 300 free backpacks & school supplies!
2nd Annual Suffolk Mystery Author’s Festival
A few weeks back I told you how going to the library ranked highly on a things to do on a money-free weekend list. Well, I’ve found you book lovers something to do. Saturday, the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, Suffolk Public Library and Suffolk Tourism present this unique festival that is sure to appeal to avid readers and aspiring writers alike. The festival will feature 24 best-selling authors of mysteries, suspense, romance and women’s fiction. New for 2015 is a Private VIP Meet & Greet event, from 12 until p.m., where fans can mingle with their favorite authors, enjoy light refreshments and take home a Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival swag bag. The Festival opens to the general public at 1 p.m. and is free with no tickets required.
Khedive Shriners Annual Seafood Festival
You’ll be hungry after all of that reading, so head on over to the Khedive Shrine Center located at 645 Woodlake Drive in Chesapeake for ALL YOU CAN EAT steamed shrimp, fried oysters, fish, clam strips, clam chowder, coleslaw, baked beans, home-made hushpuppies, and your favorite drink! Gates open at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $35.00 in advance and $40.00 at the door. Beat me there because if not there won’t be anymore food!!!
The Mount presents Backpacks! The Back to School Drive
FREE backpacks, school supplies, food, AND a battle of the bands — need I say more? This massive back to school drive goes down Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in Portsmouth. They’ve got the some of the BADDEST…and they mean BADDEST DRUMLINES around (College & High School) ready to show out and celebrate the youth. It’s going to be big! Don’t miss it! Another…only at the mount events.
15th Annual Latino Music Festival
Doesn’t a Latino music festival just make you wanna dance? No? Well, it should. This Saturday from 5:00-10:00 p.m. the Hampton Roads Hispanic Chamber of Commerce encourages you to dance and more. The sun goes down, the stars come out and the largest outdoor, waterfront dance floor in Hampton Roads heats up with the hottest Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Cha-cha-cha, Bolero dancing on the East Coast. Live explosive Latin music by local and regional recording artists will fill Town Point Park all night long! For more information visit: www.festevents.org.
2015 Church Street Celebration
The City of Norfolk is putting on a massive community day Sunday, August 23 at Church Street and Virginia Beach Boulevard from 3:00-7:00 p.m. This free gospel community event is open to the public and is a celebration of the rich musical history and talented musicians of Church Street. Bring the whole family to this community day where there will be music, food and fun! PLEASE NOTE: Lincoln Street will be restricted from E. Onley Road to E. Virginia Beach Boulevard from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
For a listing of these events and more head on over to our Events tab located on the home page of our website. Also, if you would like to submit any events to be featured in our weekly blog, send them over by emailing us at desk@wtkr.com. And of course catch us weekends starting at 6:00/6:30 p.m. on NewsChannel 3.
-McKinley Strother
