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October 27, 2023
Dear Valued Tourism Partners,
It’s a super fun time of year and there’s no place that knows fun like Virginia Beach! From the resort area to Town Center and beyond, there are tons of ways to enjoy our City during this festive season, starting with this weekend’s happenings and events.
Congratulations to Assistant Resort Administrator Bill Kelly on his 2023 Outstanding City Employee award from the Virginia Beach Rotary Club. This prestigious honor is given to select members of the City organization who have demonstrated exemplary service to their community through their public service. Dedicated and passionate about his work, this honor is most-fitting as Bill has been instrumental in making a difference in the lives of many youth athletes and their families.
 
It’s Time To Get Wicked! Come out to experience coastal Virginia’s largest Halloween race and party at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront October 27 and 28. Race packet pickup starts today for the Old Point National Bank Wicked 10K, 5K and Mini Monster 1K presented by Bon Secours. Always a treat, the family-friendly Monster Mile starts the weekend off this evening at 6 p.m. The fun continues tomorrow with the Wicked 10k, 5k and Monster 1k races and after party. A full schedule of events can be found here.
Please take note the race events will cause temporary traffic impacts in the Resort and nearby areas later today and tomorrow, October 27 and 28. The Road Closure Notice, found here, includes useful information for staff and guests. Hampton Road Transit (HRT) operations in the Resort area for Saturday are detailed in an HRT Customer Alert found here.
Two more seasonal events promise lots of fun for everyone! Both offer free family-friendly activities on Saturday, October 28, starting at 11 a.m. The Pumpkins and Pirates Fest at 17th Street Park is a great place for the young ones to enjoy face painters, carnival games, stilt walkers, family relay races, roving jugglers, pirate DJs and more. Don’t forget to dress your family like pirates, take advantage of photo ops, and participate in a costume contest. Town Center invites the community to come dressed in their best costumes during their annual Town and Treat. Stop by for trick or treating at Town Center businesses and enjoy activity stations, roaming characters, games, music, cotton candy, costume contests, and more. Prizes to be awarded!
CVB Sales Activity and News: This week is another busy one for the Meetings and Conventions Sales Team. Amy Overstreet, Jamie Rawls and Dee Mittman all had site visits. Jamie is also traveling to Raleigh, NC with the VA DMO’s making joint sales calls and hosting client events. Sally Noona is headed to Austin, TX to attend the fall retreat with the American Society of Association Executives’ Meetings & Events committee.
CVB Director of Media Relations Erin Goldmeier was in New York City this week hosting travel writers interested in learning more about our destination. Media outlets represented included AFAR, USA Today, Parent’s Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and Fodor’s Travel. We look forward to sharing the future articles and stories resulting from this media event.
In Sports this week, we’ll host an estimated 4,000+ athletes across three sporting events. The 2023 Old Point National Bank Wicked 10k race kicks things off with a unique blend of athleticism and Halloween festivity as runners take to the streets in costume. Following closely is the 2023 Trick or Treat Spooky Bash softball event at the Princess Anne Athletic Complex, featuring teams competing in their Halloween best. Wrapping up the week is the 2023 Feast Jam Basketball Tournament at the Virginia Beach Sports Center, set to showcase some of the region’s finest basketball talent.
Navigating Our Future ~ Comprehensive Plan 2040 - What is the future of Virginia Beach? The City is tasked with making decisions now that will guide development and transportation across the City for the next 20 years and beyond. Your voice is an important part of that conversation. Where should we focus development in the City? What roadways need improvement? What are we missing? Let City Planners know what you think at one of the four upcoming public meetings:
- Saturday, November 4: 2 – 4 p.m., College Park Elementary, 1110 Bennington Road
- Monday, November 6: 6 – 8 p.m., Kellam High School, 2665 West Neck Road
- Wednesday, November 8: 6 – 8 p.m., Bayside Recreation Center, 4500 First Court Road
- Thursday, November 9: 6 – 8 p.m.: Virginia Beach Convention Center, Suite 3, 1000 19th Street
For questions or additional information, email CompPlan@vbgov.com or visit the Comprehensive Plan website at https://planning.virginiabeach.gov/comp-plan.
VB Parks & Recreation Announces, “Autumn in the Air” Fall Festival at Mount Trashmore - Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation (VBPR) will celebrate the season’s bounty with banjos, brews and bites at a new, free fall festival called Autumn in the Air, from Noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, November 4. Visit Mount Trashmore Park for an immersive family-friendly experience featuring food trucks, interactive exhibits, a beer garden and four-band musical lineup including Grammy Award winner, Chance McCoy. Read more about the event in the news release found here.
Jeep Fest 2023 Set for November 10 - 12 - Jeep enthusiasts unite for Virginia Beach’s Second Annual Jeep Fest. Enjoy sunrise beach cruises or push the limit on the sand obstacle course. Show off your ride, check out the latest Jeep accessories, and immerse yourself in all things Jeep! Vendors, Show & Shine, Beach Cruise, Beach Sand Course and more. For additional information and registration, visit vabeachjeepfest.com.
EVENTS & HAPPENINGS
The CVB Events Calendar for July 1 - December 31, 2023 may be found here. To view the Resort area entertainment schedule, click here. For easy access to all of Town Center’s events and activities, including free movie nights, click here.
My team and I are committed to you and our industry and are here to help any way that we can. Please let me know how we can assist you.
Sincerely,
Nancy Helman
CVB Director
CVB Strategic Pillars:
Engagement|Growth|Brand Development|Culture|Accountability
Hotel Occupancy Data for the Week of October 15 - 21: This data was not available at publishing.
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