20 Aug 2025
Tags: tourism, Tourism News, Surfing, Culinary, Hotels, Museums, Culture, Attractions
THE BEACH JUST GOT BETTER:
WHAT'S NEW IN VIRGINIA BEACH THIS FALL
Virginia Beach, Va. – August 19, 2025 – New experiences are making waves in Virginia Beach, offering endless fresh ways to take in the city as summer makes way for autumn. With a world-class festival, immersive attractions and exhibits plus an exciting lineup of new restaurants, the destination continues to grow. Whether planning a fall getaway or looking to switch up your routine, keep reading to see what's on the horizon in Virginia Beach:
SURF & SAND
The surfline just shifted inshore with the opening of Atlantic Park (August 16)
As the nation's first lagoon of its kind embedded in an urban environment and just steps from the O.G. beach, the $350MM oasis can churn out 1,000 waves per hour ranging in height from one to seven feet. The year-round outdoor attraction is complemented by The Dome live entertainment venue, a collection of first-to-market dining and boutique retail shops, and a 20-key surf lodge due to open this fall.
Super Girl Festival coming to Virginia Beach in 2026
The largest female surfing event in the world is hitting the shores of Virginia Beach. In celebration of its 20th year, the Super Girl Surf Festival expands to the mid-Atlantic with a stop at the Oceanfront from September 5–7, 2026. The free festival will feature more than 1,000 female athletes across 10 sports plus 18 live concerts, complimentary fitness classes and a roster of celebrity speakers. Intended to inspire the next generation of women leaders and athletes, Super Girl Festival promises to be an exciting addition to Virginia Beach's vibrant surf culture.
Paws up for the east coast's first dog surfing event – Wags for Waves. The city revered as the birthplace of east coast surfing now welcomes furry competitors and their handlers for a fun day in the water on Sept. 13. Up to four dogs at a time compete in 10-15 minute heats based on weight and may register in solo and tandem categories. Adoptable dogs from Virginia Beach Animal Care will be supporting their friends from the beach, and a variety of dog services and products also will be on display.
New surf exhibit at Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum
Following recent renovations, the Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum honors Tom Blake with the 'Tom Blake: Surfer and Rescue Innovator' exhibit, chronicling the surfer's inventions as the designer of the first hollow surfboard and fin. In addition to celebrating the sport's pioneers, the museum showcases lifeguard memorabilia and shipwreck artifacts from the city's shores.
Leave a toy, take a toy: New Beach Toy Recycling Program
The new Beach Toy Recycling Program encourages beachgoers to “play it forward” by leaving gently used beach toys for others to enjoy. A joint effort between local nonprofits and the City of Virginia Beach, the program aims to reduce plastic waste with collection boxes located at multiple beach access points.
Sandbox VR opens new location in Virginia Beach
The popular immersive virtual reality experience, Sandbox VR, has opened their latest location at Atlantic Park. With advanced full-body motion capture and haptic technology, guests can step into a new world and fight zombies, explore alien planets or compete in Squid Game.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Now open: Owl Creek Landing
The long-awaited Owl Creek Landing is officially open, offering year-round outdoor fun just behind the Virginia Aquarium. The attraction is anchored by the Nautilus Lookout Tower, a fully ADA-accessible, 65-foot spiral tower that invites visitors into the treetops with an open-air observation deck. Winding back down through the center of the tower, the longest stainless-steel slide in the country adds to the outdoor adventure. Owl Creek Landing also features half a mile of suspended canopy walks and a children's treehouse village, making it the perfect attraction for a family outing.
New “Beer Hiking” guide spotlights Virginia Beach
Looking to pair your hike with a pint? The “Beer Hiking Virginia” guidebook (available on Amazon) features detailed hiking routes along stunning scenic trails across the region and ends at local breweries. In addition to trails all through the Mid-Atlantic, Virginia Beach's First Landing State Park is featured with a hike that culminates at Commonwealth Brewing Co. housed in a former fire and rescue station.
Not snacks, kayaks: New vending-style rentals
Vending machines at Virginia Beach lakes are now serving more than just drinks and treats. New kayak rental kiosks allow visitors to check out kayaks, life jackets and paddles all via an app. The kiosks, most recently installed at Stumpy Lake, also have been installed at Munden Point Park and Lake Lawson/Lake Smith Natural Area, totaling 28 rentable kayaks and counting.
First Landing State Park gets a refresh
Virginia's most visited park is debuting new amenities with additional renovations underway. First Landing State Park now offers a new outdoor classroom, and campers are in for a treat with the newly renovated bathhouses including all-new tiled interiors and showers. The park's 20 cabins are currently closed for renovation and will undergo a complete transformation over the next year and a half.
CULTURE BY THE COAST
Traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica stops in Virginia Beach
The Moving Wall, a half-size traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be on display at the Virginia Beach Community Chapel from Nov. 7-12. The project, honoring the 50th year since the end of the Vietnam War, is free and open to the public.
Oceanfront's oldest cottage celebrates 130 years with new exhibit
The de Witt Cottage, Virginia Beach's oldest remaining oceanfront cottage and home to the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, marks its 130th anniversary with the opening of the McNair & Sons Decoys exhibit. Built in 1895, the cottage and museum now showcase nearly 270 hand-carved decoys by renowned Eastern Shore artist Mark McNair in a free exhibit. An online auction of three decoys launches September 1, with a special reception to follow on September 20.
Survival of the Slowest exhibit at the Virginia Aquarium
From October 4 to January 4, 2026, visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center for the Survival of the Slowest. The new rotating exhibit educates guests on how being small or slow can provide a surprising evolutionary advantage in nature. Visitors can meet live animals, including tortoises and sloths, that have thrived for millions of years despite their perceived limitations. The exhibit is included in general aquarium admission.
Funny Bone Comedy Club expansion
Tossing the mic to a brand-new location in the city's bustling Town Center, the comedy club more than doubles in size to welcome higher-profile comedians. It also opens a new retro gaming venue, DraftCade, next door that pairs 48 rotating craft beer taps with 100 classic arcade games and 28 big-screen TVs for an entertaining outing.
Creative Well Arts Foundation opens doors
The newly formed Creative Well Arts Foundation brings resources to local artists within the ViBe District. The nonprofit, which opened its doors this summer, offers five artist studios, a rotating art gallery, and multi-use classrooms for community events and therapeutic arts education.
Ancient Aliens LIVE at The Sandler Center
Don your tinfoil hat and join host Giorgio A. Tsoukalos for a live edition of the popular television show “Ancient Aliens.” On November 6 at 7:30 pm at The Sandler Center for Performing Arts, the event features guest panel discussions and an audience Q&A exploring theories and questions surrounding the presence of aliens on Earth.
FUEL THE FUN
Virginia Beach's culinary scene takes the spotlight this fall with the week-long “Savor September” celebration. From September 14-21, participating restaurants across the city will offer limited-time tasting menus featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Virginia-made spirits, and signature appetizer and cocktails pairings. Additional details and participating restaurants can be found at www.dineinvb.com.
The fresh Beach Towne Water Ice Co. is bringing a taste of Jersey to Virginia Beach. Created by New Jersey natives Lakeaba and Gambino Ivey, the sweets shop serves more than 25 flavors of nostalgic water ice, or Italian ice, treats. Try fun flavors from bubblegum to orange creamsicle, or a special bowl topped with syrups and whipped cream.
The oceanfront has welcomed a new spot for beachgoers to fuel up before hitting the sand. Convenience was a priority for Beach Bum owners Donald Hart and Brad Breeden, who opened the shop just blocks from the shoreline, making it the ideal location for those looking to maximize time on the beach with a tasty picnic.
The popular southern restaurant Milk & Honey, created by a winner of “Chopped,” has opened a new location in Atlantic Park. Open for brunch and dinner, the restaurant serves southern comfort classics from chicken and waffles to shrimp and grits.
Originally a food truck, Cookie Plug has opened a brick-and-mortar storefront near Town Center. Serving up handcrafted cookies that are part cookie and part brownie, the shop also offers “Iced Up Phatties” (cookie ice cream sandwiches) and decadent monthly flavors.
About Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, one of Virginia's most populous cities, resides where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city is home to 35 miles of sandy beaches, a flourishing culinary and craft beer scene, rich history, a variety of arts and entertainment, and family-friendly attractions that keep visitors entertained year-round. For more Virginia Beach information, including new attractions and experiences, or to plan your next trip, visit www.visitvirginiabeach.com.
