Whether you’re locally throwing a backyard barbecue with friends and family, or traveling into the city for the long weekend, these are the best things to do to celebrate the July 4th Weekend in Norfolk, VA.
Watch a FireWorks Show
Town Point Park is hosting a waterfront American celebration with all the appropriate themed foods; hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, seafood, buttered corn on the cob, juicy watermelon and lemonade! Fill up your plates, sit back and relax as you watch the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band kick off the holiday celebrations. Stick around until 9:30 p.m. for a spectacular fireworks display over the beautiful Elizabeth River!
The Shore Thing Concert & Independence Day Celebration at Ocean View Beach Park is scheduled for Friday, July 2, from 6pm to 10pm with fireworks starting at 9:30pm above the Chesapeake Bay. The OV celebration will also feature live music from local dance-pop party band Wonderland, as well as food trucks, beer & wine, children’s activities, and much more.
Both events are free and open to the public.
Beach Day
Pack your cooler with the best refreshments, beach toys and towels and head to Ocean View – Norfolk’s beach neighborhood – for a day by the water! Enjoy the hottest summer holiday with your toes in the sand, drink in hand and country on the radio. Because Norfolk’s beaches are along the Chesapeake Bay, the beaches in Ocean View offer calm waters and are nearly waveless, making for the perfect place to bring a relaxing floatation, and a fantastic spot for smaller children to enjoy the water.
Pendulum Fine Meats
What’s a backyard barbecue without grilling up some of the finest meats in town? Head to Pendulum Fine Meats where you can grab fresh ground beef for that all-American burger and creatively flavored sausage links. Step up your grilling game by throwing 60 day dry aged steaks (Porterhouse, Ribeye, and NY strips) onto the fire. They sell local wines and beers too!
Doumar’s
What is more American than enjoying a freshly scooped ice cream atop a waffle cone that was made on the world’s first waffle cone machine? Abe Doumar, founder of Doumar’s, invented the first ever waffle cone in 1904. To this day, the original four-iron waffle machine is still in use and cooking up warm waffle cones daily. Take the whole family, pup included, to this retro drive-in diner for a freshly made waffle cone and a scoop of your favorite ice cream flavor.
Dog and Bike Parade
Dress your dog, bike, child or yourself in the best red, white and blue attire and parade around Norfolk’s historic Ghent neighborhood. Once the parade is over, enjoy sweet treats, prizes and face painting! For more details click here.
Head to a Brewery
Crack a cold one with friends and family at one of our nine breweries. Either sit and enjoy a brew at a beer garden at Maker’s Craft Brewery or O’Connor Brewing Company, or pick up a six-pack of craft beer for your Independence Day party! Try Reaver Beach Brewing’s American light lager, ‘Raise Hell, Praise Dale’ for that All-American brew. Don’t forget to check out our Brewery Pass for discounts – a savings pass meant for those visiting more than one brewery in a weekend.
Best BBQ Restaurants
No one does BBQ better than America, and no one in America does BBQ better than a Southerner. Spend your weekend trying Texas-inspired brisket from Redwood Smoke or a pulled pork sandwich from multi-regional BBQ favorite, Bar-Q.