Hampton Bay Days

September 10 - 12, 2010
Hampton, Virginia

Voted Best Waterside Event in the Best of the Bay Competition!

In 1982, Hampton Bay Days was created as a unique outlet to educate the public on the importance of the Chesapeake Bay in the Hampton Roads region, as well as the rest of Virginia and Maryland. The goal of the festival is to provide an entertaining atmosphere while ultimately serving a greater purpose, highlighting aspects of the Bay and promoting its upkeep and preservation.

An estimated 200,000 attendees expected to enjoy dazzling fireworks and free events headlined by musical entertainers The Fabulous Thunderbirds, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and Joe Nichols; special guest appearances by the renowned artist Wyland.

The Jewel of Hampton:  Miss Hampton II Cruises

In my opinion this is one of Virginia's most unique and exciting nautical experiences! First, you'll depart from the historic downtown Hampton waterfront for a three-hour tour around historical lighthouses, Civil War battlefields and the Norfolk Naval Base. Your Miss Hampton II Harbor Cruise takes you past some of Virginia's most memorable landmarks. You'll start by sailing down the Hampton River and around Black Beards Point. Your nautical adventure continues through Hampton Road Harbor where John Smith and the first English settlers founded Jamestown. Next you'll see the Norfolk Naval base filled with battleships and submarines. You'll return to the Hampton Harbor while listening to captivating stories of famous nautical battles. I left feeling the staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

A few things to keep in mind:

2010 PRICES (All taxes included):

The Claire Lynch Band

Friday, September 10, 2010 (8:00 PM-11:00 PM)

Long recognized and praised as a creative force in acoustic music, Claire Lynch has been one of the pioneers who continually pushes the boundaries of bluegrass music. Blazing her own trail in the mid 70’s when there were few role models for a young woman on the touring circuit. Claire Lynch made history when she led the Front Porch String Band—a band which evolved into one of the sharpest and most exciting post-modern bluegrass bands. She formed the Claire Lynch Band in 2004 and has consistently been the top pick of prestigious publications, critics and discerning audiences across the nation ever since. $25-30

For a limited time, IMAX fans can see some of their favorite, classic IMAX films at the Virginia Air & Space Center for only $5!

From EVEREST to The Dream is Alive, some of the most popular IMAX classics are returning to the giant IMAX screen for one last engagement before the Riverside 3D IMAX Theater undergoes a major renovation to convert to the latest digital IMAX technology.

According to Deputy Director Kim Hinson, "To bring our visitors the IMAX films they desire and improve our theater's comfort, it is necessary to upgrade our IMAX system to the latest technology and replace our theater seating." The theater is expected to be closed temporarily for renovation, from September 7 through September 23, allowing staff to upgrade existing theater seating and carpet. High-back seats with cup holders will be added for guests' theater comfort. In addition, a new digital projection system will be installed to keep the theater's IMAX Experience state-of-the-art, offering crystal-clear images, laser-aligned digital sound and customized theater geometry. These renovations will not only make the IMAX experience more comfortable, but will allow the Center to continue to present the latest Hollywood Blockbuster films in IMAX.

The Classic IMAX Film Festival, beginning August 27, will enable visitors to take one last sail down the Nile River, climb to the top of Mount Everest and more. Showtimes are as follows:

Saturday Summer Street Festival Features Slapwater

Presented by the Virginia Air and Space Center

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Downtown Hampton comes to life with Saturday Summer Street Fest, featuring Slapwater.

Volunteers sought for biological survey of Fort Monroe Sept. 25

The Virginia Living Museum and the National Audubon Society are seeking volunteers to participate in a biological diversity study at Fort Monroe on Sept. 25, one of more than 30 TogetherGreen volunteer events taking place to celebrate National Public Lands Day.

Volunteers will be split into teams (led by naturalist experts) to survey the birds, plants, aquatic habitats and insects in specific areas within the base's natural areas, prior to its decommissioning as a military base.