Great American Dock Party June 4-6

Hampton’s first-ever Great American Dock Party is bringing boating fun to the Hampton Public Piers the weekend of June 4-6.

There are only a few slips left that weekend, according to dockmaster Greg Harrison, but once they’re full, boaters can utilize the free anchorage. There's also the nearby Bluewater Yachting Center.

“Hopefully the Dock Party will take off and become an annual event,” Harrison said.

There will be a cook-off, corn hole and limbo contests with prizes for the winners. The local band Phoebus Rio is the headline act, performing a concert Saturday night at 7 pm. The concert is open to the non-boating public, so if you’re in downtown Hampton stop in and check out this fun, high-energy band.

The cost for the entire weekend is $3 per foot for Friday and Saturday nights, and includes water and electricity. Make your slip reservations soon by contacting Greg Harrison, Dockmaster at 727-1276 or email him at greg@downtownhampton.com

Schedule:

Friday, 7 pm: Second Annual Hampton Public Piers Cook-off

Saturday, 5 pm Corn Hole Tournament & Limbo Contest (win great prizes!)

7 pm: “Phoebus Rio” Live!

About Phoebus Rio:

“Recipient of the 2009 MEONA award for Best Americana Band. Six versatile and talented musicians on fiddle, mandolin, accordion, washboard, harp, guitar, upright bass and drums. We play an unusual mix of all genres that gets people up on their feet and singing along!”

Bluewater Yachts Video

Craig Messick, yard manager at Bluewater Yachts, talks about this boating icon on the Hampton River.

Hampton Landing Day April 25

Come witness how Virginia’s first permanent settlers arrived in the new world: by boat in what would become Hampton, Virginia.

That’s right, the Jamestown settlers stopped in Hampton on their way up the James River, and were invited ashore by Native Americans.

The scene is commemorated and re-enacted annually at Strawberry Banks. Come watch on Sunday, April 25, at 3 p.m. as Captain Christopher Newport and his men row the shallop ashore and are greeted by the Native Americans.

The event, part of the year-long celebration of Hampton's 400th anniversary, will include opening remarks by Mayor Ward, musical performances, a reading of the original account and a re-enactment. It will culminate with light refreshments and a “meet and greet” with the re-enactors.

“…They saw the captain lay his hand on his heart.
Upon that they laid down their bows and arros and
Came very boldly to us, making signs to come ashore
To their town, which is called Kecoughtan.”

Mapquest to 30 Strawberry Banks, Hampton, VA

International Children's Festival April 17

The International Children's Festival will bring 30 countries to Hampton's Mill Point Park on Saturday, April 17 from 10 am to 5 pm.

It's one thing to read about the peoples and cultures of far-away lands, it's another to hear the pounding of Djembe drums or taste exotic dishes from Turkey and Japan.


Here are just some of the highlights:

-A costumed Parade of Nations
-Dragon Head Dance
-Strolling classical guitarists Jim & Sylvia Kalal
-Happy Dutchmen "Oompa Band"
-Toni Crowder as the "Opera Clown"
-Animals from around the world by Busch Gardens Animal Ambassadors
-Native folk dancers
-Entertainment on three stages.

To help children further stimulate real travel and enhance their worldwide journey, Passports to Adventure are available FREE this year courtesy of Busch Gardens. As the children visit each country, they will have their visas stamped to confirm their interaction with the organizers of each booth. If they visit every country at the festival, the child will then be entered into a special "World Traveler" prize drawing, with winners receiving a family four-pack to Busch Gardens.


Participating countries includes those of the Caribbean Islands, Brazil, Colombia, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan Republic of China, Ghana, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Morocco, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Korea, France, England, Philippines, Panama, Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Japan, Thailand, Germany, Panama, Scotland, Spain, South Africa and the USA including Native Americans.

Admission to the festival is free and ample parking is available throughout downtown.

For more information, call 757-727-8311 or visit online.

Crew Listing Party Saturday at Marker 20

Want to crew on a racing sailboat? Marker 20 in downtown Hampton is the place to be this Saturday (4/3/10) starting at 5 p.m. for SpinSheet Magazine’s Annual Crew Listing Party for the Southern Bay.

They call it matchmaking at its best, but with a twist!

“Potential racing skippers scour the scene, looking for potential crew members for their boats, while potential crew members strut their stuff looking for the best party and boat to crew on.”

You can also sign-up for the magazine's online crew listing service.

Local sailing clubs and organizations will be on hand to provide information on their sail training events, racing schedules, and membership opportunities. It's like an open house for sailing clubs!

Open to all ages.

Tidewater Boat Show this weekend!

Panorama of the Tidewater Boat Show opening day:



There's still time to get over to the Tidewater Boat Show at the Hampton Roads Convention Center, packed with dealers ready to do business offering discounts and rebates on all kinds of beautiful boats. Hours are:

Saturday (3/27): 10 am to 8 pm
and Sunday (3/28): 11 am to 5 pm

There are also booths with valuable information for boaters including safety information from the US Coast Guard and Boater Education.







Stop by Salt Ponds Marina display and the Hampton booth to meet folks from the Hampton Public Piers and Downtown Hampton!

Buckroe Fishing Pier to Open

The Buckroe Beach Fishing Pier is about to open next weekend (March 27) for the 2010 season, a sure sign of spring!

The pier, a Hampton tradition for generations, was destroyed by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The new 709-foot pier opened in 2009 with much fanfare. It has restrooms, snack bar and bait shop, two shelters and fish cleaning stations.

The pier is open 24 hours every day, through the end of December.

All required fishing licensing has been purchased by the pier, but if you do have a current Virginia Salt Water Fishing License, you will receive $2 off the adult admission, $10 off the monthly pass and $25 off of the yearly pass.


Here’s the fishing tournament schedule for this year (fees are in addition to the pier admission fee):

Cobia Tournament - $25/person
Ongoing – 12 a.m. Saturday, May 29 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 29

Flounder Tournament - $15/person
Ongoing – 12 a.m. Saturday, May 29 to 11:59 p.m. Sunday, August 29

(The Cobia and Flounder tournaments run simultaneously)

Striper Tournament - $20/person
Runs 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 26 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28

Kids Fishing Night
1st and 3rd Wednesdays in June, July and August, 6-9 p.m.
Ages 12 and under get in half price and there will be give-aways, fishing tips and demonstrations.


Admission fees:

Adult $8, senior (62-plus) $6, children (10 and under) $6, non-fishing visitors with fishermen $4, sightseeing adults $1, sightseeing child .50, monthly pass $60, seasonal pass (April –October) $250

For more info and tournament registration, call 757-727-1486, email or visit online.

Watch a video of the pier’s grand opening in May 2009