2011 Hampton visitor guide and event calendar now available!

Pick up the new Hampton Visitor Guide, available at the Hampton Maritime Center and other visitor center locations. The guide features all the details on Hampton attractions, boating, fishing, and marinas--plus Downtown Hampton, Peninsula Town Center and Phoebus. Check out the virtual guide by clicking on this link to the v-book: http://www.vgnet.com/issuu_books/hampton_vbook_2011.html.

Hampton has an action-packed calendar of festivals, museum exhibits and commemorations. Mark your calendar now for these maritime favorites!

March 11-13 Virginia RV & Boat Show
New this year in Hampton Roads! The 7th Annual Virginia RV Show will be adding boats for 2011. The opportunity has presented itself to offer RV & Boat enthusiasts from the Tidewater area a one stop buying experience. Hampton Roads Convention Center. $10, ages 16 and under free. 757/315-1610. www.agievents.com or www.thehrcc.com

May 20 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in IMAX (Opening Day)
Virginia Air & Space Center. Admission Fee. 757/727-0900. www.vasc.org

June 4-5 12th Annual Blackbeard Pirate Festival
Set sail for Hampton’s Pirate Festival where living history and family fun go hand-in-hand. Immerse yourself in early 1700s Hampton with Blackbeard’s Ball, a pirate encampment, children’s activities, sea battles, fireworks and more. Downtown Hampton. Free. 757/727-0900. www.blackbeardpiratefestival.com

June 10-12 Great American Dock Party
Enjoy a fun filled boater's weekend with live music by Phoebus Rio, cornhole tournaments, and more, all taking place along the Hampton waterfront. Hampton Public Piers, 757/727-1276. Admission fee. www.downtownhampton.com

July 4 Fourth at the Fort
This lively celebration of our nation's independence takes place at the largest stone fort ever built in the U.S. Enjoy live music, children's games and rides, food and beverage, military exhibits and fireworks! Walker Airfield. Fort Monroe, 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Free. 757/788-3151.

August 5-7 85th Annual Hampton Cup Regatta
North America's oldest continuously-run hydroplane boat race! Enjoy a children's area, food vendors, Bay Education and environmental exhibits. East Mercury Bridge at Fort Monroe. Free.
757/ 727-8311.

September 9-11 29th Annual Hampton Bay Days
A combination of free entertainment on two adult stages, children’s stage, rides for kids under twelve, 40 booths of interactive educational fun that encourages stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay, 100 Arts & Crafts booths, 35 food vendors, and one of the longest fireworks displays in the area. Downtown Hampton. Friday, 12:00 Noon-11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday, 12 Noon-6 p.m. Free. 757/727-1641. www.baydays.com

November 7 Caribbean 1500 Cup
The Caribbean 1500 commences in Hampton and sails to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The fleet will gather at Hampton’s Bluewater Yachting Center for several days of briefings and final preparations leading up to the start. Participation fee. www.carib1500.com

December 3 23rd Annual Downtown Hampton Lighted Boat Parade
This highly anticipated parade of illuminated power and sail boats will be visible from anywhere along the Hampton River, however spectators wanting to hear the narration will want to find a spot near the Hampton Maritime Center. Downtown Hampton waterfront, 7:15 p.m. Free. 757/727-1276. www.downtownhampton.com

Thunder on the Bay, Sept. 17-18, 2010

Thunder on the Bay American Indian Festival is a unique 400th Anniversary event Sept. 17-18, 2010 at Buckroe Beach Park in Hampton, Virginia.

The inter-tribal pow-wow will feature top dancers, drummers, and vendors from across the United States and Canada. The event will kick off with a concert and fireworks show on Friday night.

The pow-wow will be held Saturday and will feature children's activities, the Virginia Archeological Society Mobile Museum, and world renowned fancy dancer Waya Dimalanta. Authentic American Indian cuisine including fry bread will be available for purchase.

Bring your blanket or lawn chair. Free Admission and Parking. Rain or Shine.

Event Schedule:

Friday, September 17, 2010
5:30-7:00pm - Children's Activities including Pow-Wow Dance Lessons,
Regalia "fashion show", and instrument demonstration
7:00-7:30 - Red Crooked Sky Pow-wow dancers will perform
7:30-9:00 - Flute concert with NAMMY award-winner Jeff Ball and His Band
9:15pm - Fireworks off Buckroe Beach Pier!!!

Saturday, September 18, 2010
11am-8pm (Grand Entry at noon) - Pow-wow
Join in the friendship dance, veterans will be honored during the
Veteran's Honor Dance, and much more!
Children's activities and face painting will also be available.

For more information, visit Hampton's 400th website.

Free concert at Fort Monroe Saturday night

Wow, free concert and fireworks on the Bay at Fort Monroe!

Fort Monroe invites you to attend "An Evening with Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds" with special guest Slapwater

Saturday, August 21, 2010
Fort Monroe's Walker Air Field
Gates Open at 5pm
Free Admission and Open to the Public

Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds Gates open at 5 p.m. Aug. 21 at Walker Airfield, Fort Monroe. The opening act, Slapwater, begins at 5:30 p.m., and the main show begins at 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Fireworks will follow. No pets, coolers, backpacks, outside food or beverages are allowed. Chairs and blankets encouraged. A valid picture ID is required to enter the installation. For more information, call (757) 788-3151.

Hampton Cup Regatta Aug. 13-15

The 84th Annual Hampton Cup Regatta starts tonight (Aug. 13, 2010) with the Bash on the Bridge.

Click here for the full line-up of events: Hampton Cup Regatta.

Watch a preview on WVEC TV

Hampton Bay Days line-up announced

The 28^th Annual Hampton Bay Days returns to downtown Hampton Sept. 10-12, 2010. An estimated 200,000 attendees are expected, so make your slip reservations early!! In addition to Hampton Public Piers, Hampton has half a dozen marinas that accept visiting boaters. Click here for contact information.

The free event is headlined by The Fabulous Thunderbirds, George Clinton & Parliament, and special guest appearance by renowned marine artist Wyland. The Godspeed replica from Jamestown Settlement will be sailing into Hampton Harbor! For a full line-up of events, go to www.baydays.com

Special Football Weekend at Hampton Public Piers

Hampton Blackbeard Festival & 400th Anniversary

You still have one more day to enjoy the Blackbeard Pirate Festival and 400^th anniversary celebration at the Hampton Waterfront! Today, Sunday, July 11, noon to 6 pm with pirate ships invading Hampton harbor at 12:45.

Full schedule:

Here's a slide show of yesterday's battle in which Edward Teach, the Pirate Blackbeard, was killed in battle with Colonial troops: