Winter may seem bleak, but you don’t have to wait for the mercury to rise to know the wonder and amazement of a seaside journey together. In Virginia Beach, winter is whale time, when your family can spend a couple of hours on the ocean, with the chance of encountering rare fin and humpback whales on their migration route. Some range up to 85 feet long and weigh 70 tons.

The “coolest” event in the state by far, is the annual Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics of Virginia. Each year thousands of brave souls take in a dip in the 40 degree water to raise funds and their heartbeat for this cause. Get dressed up or go all out, either way you are in for a good time.

Team up with the one you love and take part in the Annual Virginia is For Lovers 14K and 1.4 Mile Run, hosted by Virginia Beach.

Be one of the first to sport shorts on the Boardwalk and join races for St. Patrick’s Day Weekend. Whether you want the challenge of a marathon or ½ marathon or if you want your children to take part in the Kid’s Operation Smile Final Mile, there’s something for everyone.

Truly a regional collaboration, the Virginia Arts Festival events now take place in ten cities across Hampton Roads in concert halls, performing arts centers, opera houses, theatres, museums, outdoor stages, and historic churches. The Virginia Arts Festival hosts top-flight artists from around the world in classical music, dance, theater, world music and jazz, along with the annual Chamber Music series, led by Andre-Michel Schub. The Virginia International Tattoo, a signature festival event, features more than 850 performers, including military bands, massed pipes and drums, dancers, acrobats, and more. Come out and experience the arts!

Spanning the boardwalk between 6th and 31st Streets, The Cruisin’ Virginia Beach Car Show turns the boardwalk into a local version of “Route 66” with cars and trucks from yesterday and today. Hot rods, street machines, classic cars, and trucks line the boardwalk for 25 blocks with over 200 vehicles in a beautiful beach setting.

On the beach between 16th and 18th Streets and in the 17th Street Park in Virginia Beach. The Atlantic Coast Kite Festival is an exciting weekend of high-flying kites and fun for families, participants, and spectators of all ages! The Virginia Beach oceanfront plays host to a full day of kite-flying, including kite ballets, sports kite flying, and dual and quad line kites. Kite building workshops are led by an out-of-town kite education professionals and great for all ages.

(24th Street Park) - The PANorama Caribbean Music Fest is a musical adventure set to the soothing sounds of steel pan music. The festival’s casual atmosphere appeals to the island community and people of all ages who are intrigued by the unique sounds and style of steel drum music! Fusing together the rhythm of steel bands, ocean breezes, and great Caribbean food, the breathtaking Virginia Beach oceanfront becomes an “island paradise” for the weekend.

(on the beach and boardwalk between 4th and 8th Streets) - Monsters on the Beach brings thrills and chills to the Virginia Beach oceanfront as Monster Trucks like Superman, Monster Mutt, and Megasaurus battle for ultimate sand domination! This family-targeted event is loud, fast, and exciting. A course is built right on the beach at 6th Street, with bleachers overlooking from the boardwalk. Sand dunes and junk cars combine to make the race course fast and fun for drivers and spectators alike.

(on the beach at 30th Street) - Beach Music Weekend blends the best of the “oldies” with dancing under the stars in a jam-packed blast to the past! Settle into the sand as the top Beach Music bands from up and down the East Coast descend on the Virginia Beach oceanfront in a nostalgic salute to the “good old days” of cool cars and hot tunes. A four-day series of free concerts is presented on a stage built right on the beach at 30th Street. All performances are free to the public.

(17th Street Park) - Celebrating one of the most cherished musical genres of all time, Blues at the Beach features three days of free concerts on an outdoor stage. Local, regional, and nationally-recognized Blues acts share the stage for a riveting and heartfelt tribute to the sights, sounds, and soul of the American experience.

Join your friends by the oceanfront for an afternoon hosted by Virginia's leading vineyards. Sip and savor chardonnays, merlots, rieslings and more while you meet and greet the fascinating people who are forging Virginia's new reputation for quality wines. Enjoy delicious food, live entertainment and the opportunity to purchase the wines you like and wine accessories from specialty vendors.

(17th Street Park) - A little bit of Italy comes to the Virginia Beach oceanfront for two days of pasta, Italian wine and beer, world-class entertainment, and family-friendly activities like grape stomping! The best local restaurants in the area serve a full selection of Italian food, including pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and desserts. Italian wine and beer compliment the food offerings, and table seating under the tent makes for the perfect atmosphere for eating, singing, and dancing to classic and modern Italian song selections.

Don't miss the Neptune Festival's grand finale, Boardwalk Weeken. For three days and nights, a host of activities such as the internationally renowned North American Sandsculpting Competition, draw visitors and guests from across the Commonwealth and beyond to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.

Daily concerts alfresco in tented festival stages are scattered along 32 blocks of the boardwalk and feature a variety of live music. Over 275 artisans will line the boardwalk for the Neptune Art and Craft Show interspersed with a veritable smorgasbord of food vendors dishing out delectable delights guaranteed to please any palette.

Watch as grains of sand are turned into masterpieces! The Neptune Festival announces the return of the ever-popular North American Sandsculpting Championship to the Oceanfront. Internationally known and one of the largest competitions of its kind on the East Coast, this event draws more than 300 competitors in all divisions.

Watch the Master sand sculptors from around the world mold tons of sand into masterpieces as they compete for cash prizes. You can also cheer on your favorite local school or business as the amateur divisions show their style.

(24th Street Park) - The Chicken Dance and Polka are the latest dance crazes at the Oktober Brewfest, when Munich’s Oktoberfest relocates to the Virginia Beach oceanfront for two days of fun and frolic! Wine and beer, pretzels, and pizza are served alongside knockwurst, bratwurst, and sausage and peppers. Eating and drinking are on tap in a seaside park festooned with colorful flags, banners, and balloons representing the colors of Germany and Bavaria. Late Saturday afternoon, Oktoberfest transitions into “ROCKtoberfest,” with a rock band and fun lasting into the evening. A dunk tank is set up for “Dunk a Hunk” and “Drench a Wench,” with proceeds going to a local charity.

(on the boardwalk between 2nd and 34th Streets) - Festive fish, jumping dolphins, frolicking porpoises - all in bright, colored lights against the clear night-time sky, are the stars of McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach, a nautical and holiday-themed light display at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. It’s the only time of the year that cars get to drive right on the boardwalk! For over 30 blocks, almost 40,000 vehicles a year make the trek through this holiday wonderland. This “Fanta-Sea” of lights is sure to dazzle and amaze holiday travelers visiting Virginia Beach. Hotels create special packages that include free tickets to the light show. New displays are added each year so it’s never the same show twice!

(on Atlantic Avenue between 7th Street and 25th Street) - Officially ushering in the holiday season at the resort, this parade affords local businesses, schools, and organizations the opportunity to support the community and celebrate the season with thousands of parade-goers. Marching bands, lighted floats, equestrian units, fire trucks, performing dance groups, motorcycles, and more join forces to present a dazzling and entertaining night of fun for all ages! And best of all, Santa himself makes a grand appearance to greet all his loyal fans as the evening winds down and many families take the opportunity to also visit the amazing Holiday Lights at the Beach!