NORFOLK, Va. — The 43rd Annual Norfolk Harborfest continued Saturday in Town Point Park with a few additions to the schedule of events because of some cancellations Friday.
Although Festevents rescheduled the much anticipated drone show to Saturday, it later said that the show would not take place. The fireworks display went off at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Follow Norfolk Festevents Facebook Page for the latest information.
The event is the nation’s largest, longest-running free maritime festival. It goes until Sunday at 6 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public.
TIMES
- Saturday: Noon to 11 p.m. (Fireworks 9:30 p.m.)
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
PARKING
The City of Norfolk is encouraging drivers to park once and enjoy everything during the Epic Weekend June 7-9, 2019 in downtown Norfolk. There is plenty of convenient parking and a free shuttle to get you where you want to go.
Parking is available at the following garages for $5 cash:
- Waterside Garage
- Main Street Garage
- Town Point Garage
- West Plume Street Garage
- Boush Street Garage
- Fountain Park Garage
- City Hall South Garage
- Freemason Street Garage
- York Street Garage
- Commercial Place
On June 8, MacArthur Center North & South Parking Decks will be open:
- $2 before 1:00 P.M.
- $5 after 1:00 P.M.
SHUTTLES
A free hop on-hop off shuttle will be available during the event throughout the city of Norfolk.
It will be running from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and it will be running from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Shuttle stops:
- Nauticus Circle, at Boush and Main Sts.
- Freemason Street Garage, at Freemason St. between Boush and Granby St.
- Bank St. Garage, at Freemason St. between Monticello and Banks Sts.
- Neon District, at Olney Rd. and Magazine Ln.
- Freemason Harbor, at Harbor St/Pagoda.
HRT INFO
The Tide Light Rail Schedule
Friday:
- Regular times until 10 p.m.
- From 10 p.m. until midnight, will run at 15-minute intervals
Saturday:
- Regular times until 4:30 p.m.
- From 4:30 p.m. until midnight, will run every 7 to 10 minutes
Sunday:
- Regular service begins at 11:00 a.m.
Click here to purchase a Tide ticket.
Elizabeth River Ferry Schedule
The main boat will run a normal daily schedule, but additional ferries will be added as needed throughout the day.
Friday:
- Main boat from 5:30 a.m. until the last boat leaves Waterside at 11:45 p.m.
- 2nd boat from 11:45 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- 3rd boat from 3:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Saturday:
- Main boat from 10:00 a.m. until crowds are gone (approximately 12:35 a.m.)
- 2nd boat from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- 3rd boat from 11:45 a.m. to 12:20 a.m.
- 4th boat Carrie B from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
- Ending times will vary based on crowds and demand.
When all four boats are operating, they will be dedicated to service direct routes. Two will be operating between High Street / Waterside and two between North Landing / Waterside. There will be no ferry service between the High Street and North Landing docks while all four boats are in operation.
Sunday:
- Main boat from 10:00 a.m. until the last boat leaves Waterside at 11:45 p.m.
- 2nd boat from 11:45 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- 3rd boat from 12:00 p.m. until 6:15 p.m.
Bus Service
Shuttle buses will stage at Newtown Road Station beginning at 4:00 p.m. These buses will go directly to the MacArthur Square Station.
After the fireworks, shuttle buses will be staged at the MacArthur Square Station for the outbound trip back to the Newtown Road Station.
Transportation Ticket Sales by Customer Service Representatives
Tickets will be sold at the following Light Rail stations:
- Newtown Road Station — Saturday, June 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
- Military Highway Station — Saturday, June 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Tickets will be sold at the following Ferry docks:
- High Street Landing — Saturday, June 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
- North Landing — Saturday, June 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Click here for more HRT information.
STREET CLOSURES:
All closures are from 10 a.m. Thursday until midnight on Sunday.
Boush Street
- Southbound - Brambleton Avenue to City Hall Avenue will remain open. The southbound median turn lane will remain open from City Hall Avenue to Plume Street for garage access.
- Northbound - Main Street to Brambleton Avenue will remain open.
Waterside Drive
- Eastbound - Will be closed from Main Street and Martin’s Lane for event set-up. All lanes from Atlantic Street to St. Paul’s Boulevard will remain open.
- Westbound - Will be closed from Atlantic Street to Main Street for event.
Martin’s Lane
- Southbound - Main Street to Waterside Drive will be closed to through traffic.
- Southbound access to TowneBank/Prince Books parking lot and the World Trade Center loading dock will be maintained at all times.
Atlantic Street
- Northbound - Will remain open from Waterside Drive to Main Street.
- Southbound - Will be closed to through traffic from Main Street to Waterside Drive.
RIDESHARE PICK UP/DROP OFF
TNC, Taxi, Uber & Lyft pick-up and drop-off will take place on Commercial Place between Main Street and Waterside Drive.
PERFORMERS
FRIDAY Boathouse Stage:
- DJ Canrock
- Wylder
- Bennett Wales and the Relief
- Five Mile Mountain Road
FRIDAY Main Stage:
- Afishal
- Oak and Ash
SATURDAY Boathouse stage:
- DJ Canrock
- After Funk
- Mike Mitchell Band
- BJ Griffin
- Galaxy Groove
SATURDAY Main Stage:
- Rose Royce
- Ripe
- Blessid Union of Souls
SUNDAY Boathouse Stage:
- Vegabond
- Mike Proffitt Band
SUNDAY Main Stage:
- Lonestar
- Maggie Rose
SCHEDULE
HARBORFEST APP
New this year, there's a Harborfest App! Anyone can text Harborfest19 to 888-777 for street closures, parking, inclement weather updates, and emergency alerts.
HISTORY
By Jaclyn Lee
Harborfest first started in 1976 after a tall ship event called Operation Sail took off to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution.
"They started sailing from Florida up to New York and they stopped along ports along the way," said Peggy McPhillips, President of the Norfolk Historical Society and Norfolk City Historian. "Well, they wanted to stop in Norfolk."
Thus, Harborfest was born.
"People came. They flocked to see the ships and I think that's when Norfolk realized people really liked to see ships and they liked to board them," said McPhillips.
Now 43 years later, there are many changes to the event, like attendees being able to use their smartphones to access information and even the free shuttle. However, the heart of the event has endured.
"[It's]just really a nice way to celebrate the water and the commerce because the ships are our mainstay here, bringing things from all over the world as part of our economy," said McPhillips.