About

The NEON Festival is a celebration of energy and light in Norfolk’s Arts District. From public art to live performances, come experience the neighborhood’s transformation into a true arts destination. Check out the schedule below for a listing of all the events set to spark, and don’t miss a mural, morsel or mic drop!

Public Art

Wander through the neighborhood and discover tiny art happenings, large-scale murals and pops of neon color and light, from works by celebrated visiting artists like Esteban del Valle and Charley Frances, to local heroes like Victoria Weiss and Silas Baker.

Food & Spirits

There’ll be plenty to eat and drink on hand for the festival, including signature fare from NEON staples like Commune, Zeke’s Beans and Bowls and Sanctuary, as well as from numerous food trucks throughout the district. And be sure to head over to the Plot’s Beer Garden or Bearded Bird Brewing for a cold one.

Entertainment

Some of Norfolk’s brightest musicians, comedians and performance artists will converge on the NEON to energize streets and stages throughout the district. Make sure to swing by The Plot for live DJ sets, the Push Comedy Theater for belly laughs, and the Chrysler Museum Glass Studio for live glassblowing performances!

Schedule

• 7:00AM - 7:00PM
  La Brioche

  765 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Come get your pain au chocolat, ham and cheese croissant, baguette, pie or sandwich from NEON’s authentic French bakery and little slice of heaven.

  Learn more.
• 8:00AM - 8:00PM
  Zeke’s Beans & Bowls

  800 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  The one and only destination in the NEON for gourmet coffee, acai bowls and Zeke’s famous poke bowls! Also serving up smoothies, fresh juices and baked goods.

  Learn more.
• 8:00AM - 10:00PM
  Zeke’s Beans & Bowls

  800 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  The one and only destination in the NEON for gourmet coffee, acai bowls and Zeke’s famous poke bowls! Also serving up smoothies, fresh juices and baked goods.

  Learn more.
• 11:00AM - 11:00PM
  Sanctuary Norfolk

  109 Addison Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  If you find yourself lingering in front of paintings at museums, love the sound of a motorcycle engine, take great lengths to intake tacos, or enjoy a cold beer on a hot day, Sanctuary is your saving grace. Sanctuary supports local artists and the things they love: good wine, beer, and cocktails, and a place to share them with friends. Whatever your MO, you can be sure of one thing: all of the tacos are made to order. Whatever you want–nothing more, nothing less.

  Learn more.
• 4:00PM
  Jhane’s Sweet Lounge

  731 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Jhane’s is a full service restaurant, bakery, and entertainment lounge in the NEON District. Come for the amazing house-made desserts and stay for the fun and diverse atmosphere.

  Learn more.
• 5:00PM - 10:00PM
  Commune

  759 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Commune is a sustainable eatery, bakery and cafe featuring local ingredients. Commune Norfolk also hosts live music and rotating art exhibitions with the Rutter Family Art Foundation.

  Learn more.
• 5:00PM
  Culture

  814 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  NEON’s newest restaurant and bar, Culture is an eclectic and fun lounge with live music, dj’s and local artworks on display.

  Learn more.
• 5:00PM - 9:00PM
  NEON Festival Kick Off at the Museum

  Chrysler Museum of Art

  One Memorial Place, Norfolk, VA 23510

  At the Chrysler Museum of Art, enjoy live music, lawn games, and hands on NEON fun! Join Bhav Brigade for Glow Yoga on the lawn, listen to the Rhythm Project and grab a bite from one of the many food trucks. And don’t forget to stop by the cash bar! All FREE!

• 5:00PM - 9:00PM
  Unconventional Reception & Celebration

  d'Art Center

  740 Duke Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Unconventional is a national juried exhibition that features the use of unusual materials and found objects in art, taking materials and techniques out of the traditional realm of art mediums. Join d’Art Center for the exhibition opening, music, live art and demos, a printmaking make-and-take, snacks, drinks, and awards during the first night of the NEON Festival.

  Learn more.
• 5:00PM - 9:00PM
  Wisteria

  Chrysler Museum of Art

  One Memorial Place, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Chrysler Museum of Art’s beautiful garden cafe, Wisteria, features a full menu complete with fine wines and craft beers.

  Learn more.
• 5:30PM - 9:00PM
  Free Improv Shows at the Push Comedy Theater

  Push Comedy Theater

  763 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  In honor of this amazing celebration, the Push will be hosting free improv shows all night long. Starting at 5:30 there will be free improv shows every half hour featuring The Pushers and some of the Push Comedy Theater’s funniest improvisers.

  Learn more.
• 5:30PM - 6:30PM
  The Rhythm Project

  Chrysler Museum of Art

  One Memorial Place, Norfolk, VA 23510

  A community engagement program of the Virginia Arts Festival, The Rhythm Project is a world percussion ensemble. They are bringing their steel drums back to NEON for the fifth year to kick off the festival at the Chrysler Museum of Art outside in Mary’s Garden.

• 6:00PM - 10:00PM
  AIGA Poster Exhibition & Silent Auction

  Magazine Lane, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Celebrate art, design, and community with AIGA Hampton Roads. In contribution to this year’s NEON Festival, AIGA Hampton Roads is hosting the fourth annual SPARK Poster Show, a juried exhibition and silent auction of posters exploring the most pressing issues in our communities. Awards will be bestowed for Best In Show, People’s Choice, Emerging Designer, and Honorable Mentions. Top submissions are displayed in the exhibition along Magazine Lane during the festival.

• 6:00PM - 8:00PM
  Cardinal Skate Shop Balance Trials

  Starke Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Balance Trials is an open competition for skateboarders to exhibit their talents and up the ante. Dig in your bag of tricks to get prizes from Nike SB, Theories and more! The goal for Balance Trials is to merge the worlds of skateboarding and art together to recognize skateboarding’s impact in culture today.

• 6:00PM - 7:00PM
  Chalk Art and Face Painting with GSA

  The Plot

  776 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Students from the Visual Arts Department at Governor’s School for the Arts will be creating artwork with the community using chalk on the Plot ground area and painting faces for children and families.

  Learn more.
• 6:00PM - 10:00PM
  Copeland Center Pop Up Gallery

  Hurrah Players' Copeland Center

  112 W. Wilson Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23510

  The Hurrah Players’ Copeland Center features a pop up gallery for NEON in the front lobby space, featuring artwork by local artists.

• 6:00PM - 10:00PM
  iSheep

  throughout the NEON District

  iSheep is an interactive art project from the Tidewater Burners that focuses on the issue of consent. They love to play, you just have to ask the right way!

  Learn more.
• 6:00PM - 10:00PM
  Prince Ink NEON T-Shirt Pop Up

  The Plot

  776 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Famed printers and all-around good guys Prince Ink will be popping up at The Plot to serve up fresh screen-printed T-shirts with NEON logo designs. Watch the guys print on site and then buy your very own NEON shirt to sport around the Festival.

  Learn more.
• 6:00PM - 10:00PM
  TCC @ NEON

  Glass Wheel Studio

  128 W. Olney Road, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Tidewater Community College joins the festival to celebrate their future in the NEON District. Future home to TCC’s visual and culinary arts programs, TCC Perry Glass Wheel Arts Center will feature music by the Blue Moon Jazz Ensemble, Bay River Band and Fortresses, culinary treats, displays of student artwork and demos of glassblowing and ceramics in the parking lot beer garden.

  Learn more.
• 6:00PM - 10:00PM
  The Plot Beer Garden

  The Plot

  776 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Meet up in the hub of the festival for games, kids activities, food trucks, cold brews from O’Connor Brewing Company, live music and cultural performances on the main stage from NEON District arts partners.

  Learn more.
• 6:00PM - 10:00PM
  UDM Pop Up Gallery

  Urban Discovery Ministries

  121 E. Virginia Beach Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Urban Discovery Ministries features a pop up gallery for NEON in their community room, featuring artwork by local artists.

• 7:00PM - 8:00PM
  Glow Flow Yoga

  Chrysler Museum of Art

  One Memorial Place, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Join the Bhav Brigade for the most colorful night of the year! Bring your friends, family, and your mat/blanket and let your light shine bright under the stars on the lawn of the Chrysler Museum. Glow in the dark paint, neon clothes and glow sticks are encouraged! All experience levels welcome.

  Learn more.
• 7:30PM - 8:30PM
  Teens with a Purpose & Testimony

  The Plot

  776 Granby Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  Catch the glow up at the NEON Festival as Teens with a Purpose takes the stage for an original and electrifying musical, poetic and dance performance, followed by original beats by Testimony.

  Learn more.
• 8:00PM - 10:00PM
  Third Thursday at the Glass Studio

  Chrysler Museum Glass Studio

  745 Duke Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

  At the Chrysler’s Perry Glass Studio, don’t miss a performance by New York-based artist Esteban de Valle accompanied by live music. Esteban returns to the NEON for the first time since creating the iconic “We Can Create” mural for the first ever NEON Festival. FREE admission however advance tickets are required for the performance. Reserve tickets at www.chrysler.org.

  Learn more.
• Anytime
  My Standards by Larry Bage

  125 W. Olney Road, Norfolk VA 23510

  My Standards by Larry Bage is a 7’ tall one-eyed tomcat made of recycled breaker boxes, a light pole and other found metals. The 3-dimensional feline appeared one night in the tradition of other 2-dimensional graffiti aerosol art and now prowls the NEON looking for fun.

  Learn more.
• Anytime
  NEON Squared Sidewalk Murals by the Governor’s School for the Arts

  Throughout the NEON District

  As a continuation of their work painting benches and streets in the NEON, the Governor’s School for the Arts students are back, refreshing and adding new concrete squares of sidewalks in the neighborhood. The City of Norfolk generously agreed to loan the sidewalks as a canvas for the student artists.

  Learn more.
• Anytime
  The Dream Machine

  Hugh R. Copeland Center

  112 W. Wilson Avenue, Norfolk VA 23510

  One of five new murals for the NEON Festival, Jeff Beck’s idea for The Dream Machine was inspired by children’s theater group Hurrah Players and 1980’s toy robots that teach you things. The large star represents Hurrah with two tubes going into and coming out of the star. The tube with shades of gray represents a lack of fun and inspiration and while the opposite tube passing through the star brings bright colors, joy and creativity, visualizing a machine for dreams.

  Learn more.

FAQ

1. What does NEON stand for?
   NEON is an acronym for New Energy Of Norfolk, which represents the energetic and creative community of Norfolk’s Arts District.
2. Who can I contact for more information?
   Please contact info@neonnfk.com for more information about the NEON District and the NEON Festival.
3. Can I volunteer?
   Yes! Please click here to sign up for volunteering or contact the festival’s volunteer coordinator, Marina Guerges at mguerges@downtownnorfolk.org.
4. What are the festival hours?
   Thursday night the festival runs from 5 to 10 pm at the Chrysler Museum of Art and Glass Studio and d’Art Center. Friday at the Plot and along Granby Street the festival is 6 to 10 pm.
5. Is the festival family-friendly?
   The NEON Festival is a great place to bring kids for early evening festivities. There will be live music, arts and crafts, and other fun activities for children.
6. Is the the festival free and open to the public?
   Yes, the NEON Festival’s events are free and open to all.
7. Where is the best place to park?
   Parking is available at the Harrison Opera House lot, at the Chrysler Museum of Art and at the Cedar Grove lot on Monticello Avenue.

Sponsors

Presenting Sponsors

Producing Sponsors

Contributing Sponsors

Beer Sponsor

Contact

Contact info@neonnfk.com for more information on the NEON Festival.