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From our blog and art opportunities, to press on the district and our monthly newsletter — get caught up on all things NEON.
September 2022
Only a few short weeks away, the 7th Annual NEON Festival is the NEON District’s yearly coming out party. You can expect live music, dance, pop up galleries, food trucks and more on Thursday October 20 and Friday, October 21. Presented by Arts Alliance and Old Dominion University, the festival brings more than 5,000 visitors to the neighborhood for can’t miss entertainment.
View PostAugust 2022
Before the 7th Annual Festival descends upon the district this October, art and mural making is taking front and center. This September, watch for familiar faces and new friends as the 2022 selection of artists commence projects around NEON. We can’t wait to unveil the new murals and more to you this October 20 and 21!
View PostWander around NEON and Mermaids in this East Coast Waterfront City
Some people think about Norfolk and imagine the largest naval base in the world stationed here. Others think about mermaids. After all, you could actually scavenge or happily bump into mermaid statues everywhere you go in the city. The Virginia town, sitting on a bay surrounded by water, has a full range of maritime associations. But you’ll also find a bustling waterfront, historic districts, a burgeoning foodie scene, and a stimulating arts neighborhood…
View PostNorfolk, Chrysler Plan to Purchase EVMS Building
Smith-Rogers Hall has attracted a pair of buyers. The city of Norfolk and the Chrysler Museum of Art joined forces to purchase the four-story building for $3.2 million for use as an expansion location for the art museum…
View PostJuly 2022
Join NEON under the lights when The 7th Annual NEON Festival returns this October 20 and 21, 2022. Way back in 2015, the district was just getting started with a new name, new branding, a few small art pieces here and there and a couple of new businesses just starting to offer shopping and dining. With the NEON District evolving each year since, the festival provides a perfect opportunity to dial in. Visitors can attend walking mural tours, catch live music and comedy performances, snack on delectable local food, and see plenty more from Norfolk’s creative community. Click here to watch a preview of the festivities presented by Downtown Norfolk Council, the Chrysler Museum of Art and Arts Alliance.
View Post7 Fantastic Restaurants To Try In Norfolk
Norfolk is a great town for foodies. Downtown and the adjacent neighborhoods offer a wide variety of cuisine from Italian to Greek, and of course, seafood. I always like to do pre-trip research – for this trip I made a list of restaurants with good wine lists.
View PostJune 2022
Planning for the 2022 NEON Festival is off and running! Save the date for the 7th annual celebration of all things in the district: the evenings of October 20 and 21, 2022. As always, the festival will be a forum for all creatives in Norfolk and beyond. Watch for opportunities coming your way later this summer to plan your own activity or event or exhibition. For now, sponsorship support is needed to create another amazing year of creativity and fun. Interested sponsors can click here for details or contact info@neonnfk.com.
View PostMay 2022
Recently, file sharing giant WeTransfer launched a new project profiling lesser-known, emerging places that are fast becoming creative meccas, the Creative Hubs Index. Remarkably, Norfolk took one of the top three spots, with the NEON District called out for its contribution to the creative culture in the city. Among other Norfolk talents, the Index recognized local businesses Cardinal Skate Shop and Tender Heart Tattoo, NEON muralist Navid Rahman, NEON contributor Charles Rasputin, and design force Sway Creative Labs – all mainstays in keeping the district full of energy.
View PostApril 2022
This spring, there’s a lot of cycle momentum to celebrate city-wide in Norfolk, not to mention, plenty of reasons to swap out four wheels for two (gas, anybody?). In NEON, get at it with two signature Bike Month events, Bike to Work Day and Glow Ride. Both go down at the Plot onFriday, May 20. The day starts off with free snacks and swag at NEON’s pit stop 7-9am. There are a total of eight pit stops around Norfolk, so cruise around to all before heading to work (or back home). After that, roll right into Glow Ride Friday evening. Meet up at the Plot at 8pm to pick up a coveted Bike Month t-shirt, then ride off into the night with the group at 8:30pm. Glowsticks, LED lights and fluorescent gear highly encouraged! As always, Glow Ride is a police-escorted critical mass ride with rolling street closures so feel free to bring the whole family to ride safely.
View Post7th Annual NEON Festival
The 7th annual NEON Festival returned to NFK October 20 & 21, 2022. The nights were lit with performances, music, murals, art and more!
Learn MoreCall For Artists
Hundreds of artists have passed through NEON walls over the years. Big or small, international or your next door neighbor, high school student or college professor - artists of all kinds and skill levels are welcome to contribute to the NEON District's public art collection. Apply for project-based open calls throughout the year to join the club.
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