NEW! Festival Roller Skating Rink

New this year at Harborfest is an outdoor Festival Roller Skating Rink!  Lace up your skates and relive the golden days at this new festival feature.  Participants will skate to tunes provided by our skating rink DJ with cool lights and special effects.

Body Marbling

This new festival trend utilizes Hydrodynamics to transform skin and apparel into glowing works of art!  

NEW! Wacky Chad

Wacky Chad's award winning pogo stick skills, charmingly funny jokes and antics got him on America's Got Talent (Twice!), and a performance at the Superbowl. For more than a decade, he has made thousands of people laugh at schools, fairs, festivals, theaters, colleges and universities all over the world. He has been voted as a fan favorite for his mix of hilarious stand up comedy, unusual tricks and stunts

NEW! Splash City Golf

Make a splash at this unique pop-up driving range in Town Point Park!  Participants will take aim at a floating green in the Elizabeth River with golf balls that are made from recycled oyster shells.

NEW! Cate Great

Having delighted audiences in over 10 countries and performed in 6 languages, this family show is loved around the world.  With the zest and sweetness of a pineapple, grace of a dolphin, and jokes as great as your Dad's, Sara Kuns, Cate Great will whisk you away to the best vacation/most thrilling circus show you have ever experienced.  You've never seen a hula-hoop show like this before.

NEW! Aqua Performance Group

Watch as the curtains open to reveal an ancient spirit of the deep, a creature thought to exist only in the shimmering mirage of the open ocean – mermaids! Spotted by sailors for thousands of years in the breaking waves of their ships, one of these illusive beauties will be brought to you from the far corners of the earth. Hear about their stories of bravery and courage, learn about protecting their oceans, and witness for yourself a real mermaid! Photo opportunities will be available throughout the day.

NEW! The Butterfly Encounter

The Butterfly Encounter is a live walk through exhibit that houses multiple butterflies where you can interact, feed and learn about them and why they are so important.  A great activity for all ages, the exhibit was designed for wheelchair and stroller accesibility.

Harborfest Virginia Wine, Spirits, and Craft Beer Garden

The Made in Virginia Wine Tasting will feature wine sampling from Virginia Wineries, Distilleries, as well as craft beers from Virginia and more!  Wines will be available by the glass, bottle, and case.  Craft beers will be available to purchase in sample sizes or by the pint.  Join us for a unique experience sampling some of Virginia's finest wine and craft beer with live music from The Back Deck Stage located along the Elizabeth River in TowneBank Fountain Park next to Waterside Live!

The Defiant Crew Pirate School

Craft yourself the appropriate swashbuckling attire at the Pirate Bandana Tent and then set sail into a class at the Defiant Crew Pirate School where you will learn how to live the shipshape pirate’s life … Yo Ho Yo Ho a pirate’s life for me.

Dining at Harborfest... Fresh & Fun

The Harborfest®, food and beverage theme is fresh and fun! Outdoor dining on the waterfront includes over 50 food and beverage scenes, serving fill-your-tummy delicacies including fresh crab cakes, hand breaded shrimp, fried oysters, scallops, shrimp fried rice, mouth-watering open pit beef barbeque, North Carolina barbeque, Italian sausage, Polish sausage, Philly style cheese steaks, burgers and dogs, souvlaki, pitas, gyros, chicken on a stick, chicken tenders, Grecian chicken, chicken lo mein, Greek salad, buttery roasted corn, fresh cut French fries, onion rings, fresh wraps, corn dogs, blooming onions and smoked savory turkey legs. Top off your lunch or dinner with ice cold lemonade and sweet desserts like hand dipped ice cream, fresh and hot funnel cakes, cool Italian ices, melt-in-your-mouth Kettle Korn, fresh fruit smoothies and soft serve ice cream with all the toppings. Lounge with family and friends at one of our shaded seating areas and relax while enjoying your favorite festival fare. In addition to traditional beverage selections like smoothies and lemonade, adult beverages may be found throughout the festival grounds in various locations.