Went to the Norfolk Greek festival for another year as this is a highlight event of the year, its…read morenot summertime until you've been to the Norfolk Greek Festival. Parking for the event is wherever you can find a spot on a nearby street so make sure to bring a smaller vehicle or carpool. Everything is AMAZING! The food - AMAZING, Music/entertainment - Amazing, the church - Amazing, the staff/congregation - AMAZING! I got a lamb shank, green beans, spanakopita, tiropita, and a gyro for the road. The lamb shank was seasoned and cooked to perfection, I didn't even need a knife to cut it, fork only it was so tender. The spanakopita is a side with a mixture of shredded spinach mixed with Greek cheese between filo dough, or just yummy. The tiropita is similar but with only a mixture of Greek cheeses in the middle, and also really yummy. The portions are as you would expect if you went to your Greek relatives for a feast, hence why the gyro was for the road. Music and entertainment are a combination of the various youth groups from the church performing traditional Greek dances in traditional Greek outfits. There are bands that paly traditional/modern Greek music, and the MC will even do some Greek lessons. Inside the school/gathering hall is a small fair that has vendors selling various art/jewelry items, religious works a Greek coffee stand with the best coffee you will ever have, AND the ever popular deserts to-go (Baklava cheesecake, Greek chocolate cake, breads, and cakes) the only hard part is choosing what you want, lucky they have sampler packs. You can pay with card or cash and there is an ATM on site so there is no excuse to not see you next year.

Norfolk Greek Festival is a wonderful experience. It is festive , fun, and full of great times…read more There is quite the cuisine which includes gyros, lamb shank, dolmades, Greek coffee, Greek pastries and I could go on and on. My favorite is the Greek coffee experience. There is a booth indoors with people making the coffee in a traditional style. Last year I only bought 1 bag of the coffee, this year I got 3 because it's so good. There's a little Greek store where I got a sesame treat and more. The music, singing, and dance are a blast !

Well first off let me tell you from someone who came in on day 3 at the very end of the fest I had…read moreabsolutely no idea what I was walking into. I thought this must be an interesting event. I walked in about 30 min into the event and they had LED hula hoops, scarves with colors blowing, random hammock chairs, a town like horse bar, I mean there was a lot. When I mean a lot. .. there is a lot. The one thing you must know is first off its from what I gather a celebration of life, earth, music, spirit of human connection, and just a transcendental experience. Don't come in looking for a list of activities, you have to just be. People would flock in crowds from one spot to another there would be a mini performance, one tent had a wickedly awesome shadow puppet storytelling. At first glance I was mind blown at the intricacy of story and shadow. That was wildly sweet to look at! The food trucks were just 2 and I had the chicken platter and the food was good the baklava was melt in your mouth yummy. The grand finale took me away as there was a giant moon puppet and sun puppet, fish, a swirling lantern show, shadow imagery, it was sweet looking! Please come with an open mind I had to let go walk around, not ask Qs, and take it for what it was. The ladies that would walk song and dance were my favorite they would stop walking do some poses and continue walking in unison. The lantern head people were cool to check out, and the dancing routine in front of the bar with the fairies was in great spirit and energy! Can't wait to see more next year! BTW the band DJP & Mr T a local band played the crowd well at the end and selled merch near stage. I met the lead singer she was very sweet!

Went to this event this past weekend. It was not as crowded as other festivals in town point park…read moreand is limited to only a certain section of the park. It is geared more towards families but it was enjoyable for adults too. They had a Shakespeare rap battle and a performance of Prince's Purple Rain among other great performances. They also involved audience participation. I was pleasantly surprised this was a nice event!

The festival was fantastic! Very spacious, and everything was labeled. It was our very first time…read moregoing. We will be going again in the future. The festival was great. The only bummer was, which I dont think we were expecting, the temperatures were reaching 90's degrees and there were no shady areas to rest and cool down. This isnt much of the festival's fault, it's mother nature. *smiles* Lots of activities stations, lots of food vendors...lots to do. They had a petting zoo, arts & craft stations, playdoh station, play house stations, a kiddie area for the younger one like ball pits, tunnels etc. I felt like a kid all over again. I made sure that my daughter was the one doing all of the activities, even though I was itching to do some myself....Heck, I got chocolate milk brom Oberweis...delicious! Cant wait to go back next year! Wish the festival was a bit longer like a 2 day thing versus one day. It gives families options.

The reason I gave it 3 stars is because the festival was wayyy to crowded. I understand that you…read moreguys try and get as many activities as you can for the kids to have fun but there is no room to sit down. There is no room for cranky kids to just chill out because there's so much traffic. And if there are booths who aren't patient with kids then they probably shouldn't be there at a children's Festival for example there was a booth for for brain balance and she was just getting very aggravated with the kids who didn't want to do the whole cycle who did just want to do the trampoline. I'm sorry that my two-year-old doesn't want to do a whole brain activity she just wants to jump on the trampoline. Other than that the festival had great ideas for the kids to do like I said it was just too much and they should definitely do it for the whole weekend not just one day it would probably help with the overcrowding.

I think its great that Portsmouth is trying to attract tourists and locals out towards the…read morewaterside, but this festival really needed some more activities, vendors, and entertainment. There was a live band playing as I was disembarking the ferry. What a great welcome! However, that was probably the highlight of this festival. There were about 5 vendors selling trinkets and other items. Nothing really attracted my eye. The food vendors were only Jay's Barbecue, Shakey's, Dominos Pizza and Mr. Cream Cones. I ended up getting fries from Jay's Barbecue because I was starving and needed something to hold me over during the ferry ride back to Norfolk. There were two workers in the booth for Jay's Barbecue. One was cooking, the other was preparing food and taking the money. I found it quite disgusting that the hand that he wore a glove on was used to prepare food AND take people's money. So UNSANITARY. Unfortunately I was hungry, desperate for food, and already gave him my money. Not only was the food dirty, but they didnt have enough money to give people correct change. He shorted a LOT of people (including me) because he didnt have the right change. He considered this extra cash his "TIPS". Why am I tipping for dirty food? Never again!

Great day in the city!…read more It's usually super hot when this event comes to town, but good music by local artists/bands and the great outdoors makes for a great day along the Elizabeth River!! The event is free to attend and it's for the whole family! There are several food vendors...a few vendors selling novelty items and you may see one or two vendors selling desserts. This year the City decided to rotate acts between two stages which was a bit aggravating. One act would perform for about 90 mins then we'd be asked to move (lawn chairs) to a larger stage area to hear/see the next act. Nevertheless, the bands featured this year we're a hit while some were a miss. The crowd at 3pm... a minimum of 20. Perhaps the hot temperatures deterred people away but as time went on... the crowd began to increase. Seems as though the more popular the band the larger the crowd. This event is held yearly so definitely look out for it every Memorial Day weekend to take place in Portsmouth, Va. Parking is free in the garages and free after 6pm for street parking. Bring about $20 for pocket change. And if you plan to catch the ferry that's nearby remember you'll need the exact fare. Have fun and enjoy life

Free and open to the public from 12 noon till 2 PM. Had an amazing time. Got me some bourbon,…read morechicken dirty rice and some roasted corn. Bring your money because it ain't cheap. I hope you enjoy the Bayou bonbon festival starting today at 5 o'clock running till the weekend. This is amazing.

Never really gone to the festival before. BUT from 12-2 they have a free time first day from what…read moreI see so I decided to check it out. MAN IT WAS JUMPING! The food out there was sooooo good. I got jambalaya and a shrimp po boy? Fire. Music? Amazing either way what was going on as a perfect complement. And ngl. I just enjoy an experience that caters to everyone well. I'd go again, but I think if I did I would just do it for the free 12- 2 again. I didn't get to see anything that would make it worth it for me yet, but I was just there for a short period. So maybe I needed more time. We'll see next year!

Veterans is one of my favorite venues to see concerts. I think there's a decent amount of food &…read moredrinks available, though you should plan to pay an arm & leg for it. I much prefer the lawn over seats but that's just more my vibe.

We went to see Neyo and Akon. Les Twins were also there dancing for Akon. The process to get into…read morethe ampitheater was simple. I scanned my phone, got my bag checked, and I was in!! We had banging seats right in the front front!! Yasssss, the pit area was great. When Neyo and Akon walked by they were super close!! Lol. I could see each drop of sweat on their faces. Lol. The concert went on for a good amount of time and they gave us a real show. Neyo's dancers were serving up booty. Those outfits they had on were popping!! The girls doing acrobatics on those ropes were working it for sure! I wish my muscles were set up like that!! Lol. I was like a big kid, like wow!!! Akon and the Les Twins also were giving the crowd what we wanted!! Lit lit, and his outfits were nice!! The staff were all friendly! I felt safe and had a blast sincerely. The food is pricey af so be prepared to pay $20 for a few chicken tenders and fries. I paid $10 for 12 fries. I was still hungry afterwards. Lol. Luckily everything else made up for it. So bring snacks from home to save money! You can also bring a sealed bottle of water. They have a few different food options like hotdogs, burgers, popcorn, margaritas, and etc. The bathrooms are hot as hell, so be prepared to get in and out. Also bring sanitizer, because they run out of soap sometimes. I saw a bunch of nasty people walk out without trying to wash those dirty hands. Ewww!! It was thousands of people there, so the crowd was jumping. I love coming to this Venue. It's my favorite in this area. Check them out!!

I did not particularly love my first visit to The Norva. The upstairs was blocked off for…read moremembers-only but that wasn't communicated in advance. There's no re-entry, and my boyfriend was hoping if we arrived early, he could find a seat up there. Instead, we had to wait for the concert to start an hour later while absolutely freezing our tushes off. It was absurdly cold. Even through the main act, the entire night was frigid. He's a bigger guy and he even said he was chilly. I purchased a long-sleeved shirt from the headliner, and that helped a bit but not enough. And yes, we were in the heart of the crowd. I've really never experienced that at a venue before, and hopefully it was just a fluke? I'd return but only if it's a band I really-really-really want to see.

The Norva is just going banger after banger. Had to come see Hippie Sabotage! Transformational…read moreshow. Great security team. Very courteous staff and very clean. Still didn't eat here but the vibe was fantastic!

By far the best haunt in Virginia. Their actors are on point and never break character. And the…read morehouse itself is scary without actors.

I've been going to this place since 2016 and have been there over a dozen times since then. Their…read morefestive events throughout the year are quite fun and in my experience, generate shorter lines. The prices have risen over time and is a bit much in my opinion. They could sell tickets for $10 and $15 for extreme, and you would get just as much if not more business and still make a killing. Just saying. I have never done "Extreme" and never will. I am not only a proud "Irregular" but also a "Repeat offender" as the owner would say. The waits are usually very long, it can range from anywhere between 20 minutes to over 2 hours. It really helps to get there early and get in line first. They seem to take more time with you once you get inside if you are the opening act of the evening. The rooms are dark, which is really a shame since you're unable to see the decorations or themes of some of the areas, which makes them seem like a waste. Some rooms are very smelly. One year, there was a butcher shop area that stunk highly of ammonia. Some of the actors have REALLY bad breath and they get uncomfortably close. While you wait in line, you are intermittently greeted by various characters, one of them being "Bubbles the Clown".. if I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be her. Beware however, she does have a few.. "quirks" that may disturb or disgust certain visitors. (all I'll say is watch where you step!) The owner clearly enjoys his job and always remembers me when I stop by. Most things are the same or at least, very similar as you go through each year, but some stuff does change to keep it interesting. There are loud noises, messy substances, and electric shocks. A few years in a row, I had to crawl on my hands and knees through what appeared to be a giant intestine to get through one of the many obstacles. That was weird to say the least. There are rooms that include a lot of different fears and props. Everything from snakes to clowns to pitch darkness. Some special events through the year are themed around different holidays or a horror-centered gimmick. And I hate to say it, but the most annoying things to me are: 1. The other people in line. They can get very obnoxious. 2. The constant screaming. I don't like loud things, and I don't like people (or monsters for that matter) screaming in my ear. It is NOT scary, funny or anything remotely enjoyable. It causes real damage to those of us with hearing issues. It also is highly aggravating. 3. Pricing can be a bit much for what you get. 4. I'm not a fan of the saturation of pentagrams all over the place. It's just lame and unimaginative. There are merchandise stands outside with some neat items and lots of stuff to look at while you wait. Just be prepared for some startling surprises if you're spotted being off-guard. The actors seem to have a good time, and if you're a good sport, you can have a good time along with them. It's always fun to join in on the spirit of things. (and besides, when else will you get the opportunity to hang out with some monsters and let loose for awhile?) Anything that feels like a real-life horror movie (with the controlled fear element of course) is a must-do for the Halloween season or any other time during the year that you might need a good, safe scare to keep you on your toes! Because nothing breaks up the monotony of a typical, mundane evening in March, May, or July than a good-natured threat from an Axe-wielding Clown or a playful proposition from a demon-possessed girl covered in blood. Ya know, just another Saturday for some of us! Final word: it's fun and most of the time, you never know what you're gonna walk into when you pass through each door or curtain. So if you decide to visit, proceed with caution, and remember to have fun and enjoy the madness!