Pressroom

Media Information from the Virginia Tourism Corporation

What’s New – What to Do in Virginia 2025

Openings, events, and other information on these pages may be canceled or postponed to a later date. Please check with the individual location or business for more details.

Central and Southern Virginia

  • The Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront in Downtown Richmond will make its debut in summer 2025 with a variety of live performances including Dwight Yoakam and Weird Al Yankovic. This first of its kind 7,500-capacity outdoor venue will offer a vibrant destination for live music and entertainment. Situated alongside the James River and Historic Tredegar, the amphitheater offers stunning views of the downtown skyline and the city’s natural beauty.
  • Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks at the Science Museum of Virginia runs from February 1 – August 25, 2025. Featuring 20 of the world’s most innovative skyscrapers built using half a million bricks by one of only twelve LEGO®-certified professionals worldwide, this exhibition showcases the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) involved in architecture and design. Get inspired and show off your master builder skills in the interactive construction area stocked with 200,000 loose LEGO® bricks.

  • A special exhibition celebrating hometown hero Arthur Ashe’s victory at Wimbledon in 1975 will open in April at the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia and will include programming.

  • The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will host the Frida: Beyond the Myth exhibition from April 5 to September 28, 2025. This exhibition, which includes 60 works of art in a variety of media, will delve deep into Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits and imagery to reveal the specific incidents in her life that impacted her creativity and the construction of her identity.

  • After the first-ever Cosmic Baseball games went viral in 2024, the Chili Peppers are back for more glow-in-the-dark action in 2025. The season opens May 22, 2025.

  • The Science Museum of Virginia’s exhibit, Ultimate Dinosaurs, will feature 20 full specimens from locations in the Southern Hemisphere. This interactive exhibition brings dinosaurs to life with augmented reality. Don’t miss this DINO-mite paleontology experience that will be on show from May 31 to September 1, 2025. 

  • VIRginia International Raceway will host the inaugural CrowdStrike Veterans Race of Remembrance Powered by AWS, November 6-9, 2025. The event will be the first of its kind in motorsport in North America. In the spirit of the original Race of Remembrance, founded by Mission Motorsport in the UK in 2013, the racing revolves around Veterans Day, a celebration of veterans, and a track side Remembrance Day service. The racing events will showcase several different motorsport series on-track, including a CAN/AM TCR/GT4 competition, a single make series and a 12-hour endurance main-event race, in addition to other veteran-focused activities and competitions.

Coastal Virginia – Chesapeake Bay, Hampton Roads, Eastern Shore

  • The Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary will commemorate the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo’s birth with Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine, on view March 6-28, 2025. This exhibition marks the global debut of a long-overlooked drawing hypothesized to be Michelangelo’s first sketch in preparation for the Sistine Chapel ceiling decoration. Williamsburg also has the honor of hosting the U.S. debut of seven Michelangelo drawings, including two sketches of apostles long forgotten by scholars and the public.

  • The newly designated Artery District in Virginia Beach is a vibrant cultural hub that celebrates creativity, community, and connection. This thriving arts district is home to colorful murals, unique galleries, eclectic shops, and locally-owned restaurants, offering a dynamic mix of experiences. Whether exploring public art installations, attending a live performance, or indulging in innovative cuisine, the Artery District is the perfect destination for those looking to immerse themselves in Virginia Beach’s creative energy.

  • On track for a Spring 2025 opening, the highly-anticipated Atlantic Park is coming to the birthplace of East Coast surfing, allowing visitors to surf year-round in Virginia Beach. Set to open in tandem with Atlantic Park, new entertainment venue The Dome will overlook the surf lagoon. With its flexible design and option to open up to the outdoors, The Dome promises to be a popular venue for a variety of year-round shows, from music to comedy.

  • LeMans Karting opened Virginia’s first and only Zero Latency Virtual Reality Arena in Portsmouth in December 2024.  Experience total immersion as you tackle new worlds and trippy adventures with pinpoint accuracy. Each player has their own headset and handheld and can join up in a max group of eight.

  • After a temporary closure, Red Wing Park in Virginia Beach will reopen in early 2025. The park is favored for its annual Cherry Blossom Festival in March, featuring more than 150 Yoshino cherry trees and a festive schedule of festive Japanese music and art activities. Returning visitors will enjoy a variety of athletic facilities, a dog park, and a bee pollinator garden.

  • At Norfolk Botanical Garden, grand ambition meets a beautiful, immersive experience in the Garden of Tomorrow, coming in fall 2025. The highlight will be the stunning Perry Conservatory, a two-story 26,000-square-foot structure that will house threatened plants from around the world and become a centerpiece of the garden’s conservation efforts.

  • Art and culture lovers will find much to love at the Chrysler Museum’s newly-expanded Perry Glass Studio, slated for a March 2025 grand opening. Tripling in size and offering more educational programs, the museum will further cement the studio’s reputation as a world class glass institution.

  • Nauticus has undergone a major renovation. The $21.5 million Reimagine Nauticus project features new interactive exhibits, a planetarium, a maritime simulator, and a public plaza with stunning views of the Elizabeth River. These new exhibits focus on interactive play, teaching visitors about Norfolk’s history as a port city, how we impact our environment, exhibits that dive into the design of sailboats and more.

  • Cyclists, runners, and those looking for a lovely stroll will be glad to hear the Elizabeth River Trail is expanding in 2025. The ERT’s new trailhead at the Larchmont Library will feature a kiosk, kayak launch, improved signage, and outdoor recreational spaces. This expansion will make the trail even more accessible and enjoyable for visitors.

  • Norfolk is on track to become a popular cruise destination. Starting in February, Carnival Cruise Line will offer year-round cruises to ports in the Eastern Caribbean and the Bahamas on the Carnival Sunshine, bringing a renewed sense of excitement for travelers to and from Mermaid City.

  • Norfolk’s ever-popular Naval Station Bus Tours have returned, offering a true behind-the-scenes glimpse into life on Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval installation. The 60-minute tour includes the homes of the 1907 Jamestown Exposition, Chambers Field Air Station and the fleet’s ships. 

Northern Virginia

  • Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville will host an LIV Golf tournament June 6-8, 2025.
  • In winter 2025, one of Alexandria’s last remaining historic waterfront warehouses will be transformed into Cooper Mill, a new upscale market and relaxed tavern space in Robinson Landing. The name is a nod to the former mill on the site which fabricated barrels for the Alexandria Flour Company.

  • Level99 opens at Tysons Corner Center in 2025 as a first-of-its-kind destination for adults. Featuring real-world, interactive, social gaming with over 50 physical and mental challenges set in immersive, artistic environments, the space will include installations from local artists, opportunities for groups and player-vs-player, and a food and beverage area.

  • Movement Fairfax is opening late 2025 as a climbing and fitness hub that features 37,000+ square-feet of climbing, yoga, and fitness areas, plus 27,000+ square-feet of climbing terrain.

  • The National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir unveils a new exhibit in June 2025 curated specifically for the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday and America’s 250th Anniversary commemoration. The exhibit, CALL TO Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War, features more than 280 artifacts in a 5,000 square-foot exhibition space.

  • The inaugural Bull Run Wine Festival at The Winery at Bull Run will debut May 31-June 1, 2025. The festival will feature wines from various Northern Virginia wineries plus live music, food trucks, vendors, and more.

Shenandoah Valley and Virginia Mountains

  • Massanutten Resort welcomes the Mountain Mayhem Coaster in spring 2025. With a total length spanning 3,380 feet, Mountain Mayhem is an exhilarating downhill experience covering 2,156 feet of terrain with two 360-degree spirals along the track. An innovative design gives riders full control over their speed, granting a customized experience tailored to each individual’s preference. Whether seeking an exhilarating, heart-pumping ride or a more leisurely ride to take in the coaster’s breathtaking views, the mountain coaster can reach speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

  • The Shenandoah Valley just launched its inaugural Epic 100 Bucket List. This list is meant to remind visitors of some of the Valley’s best and most well-known experiences, and to prompt the discovery of new favorite experiences. From experiences offering a quiet connection with nature to high-adrenaline challenges that will get your heart pumping, this bucket list offers 100 reasons to plan a Shenandoah Valley visit today.

  • Opening in 2025, the Moonshine Capital Heritage Museum will highlight the history of Rocky Mount and surrounding Franklin County as the Moonshine Capital of the World.

  • The Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival is celebrating its 10 year anniversary in September 2025. At the largest sunflower festival on the East Coast, come see over 700,000 sunflowers, shop local craft and food vendors, and more during the all-day event September 15, 2025.

Southwest Virginia – Blue Ridge Highlands, Heart of Appalachia

  • Bristol Motor Speedway, in partnership with Major League Baseball, is hosting the MLB Speedway Classic in Bristol on August 2, 2025. The Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds will play as history will be made at The Last Great Colosseum.