Pressroom

Media Information from the Virginia Tourism Corporation

What’s New in Virginia

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.

Statewide News and Major Openings

  • The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the independence of the United States in the Commonwealth of Virginia, one of the former colonies and future states, where much of this history took place. The celebrations begin in 2023 and will run through the 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026.
  • The Garden Club of Virginia is celebrating its 90th Anniversary of Historic Garden Week in 2023. The statewide event runs from April 15-22 and includes 30 unique tours hosted by 48 clubs across the Commonwealth.
  • After years of construction, three Metro Silver line stations opened in Loudoun in late 2022, finally connecting the county with direct public rail to Washington DC. The three stops are Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Gateway, and Ashburn Station.
  • The Omni Homestead Resort’s iconic Warm Springs Pools, an integral part of Bath County and Virginia history, reopened in December 2022 following a 14-month, $4 million rehabilitation. Fed by four natural warm springs, rich in mineral content, the 19th century bathhouses have been sought by travelers for centuries. The stone basin of the Gentlemen’s Bathhouse was constructed in 1761, making it the oldest spa structure in the country.

Where to Stay in Virginia 2023

  • The Darden Business School in Albemarle County will open the Forum Hotel, managed by Kimpton Hotels, in April 2023. The new hotel will feature 199 hotel rooms and suites, more than 19,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 6,500-square-foot ballroom, a pub, sports bar and coffee shop as well as five acres of natural green space featuring an arboretum and botanical gardens that will connect the Darden Grounds, UVA School of Law Grounds, and the Rivanna Trail.
  • Arriving in winter 2023, Hotel AKA Alexandria brings a dramatic new addition to Old Town Alexandria and will be just 20 minutes from Washington, D.C. and steps from the city’s flourishing boutique scene and thriving waterfront. Custom-designed by visionary architect Piero Lissoni, the new, sophisticated accommodations offer a long-term stay option with premium amenities such as a Technogym fitness center and more.
  • The new Fire Station No. 1 Boutique Hotel in downtown Roanoke, opening February 2023, is a 7-room hotel housed in a 20th century fire station and furnished by TXTUR, a locally-based furniture manufacturer specializing in sustainability and direct to consumer retail. Their flagship retail showroom will be located on the main floor of the hotel. Stock, a Nordic-inspired restaurant and bar located in the Fire Station Hotel will also open in February.
  • The Inn at Foster Falls inside New River Trail State Park will open in 2023 offering 10 luxurious guest rooms as well as meeting space. Wrap around porches enable uninterrupted views of the New River and state park below.

For more options on Where to Stay in Virginia for 2023, click here.

Where to Eat & Drink in Virginia 2023

  • The Edna Lewis Menu Trail is running in Orange County now through Memorial Day 2023. Participating local restaurants will have their version of a recipe from Orange County native Edna Lewis’ featured cookbook on their restaurant menu in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Edna Lewis’s first cookbook – The Edna Lewis Cookbook.
  • Albemarle County will welcome two new wineries in 2023, Southwest Mountains Vineyards and Paradise Springs Winery. This will be Paradise Springs’ third location and its second location in Virginia. This will push the number of wineries in the Charlottesville area to nearly 45.

For more options on Where to Eat & Drink in Virginia for 2023, click here.

What to Do in Virginia 2023

  • In mid-summer 2023, Springfield Town Center in Northern Virginia will welcome the opening of LEGO Discovery Center, a 32,000 square foot indoor LEGO attraction that features millions of LEGO bricks and multiple attractions. Billed as the ultimate indoor LEGO playground, this will be the very first location in Virginia.
  • The Rivers Casino in Portsmouth will open January 15, 2023. The 400,000 square foot casino features seven restaurants, a 4-Star Hotel, a 3,000-seat event venue, movie theater, and much more.
  • Richmond’s brand-new entertainment and food venue, The Park RVA, features a number of activities including indoor mini golf, duckpin bowling, and karaoke.
  • Astro Beer Hall will be expanding and opening its second location, a 14,000 square-foot concept in Shirlington. Targeted for opening in early 2023, this location will include local beer along with Astro’s famous fried chicken and donuts, as well as over-the-top sandwiches and more.  Astro Beer Hall Shirlington will feature seating for up to 500 guests inside and 80 guests on the large outdoor patio.
  • The multi-day Something in the Water Festival led by Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams will return home to Virginia Beach after a year in Washington D.C. April 28-20, 2023. With a star-studded musical lineup, the event also highlights arts and culture through a series of performances, capsule events and community activities designed to highlight unity, celebrate diversity and empower all.
  • The National Botanic Garden is a new 250-acre garden in Chantilly set to open in 2023. The landscaped grounds merge horticulture, architecture, topography and art and include the largest bamboo gardens in the US as well as the East Coast’s largest water-borne Xeric gardens – also known as water-wise gardens.
  • Busch Gardens Williamsburg will debut DarKoaster in 2023. Billed as North America’s First All-Indoor Straddle Coaster, riders will travel on snowmobiles across 2,454 feet of track and race through total darkness while changing course to avoid the elements. As the weather strikes, riders encounter four accelerating launches on this family-friendly dark ride experience.
  • Water Country USA will debut Riptide Race in Summer 2023. Virginia’s First Dueling Pipeline, this adrenaline-pumping water slide pits teams against each other as riders take their mark atop a 54-foot tower before racing through 520 feet of slide, with low walls to keep an eye on the competition.
  • The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol, which opened their temporary casino during Summer 2022, recently broke ground for their new permanent property in Bristol with plans for a Summer 2024 grand opening. Visitors will experience the legendary vibe of the Hard Rock brand, including gaming, entertainment, and great food.

For more options on What to Do in Virginia for 2023, click here.

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