Virginia Beach, VA

Yes. Halloween isn’t even here yet, and I see them setting up Christmas light displays. Seriously.

November 16th, a short 2 weeks away, is the start of the holiday light festival at the beach. I’d suggest if you are here, to take advantage of light display early on in the year. As it gets closer to Christmas, it gets crowded!

Basically, you drive the boardwalk(and experience in itself) and look at the light displays on the beach. Very, very cool. The displays are nautical in theme, of course. Every year, they add a new display.

With admission, you also get a free CD of holiday musica to listen to while you drive.

Check out the website for more info.

Seeing the lights on the beach is a tradition we make time for every year. I highly recommend it to anyone.

If you are in the area on October 27th, check out the free film Walking on Water, at the VA Beach Convention Center. To learn more about the movie, check it out at www.walkingonwaterthemovie.com.

In addition to free admission, they have a skateboarding demo, BMX Demo, music and more, including free prizes and appearances by pro surfers!

Sounds awesome!

First of all, I need to apologize for not posting for so long. All 5, read it again, all 5 of the kids got rotovirus. Several hospital trips later, we seem to be alright. WHEW. I should get a medal of some sort I suppose, but, as my grandmother said, what would that medal look like? I cleaned up and did wash for 5 sick kids?? Oh well, I digress.

Today, one of our first days out, we attended a craft show to benefit the high school. I know, I wasn’t thrilled either, but my neighbor teaches at the school and one of the handicapped classes had an exhibit to raise money for a party. So, off we went.

You know, I am truly sorry that I didn’t bring more money, believe it or not.

There were a few booths that really, really intrigued me. One was a lady who had all sorts of red hat items…really cool ones. Since my grandmother is a “queen mum” I found that fascinating.

The other was cheese and snack trays crafted from these exquisite vodka bottles. The lady actually takes bottles and fires them, and reshapes them to these beautiful art works. Several of the bottles had Van Gogh paintings on them. Wow. I got her card and plan on doing some Christmas shopping later. I mean, wouldn’t those make great hostess gifts?

The other booth was one called tastefully simple. They have gourmet foods for busy people to make from mixes that taste like homemade. They actually had a key lime dessert ball. Wow. You can eat it with graham crackers and it makes a festive dip.

The next festival to raise money for the school will be held November 17 and 18. If you are in the area, I’d stop by Indian River High school in Chesapeake.

On the sand, near 25th street is a HUGE King Neptune statue. I’ve always wondered why he is there or for what purpose. I still have no clue exactly, but the locals have turned the statue into a centerpiece for the King Neptune Festival held the last weekend of September.

We were able to experience the 34 year strong tradition this weekend. The festival centers around incredible sand castles built on the beach between 6 and 10th street. They had competitors from all over the world, including Italy, the Netherlands, and England, as well as some local folks.

The festival is billed as “the event that marks the locals taking back the beach”, but I noticed many tourists participating. The idea of “local” makes me laugh. Who is a local down here? Most of the folks I know are “from somewhere else” due to the strong military prescence in the region. I know a whole bunch of people, our family included, who retire from the military and stay in the area once their last tour is over. So, don’t be intimidated if you are visiting.

The only downside–the lack of parking. Go early, and/ or be prepared to walk and/or pay to park! I think we walked around a total of 4 miles on Sunday.

Hey, since official tourist season is over, dogs are allowed on the boardwalk, and we noticed a whole bunch. Next year, we’ll bring our dog as well.