Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Summer at Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach opens the summer season with the Memorial Day Weekend Salute to Summer, a run of free, open air concerts set along the Atlantic Ocean waterfront. From Friday through Sunday, you can catch local and regional bands at three oceanfront stages, 17th Street Park, 24th Street Park, and 31st Street Park. The rotating lineups keep music in the background of your holiday weekend, whether you are coming straight from the beach or heading out after dinner.

You will find a social, high energy scene on the boardwalk, with families, couples, and groups of friends claiming spots early. Between sets, we recommend walking the Heroes Walk, where large banners stretch from 16th to 32nd Streets. The displays feature student written essays honoring the history and sacrifice of the United States military, and the boardwalk format makes it easy to read at your own pace.

Concerts typically run 7:30 PM to about 10:30 PM or 11:00 PM each night at all three parks. Arrive by 6:30 PM with a chair or blanket if you want a reliable view, and plan parking early, garages at 25th Street and 31st Street often fill by mid afternoon. Food vendors, ice cream shops, and casual bites sit within easy walking distance of every stage, and if a park feels full, you can often listen from the boardwalk or the sand nearby.

For the simplest logistics, stay along the resort strip between 15th and 35th Streets so you can walk to each stage without moving your car. Pack a light jacket, the ocean breeze can turn cool after sunset. Concerts are family friendly and held rain or shine, although severe weather can pause the schedule, and pets are generally not allowed inside the gated park areas during major event weekends.