-**Be sure to read the full article for a link to pre-sale NEON tees**

NEON Fest returns this week after a year of pandemic pause. For the uninitiated, NEON Fest is one of the premier annual festivals in Norfolk. If there were a Norfolk event bucket list, NEON Fest would be pretty near the top. 

NEON Fest is an annual celebration of the NEON District, the only designated arts district in the city. The NEON District’s roots run all the way back to 2012, when a group of artists with support from AltDaily, approached city leaders with a vision of an arts district. Less than a year later, the city commissioned Better Block to temporarily turn the neighborhood into a vibrant street with arts, retail, bike lanes, and more. The event served as a well-needed spark as several organizations launched Kickstarters and fundraising campaigns. The neighborhood was acronymically named NEON, for New Energy of Norfolk. Over the next few years, artistic anchors settled in, including Alchemy NFK, the Hurrah Players, Work Release, and Push comedy. Alongside those orgs, dozens of murals popped up, covering nearly every paintable wall. The inaugural NEON Fest took place in 2015, and the rest is history. Waves of new energy and creative talent saw an emergence in the following years, enlivening the area with arts, restaurants, venues, and retail. 

Since 2015’s inaugural event, the NEON Fest has punctuated the work that happens in the area year-round. It serves as a worthy celebration and time to reflect on the progress of the past year. The 2021 festival will be a particularly momentous one. Having missed the 2020 festival due to the pandemic, there are two years’ worth of work and improvements to recognize. While there’s new artwork and new arch lighting to enjoy, this is also a time to celebrate the resilience of the businesses and artists who’ve made it through a tough two years. 

NEON Fest 2021 runs two nights – Thursday, October 21st, and Friday, October 22nd.  Thursday night will anchor on the west side of the district around Chrysler Museum and Chrysler Glass Studio. Friday night stretches down Granby Street from Virginia Beach Blvd to Brambleton, and westward as far as the d’Art Center. Both nights are jam-packed with excitement. 

Thursday Night

The Chrysler campus is going to be buzzing with events and engaging activities. Attendees can participate in Glow Yoga by Bhav Brigade, Cloud Boards interactive art exhibit, a sound bath, and glow in the dark crafts with the Lil Truck of Tools. Music will be infused throughout the night with performances by The Rhythm Project, BecStar and Band, DJ Karee & DJ Rick Geez, Trio Atomic, Ground Level, and The Hostile Animals. Special pop-ups like the Human Library, Zoolumination, and Todd Rosenlieb Dance are sure to be a delight. And don’t forget to stop by the Chrysler Glass Studio after 8 pm for “Glass After Dark” with a live performance by Berries.  

Friday Night

Friday’s festivities are main staged at the Plot, a multipurpose space on the corner of Granby and Olney that will be turned into a bear garden for the night. Exhibitions will launch at d’Art Center and CommuneXCrop. The TCC Glass Wheel Arts Center hosts the 757 Street Art Battle, and a performance by Dariel Clark. Tidewater Burners and the Makerspace unleash the interactive exhibit Celebrate at the Cofer lot. Blacklight parties and the artwork of Aimee Bruce energizes Zeke’s, while Push Comedy features free shows all night. NEON House will be packed full with fashion shows, beat workshops, and performances by Bay River Band, the Feral Showgirls, and the Infinite Flava Band. Down at the Copeland Center, you’ll catch the Hurrah Players, Muse Writer’s Center, and more. On top of all of that, over a dozen other galleries, activities, and pop-ups are on the schedule.  

It’s really no understatement to say that the 6th Annual NEON Fest is slated to be one of the most impressive showcases of creative talent this year. Come early and expect to stay for a while, it’s going to take some time to experience it all. Bring your walking shoes and be ready to trek around the neighborhood. Just around each corner is another attention-grabbing piece of art. When you get hungry, grab a bite to eat at one of the food vendors or NEON staples like Sanctuary, Culture Lounge, CommuneXCrop, Zeke’s, or Cafe Milo. 

There’s a convergence of culture waiting for you to become a part of the new energy. 

See you both nights?

Hit the Neon website for even more in-depth event lineups and details. 

NFK Currents popup booth with exclusive NEON Tees will be at The Plot Friday night. Pre-purchase yours here through Thursday, 12:00 pm noon.

Paul Stetson Rice

Chelsea, NFK

Paul is the creator of NFKVA.com. He was born and raised in Norfolk, graduated from Virginia Tech, and narrowly avoided law school. Chat with him about economics, entrepreneurship, hip-hop, and hiking. When he's not working on five different projects, you'll catch him sharing a beer with friends at a local brewery.