A cultural staple for 49 years and counting, Norfolk Harborfest 2025 returns this weekend to the waterfront with a wide-ranging lineup of music, food and nautical events.
Harborfest holds the distinction of being America’s longest-running maritime festival. Attendees can expect military and character vessels alongside the tall ships. Saturday culminates with one of the biggest fireworks displays on the East Coast.
During the weekend, festival-goers can immerse themselves in Navy and Coast Guard history through interactive exhibits and demonstrations.
Familiar attractions include Friday’s Parade of Sail, when the ships arrive, the evening drone show over the river and the Build-A-Boat Challenge. (Also, the popular Kalmar Nyckel, the Tall Ship of Delaware, will dock at Historic Yorktown June 11-14 after its stay at Harborfest.)
Harborfest is free. Visit bit.ly/Harborfest2025 for more information.
Here are some of the highlights:
Festival hours
Friday – Noon-11 p.m. (Parade of Sail at noon; drone show at 9:30)
Saturday- Noon– 11 p.m. (Fireworks at 9:30)
Sunday- Noon-6 p.m.
Music lineup:
Friday
Main Stage
Fuzz Band (Jazz), 3:15 p.m.
Karina Rykman (Jam/Indie/Psychedelic Rock), 6 p.m.
Lettuce (Funk/Jam), 8 p.m.
Boathouse Stage
The Michael Clark Band (Blues/Motown/Disco/Funk), 2:45 p.m.
Roberta Lea (Country), 4:45 p.m.
Community Witch (Indie/Shoegaze/Rock/Punk), 7 p.m.
Kill Devil Disco (Disco/House), 9:45 p.m.
Saturday
Main Stage
BJ Griffin (R&B/Soul/Funk/Classical), 3:15 p.m.
Three Sheets to the Wind (Yacht Rock), 6 p.m.
The Big Payback: A James Brown Tribute (Soul/Funk/R&B/Gospel), 8:15 p.m.
Boathouse Stage
JuJu Drum (Caribbean/Steel Drum), 12:30 p.m.
Monarch (Folk Rock), 2:45 p.m.
Grateful Jed (Grateful Dead Cover Band), 4:45 p.m.
Allen Hudson & the Halfmoons (Alternative Rock), 7 p.m.
Kill Devil Disco (Disco/House), 10 p.m.
Sunday
Main Stage
Cody Christian (Country), 2 p.m.
Chase Rice (Country), 4:30 p.m.
Boathouse Stage
Fox and the Bear (Indie/Alternative), 12:45 p.m.
The Getdown (Funk/Rock), 3:15 p.m.
