Virginia Beach events

May 14, 2008

MAY
WASHINGTON REDSKINS BEACH BLITZ -- Virginia Beach Convention Center, 1000 19th St. and 31st Street Park / 800-822-3224 or go to redskinsbeachblitz.com. Saturday and Sunday. Times vary. The event includes autograph sessions and clinics with players, coaches and cheerleaders; games; a barbecue dinner buffet; live music; and more. Prices vary.

PATRIOTIC FESTIVAL -- Virginia Beach Amphitheater and Oceanfront / 800-822-3224 or patrioticfestival.com. May 30-June 1 / Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with a series of concerts honoring the men and women of our armed forces. Performances by Sugarland, Brian McKnight and Travis Tritt round out the military displays and demonstrations.

JUNE

HARDEES' LATIN FEST -- 24th Street Park / beacheventsfun.com. June 6-7. Times vary. The oceanfront gets a big dose of Latin flavor at this event, which includes food and live music. The Festival Marketplace holds a variety of arts, crafts and other goods from many countries. Mostly free.

53rd ANNUAL BOARDWALK ART SHOW AND FESTIVAL // On the boardwalk, between 17th and 32nd streets / 757-422-5000. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. June 12-14. Times vary. See works by more than 300 artists and enjoy live music. Free.

VIVA ELVIS AND LEGENDS OF ROCK 'N' ROLL // The parks at 17th and 24th streets / 800-822-3224. June 19-22. All hail the "King" for this fun tribute to Elvis. Dozens of Elvis artists and national-level bands will perform the King's repertoire. Also, boardwalk parade, trivia game and karaoke contest. Free.

JULY
STARS AND STRIPES EXPLOSION -- 20th Street and 17th Street, 24th Street and Neptune's parks / beacheventsfun.com. Event begins at 7 p.m. July 4. There will be a lot more than just fireworks at this Independence Day celebration. Revolution -- A Beatles Tribute, Satisfaction -- A Rolling Stones Experience, Symphonicity (Virginia Beach's symphony orchestra) and the Virginia Beach Chorale perform. Free.

MID-ATLANTIC HERMIT CRAB CHALLENGE // On the beach at 29th Street / 757-497-7866. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. July 12. It's a 'survival of the crabbiest' with crabtestants competing in the Crustacean 500 hermit crab race, hermit crab beauty pageant. Free.

CHALK THE WALK ARTSPLOSION AND 17TH STREET ART FESTIVAL -- 24th Street / beacheventsfun.com. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 26. The art festival includes a variety of artwork from regional artists. Items include paintings, clay works, jewelry, mosaics, photography and more. ARTsplosion allows everyone to become artists by opening the boardwalk for chalk drawing. This year's theme is "Totally Television!" Free.

AUGUST
EAST COAST SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS // Oceanfront / 800- 861-7873. August 20-24. More than 300 surfers flock here seeking the perfect wave at the country's oldest running surf competition. Live bands provide the jammin' tunes between skim boarding, volleyball, an oceanfront 5K run, a swimsuit competition and the extreme sport of skateboarding. Free.

VERIZON WIRELESS AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL -- Fifth, 13th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th and 31st Street stages / 410-547-7328 or go to ticketmaster.com. Aug. 29-31. Times vary. Thirty music groups, including nationally renowned artists, perform. All concerts are free, except for those held at the Fifth Street stage. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.

SEPTEMBER
BLUES AT THE BEACH -- 17th Street Park / beachstreetusa.com. Sept. 12-14. Times vary. This event features some of the most prominent local and national blues artists. Free.