During the first weekend in June, Al and checked out Harborfest 2015!

Harborfest is an annual event for downtown Norfolk, chock-full of tall ships, maritime events, live music, and amazing food! This year was the 39th annual festival, billed as “the largest, longest-running, free maritime festival in the nation!”

All the juicy details are in the 2015 Norfolk Harborfest Event Program.

Al and I decided to ride The Tide for the first time! It’s the light rail system that runs for seven miles throughout downtown Norfolk and part of Virginia Beach. I drove us to one of the park and ride stations, close to the Virginia Beach end of the line. We picked a one-day GO pass, so for $4.00 you had a ticket for unlimited rides for 12 hours.

Image Credit: http://www.norfolk.gov

Once we disembarked at the Civic Plaza station, we walked a couple blocks to Town Point Park, a 7-acre space on the edge of the Elizabeth River, where all the action was!

Part of the USCGC Eagle, one of the first ships that Daddy sailed on!

The Brazilian vessel “Cisne Branco”

USCGC Eagle

This guy was so cool! This was part of the Miami Fly Boards demonstration – Jet pack propulsion!

Red Trouser Show – Two acrobats!

Norfolk has been dubbed the “Mermaid City.” This is one of many decorative mermaids throughout the city.

Dropping the AST anchor in front of the Eagle! Anchored in Tradition since 1899!

Al and I stayed for about two hours, and headed home for dinner. Later, his brother Nick, girlfriend Savy, and Savy’s daughter Mia met us at the house and we piled in my car to head to NOAA, where my dad works. The parking lot happens to be on the banks of the river, so it’s a perfect place to watch the fireworks extravaganza!

The photo below depicts a previous Harborfest fireworks show, taken from the bow of the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson.

Image Credit: http://www.moc.noaa.gov

Harborfest was so much fun, although it was a little steamy that Saturday. It’s a huge event and even though it was crowded, there was a relaxed, light atmosphere. We didn’t tour the Eagle, sadly, because the line was wrapped around the ship and down the block. Hopefully next year!

The light rail was an awesome way to great around, and I’m so glad Al suggested it. It saved us money – The special event parking close to the festival was more expensive than the light rail pass – and it was a great experience. I plan to use the light rail a lot more when I visit Norfolk.

If you’ve never been to Norfolk or Harborfest, check it out!!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂