The NEON Festival Glows Up October 17 and 18

NORFOLK, Va. (October 2024) – The NEON Festival, presented by Arts Alliance and Fusion at NEON, returns to Downtown Norfolk’s NEON (New Energy of Norfolk) District on October 17 and 18 with exciting new features to celebrate its ninth year. The festival’s footprint will expand through street closures, allowing for more community engagement, larger installations, and immersive experiences. In a bold new initiative, local event producers and art curators were invited to design and implement their own programming, giving the community a direct role in shaping the festival’s offerings.

This year’s local producers, supported by programming grants awarded by Downtown Norfolk Council, have curated a wide range of experiences across key festival venues. On Friday, October 18, these producers will bring fresh energy to spaces like The Plot main stage, Cofer Lot, and neighborhood businesses, with pop-up galleries, fashion shows, music showcases, and vendor markets. All events will be free and open to the public.

Festival Highlights

Thursday, October 17:

• Glass After Dark utilizing unique indoor and outdoor spaces at the newly renovated Chrysler Museum Glass Studio with glass performances, interactive art activities, live music, and additional entertainment.
  Use code NEON for free admission. Tickets are limited availability. Register here.
• Community programming and live music outside on the lawn and gardens of Chrysler Museum of Art provided by Bay River Band, Infinite Flava Band, Jpixx, Hermitage Museum, and TCC

• Mural Tour at 7 p.m. leaving from Chrysler Museum Glass Studio
• The Hague School Community Dance Concert with performances from Twinkle Toes Performing Arts Company, Beverly Moody, Ashlyn Works and Ballet Virginia

Friday, October 18:

• The Plot, 6-10 p.m. beer garden with Elation Brewing, Voyager Coffee, Water’s Edge Winery, OG Pickles and Avocargo food trucks, Metronet, VisitNorfolk, and interactive photobooth with Jpixx. Main stage entertainment by JAM Entertainment, presenting POWERHOUSE, a tribute to the roots of house music in Black queer culture and featuring DJ Phillie, DJ Chef Dro, Vivian Valentine, Teens With a Purpose, House of Prodigy, Hampton Roads Pride, and more.
• Cofer Lot 6-10 p.m. beer garden with Elation Brewing and Water’s Edge Winery, Cups Up food truck, and live painting with Poetry Jackson and pop-up exhibition featuring 757 Street Art Battle artists, Aspire to Inspire Music Group’s Fish ‘N Grits with DJ Chef Dro, and The Traptastic’s “Grand Finale,” featuring an unveiling of a new ground mural by Dathan Kane
• Commune hosts ImPRESSions exhibition focusing on printmaking and photography and featuring Studio Shift artists. In addition, Coffee Black and Foster Beauty will be hosting OPEN HOUSE @ NEON, a dynamic and cumulative celebration of multi-disciplinary art with live music, artistic performances, fashion, and dance. Social Supply’s famed “Living Room” will close out the evening 8-10 p.m.
• d’Art Center’s opening night of VIVID, a national contemporary art exhibition, with drinks, snacks, free art activities for the community and works for sale in the gallery
• Hurrah’s Copeland Center features a preview of Hurrah Players’ Cinderella and an Open Mic with Utopia Feni, 6:30-10 p.m.
• Pop-Up Art Gallery at brand new multifamily building Fusion at NEON featuring 23 Beans Pottery, Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University art students, and a poetry reading from ODU’s Writers in Community
• Cardinal Skate Shop hosts a Disco Dance Party and the 757 Makerspace Skate Deck Art Exhibit on view for judging by the public inside the shop, 6-10 p.m. and an Open Skate Jam in Magazine Lane
• Zeke’s Juried Group Exhibition with live voting all night and winners announced at 9:30 p.m.
• Mural Tour at 7 p.m. leaving from the Plot
• Wilson Avenue market with Utopia Feni, Cornhole Tournament, and Literature & Libations Luxury Mobile Bookstore
• Push Comedy Theater hosts free Improv Comedy Shows every thirty minutes

Full Festival Schedule:

A complete list of exhibitions, events, and entertainment is available at neonnfk.com/festival.

The NEON Festival is presented by Arts Alliance and Fusion at NEON with beverages provided by Elation Brewing. It is produced by the Downtown Norfolk Council and the Chrysler Museum of Art and Glass Studio with media partner Jpixx. Additional sponsors include Glass Light Hotel and Gallery, MacArthur Center, PRA Group, Rutter Mills, VisitNorfolk, Metronet, Retail Alliance, Work Program Architects and Wyndham Garden Norfolk Downtown.

Norfolk’s first official arts district, NEON, is home to long-time cultural institutions like the Chrysler Museum of Art and Harrison Opera House as well as studio-based ventures like d’Art Center and the Rutter Family Art Foundation, all providing artists a place to make, create and show. Within a few short blocks you can see a muralist at work, take in an improv comedy performance at Push Comedy Theater, watch a live glass-working demonstration, shop for unique home goods, get a tattoo or dine out at an eclectic restaurant. Learn more at www.NEONNFK.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @neonnfk.

Downtown Norfolk Council is a private, not-for-profit membership organization comprised of businesses and individuals working toward a dynamic, attractive and prosperous Downtown. DNC also manages the Downtown Norfolk Improvement District, a 50-block special services district with enhanced services that keep Downtown friendly, safe and spotless. Connect with Downtown Norfolk on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit DowntownNorfolk.org.

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ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

The Chrysler Museum of Art brings art and people together through experiences that delight, inform, and inspire. Internationally recognized for its collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one the largest glass collections in America, the Museum also includes free admission, the state-of-the-art Perry Glass Studio, a full-service restaurant, shop, theater, works on paper space, and oversees the historic Myers House. The Museum boasts an ambitious schedule of exhibitions, events, and programs, and has been nationally recognized for its commitment to inclusion through its innovative gallery host program. For more information, visit chrysler.org. Follow on social media @ChryslerMuseum to receive the latest updates.