Virginia Beach is offering the 2012 Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival and OpSail 2012 Virginia. The events were designated one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2012 by the American Bus Association (ABA).
The Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival, scheduled for June 1 – 3, 2012, will kick off the regional OpSail celebration slated June 1 - 12. Signature events include several oceanfront air shows by the Blue Angels and concerts by country star Miranda Lambert, 2011 American Idol winner Scott McCreery and reggae favorite, Steel Pulse.
OpSail 2012 Virginia is part of a national maritime event celebrating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. This year’s Patriotic Festival will offer for the first time an oceanfront air show, headlined by the Blue Angels Squadron including the Blue Angel C-130 “Fat Albert.” This is the only stop on the six-city tour where the Blue Angels will perform over the open ocean.
In addition to the air show and concerts, the Patriotic Festival will include military displays and demonstrations, historical re-enactments, food and beverage vendors and nonstop musical entertainment. As part of OpSail, Virginia Beach offers prime viewing and access spots for a number of military air and amphibious support performances, the Sea and Air Parade of Sail and ship tours.
The international fleet of tall ships will be anchored off Virginia Beach’s Cape Henry on June 7, 2012, prior to launching their Parade of Sail towards downtown Norfolk on June 8.
More than 150,000 people are expected along the Virginia Beach waterfront for the Patriotic Festival and OpSail celebration. Admission to the Patriotic Festival is free, although VIP tickets can be purchased for concerts as well as the air show.
Visit www.patrioticfestival.com or www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com.