VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The Virginia Beach Neptune Festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary when it begins at noon Friday.

In honor of this milestone, organizers decided to combine some new events with the staples that have made Boardwalk Weekend what it is today.

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The Young Collectors: Art Gallery for Children

This year the festival organizers created this Young Collectors: Art Gallery for Children.

“It’s an opportunity for children ages six to 12 to visit our special tent here on the boardwalk where they can go in on their own, supervised of course, and pick out their first piece of art for $5,” said Kit Chope , festival president and managing director. “They can look at what appeals to them, and maybe that will foster a lifelong passion for art.”

Chope said art plays a big role in the past, present and future of the Neptune Festival, so they wanted to create something to inspire a love of art in children. A number of artists donated pieces of their artwork to the event.

The Young Collectors: Art Gallery for Kids is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parents are asked to stand outside the booth so their child can choose an artwork themselves. However, an adult will be present in the tent to supervise the children. You also have the opportunity to see your child in the tent the entire time.

50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, there is also a coffee table book celebrating the history of the festival. From the people to the places to the events and the community, everything is included in the book, showing the most extraordinary moments from day one.

“It’s everything from Chuck Norris when he was grand marshal in the ’70s to Elizabeth Taylor kissing the king,” Chope said. “It’s the cars, it’s the racing, it’s the music, it’s the artwork. It’s everything from 50 years captured under one cover.”

You can purchase the Neptune Festival 50th Anniversary Celebration Coffee Book from Friday to Sunday during the festival. Simply head to the commemorative poster booth to make your purchase. You can also order on-line. The book costs $45.

Youth art exhibition

If you live with a young artist, you might want to encourage them to submit a piece of their artwork to the Youth Art Show this weekend. It is open to all artists in grades 4 to 12.

Their work will be judged and winners will then be awarded more than 30 prizes worth more than $1,000. The winner of Best Show will receive a cash prize of $250. The Youth Art Show has been an integral part of the Neptune Festival for years.

“For example, Devin Miller, who created our memorial muralas well as the poster art for this year’s festival, won her first competition and sold a piece of art for the first time at this youth art show when she was a teenager,” said Chope. “So you see how this inspires the next generation.”

In order to take part, every young artist must register on the day of the exhibition. The youth art exhibition takes place on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m

Rounds of applause

The organizers of the Neptune Festival created this Rounds of applause Community arts project highlighting festival partners. They asked 50 local schools, businesses and nonprofits to interpret the festival’s slogan, “Celebrating the Beach Life,” on a three-foot-tall wooden disc. Their creations will be on display during Boardwalk weekend.

“It shows the partnerships and friendships that we have cultivated in this community for 50 years to ensure that people feel the Neptune Festival is part of them and that they are part of the Neptune Festival,” Chope said.

You can catch the Rounds of Applause between 7th Street and 31st Street this Friday through Sunday during the festival. To find the location of a specific round, Click here and scroll down to “Rounds of Applause.”

Hometown Heroes: Neptune’s Last Toast

On Sunday you can honor our hometown heroes. Gather for a breakfast and awards ceremony honoring those in our community who serve in the military, are first responders, teachers and more. You will also hear a keynote speaker who is out of this world.

“It’s NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik,” Chope said. “He happens to be one of my fellow students, so he will be talking about his experiences commanding the International Space Station and also launching the space shuttle Atlantis.”

Hometown Heroes: Neptune’s Final Toast is here Hilton Virginia Beach oceanfront on Atlantic Avenue. Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for children 16 and under.

Click here to buy tickets. Tickets include a continental breakfast, access to the event, a question and answer session and the opportunity to sign autographs.

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