Local Events

Historic Garden Week in Virginia
April 22 - 30
Endview Plantation and Lee Hall Mansion and various locations in Hampton and Williamsburg, 804 644-7776. Tour dates and times to be announced. America's oldest and largest house and garden tour celebrates its 72nd year. Area tours will include Lee Hall Mansion on Wednesday, April 26. Another featured stop in Newport News is Endview Plantation.

Ella Fitzgerald Music Festival
April 24 - 29
Christopher Newport University, One University Place, 757 594-8752 Performance times vary; call for details. Music - and lots of it - will be the focus of this weeklong event honoring one of the country's greatest artists, Ella Fitzgerald, a Newport News native. In addition to evening concerts by nationally known entertainers, the festival will include numerous workshops, master classes and performance opportunities for students of elementary through college age.

Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival
April 27 - May 21
Various locations in Newport News and throughout the Virginia Waterfront Region, 757 664-6492. Performance times vary by event Admission cost varies by event. The festival will again present renowned artists from around the world, as well as selected regional arts groups. Classical music, jazz, ballet, modern dance and musical theater will be performed along with the festival's signature event, the Virginia International Tattoo. Events occur throughout the entire Hampton Roads area, including Newport News. (Virginia Symphony April 29 at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center).

Norfolk Azaleal Festival Air Show
April 29 - 30
Norfolk Naval Air Station: This year's premier flight demonstration team will be Lima Lima, the only civilian six-airplane formation aerobatics team in the world. Information: 757-445-2844

Fife, Fiddle and Fun
April 29
Yorktown Victory Center: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. A celebration of 18th-century music featuring costumed interpreters, and a re-created 1780s farm. Enjoy musical games, crafts and country dancing.

Whale Watching Trips
April 30
Venture Inn II: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. A staff naturalist from the Virginia Living Museum will be onboard to present programs about whale biology as the group searches for fin back and humpback whales. Price: $30 adults, $27 seniors 62 and older, $25 children 8-12. Information: 757-850-8960