City of Portsmouth

It’s Happening in Portsmouth

From cultural and historical attractions to dining, entertainment and nightlife to fun stuff for kids and families, there’s always something to do in Portsmouth!

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Sail Virginia℠ 2026

Olde Towne Portsmouth Waterfront 16 Crawford Circle, Portsmouth, VA

A once-in-a-generation maritime celebration is coming to Portsmouth! From June 19–22, Sail Virginia℠ 2026 brings legendary Tall Ships to Portsmouth’s historic waterfront as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration. Watch the breathtaking Parade of Sails, climb aboard historic ships, meet the crews, and explore a waterfront alive with live music, great local food, family activities, […]

Hidden Histories of the Portsmouth Aeroship Building Co.

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center 400 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia

Artist Tony Snipes reveals the real history behind the art. Learn about the lesser-known World War II African American units and individuals that inspired him, such as the 555th Parachute […]

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Leonardo’s Lab

Children's Museum of Virginia 221 High Street, Portsmouth, VA

Step into the inventive world of Leonardo da Vinci in Leonardo’s Lab! This immersive hands-on exhibition invites children and families to explore art, science, engineering and creativity through interactive activities inspired by one of history’s greatest thinkers. Build structures, experiment with gears and simple machines, design flying creations, solve puzzles and create artwork while discovering […]

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A Seat of Justice: The Courthouse that Changed Portsmouth Exhibit

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center 400 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia

Step inside the courthouse that once shaped the course of justice in Portsmouth and beyond. From witch trials to slavery-era rulings to civil rights sit-ins and debates over Confederate monuments, A Seat of Justice explores how law, power and memory have intersected inside the Norfolk County Courthouse – right here in this very building. Through […]

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America’s Shipyard: The 10 Most Important Ships of the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum 2 High Street, Portsmouth

Celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary by exploring America’s Shipyard, a powerful new Sail250® Virginia exhibit about the Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s critical role in American history. From the first dry dock in the Western Hemisphere to the groundbreaking ships that changed naval warfare forever, the shipyard has served as a vital pillar of America’s national defense […]

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Steel Seas & Sky Machines: The Dieselpunk Art of Tony Snipes

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center 400 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia

Head off on a journey through Tony Snipes’ world of alternate histories and reimagined machines in this powerful new exhibition. Steel Seas & Sky Machines explores an alternate America where Abraham Lincoln survives and leads the nation through a stronger, more visionary Reconstruction, inviting visitors to reconsider history as a place for possibility, creativity and […]

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Art on the Square

Portsmouth, VA

We're bringing the art outside this summer with large-format prints of original artwork hung along the square. Meet this year's artist lineup below and click any name to see more of their work.

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Sound Bites

Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center 400 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia

Your midweek music break is back 🎶 Join us for Sound Bites every Wednesday from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM in the Portsmouth Art & Cultural Center Courtyard. Enjoy live […]