I've been going to this place since 2016 and have been there over a dozen times since then. Their…read morefestive events throughout the year are quite fun and in my experience, generate shorter lines. The prices have risen over time and is a bit much in my opinion. They could sell tickets for $10 and $15 for extreme, and you would get just as much if not more business and still make a killing. Just saying. I have never done "Extreme" and never will. I am not only a proud "Irregular" but also a "Repeat offender" as the owner would say. The waits are usually very long, it can range from anywhere between 20 minutes to over 2 hours. It really helps to get there early and get in line first. They seem to take more time with you once you get inside if you are the opening act of the evening. The rooms are dark, which is really a shame since you're unable to see the decorations or themes of some of the areas, which makes them seem like a waste. Some rooms are very smelly. One year, there was a butcher shop area that stunk highly of ammonia. Some of the actors have REALLY bad breath and they get uncomfortably close. While you wait in line, you are intermittently greeted by various characters, one of them being "Bubbles the Clown".. if I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be her. Beware however, she does have a few.. "quirks" that may disturb or disgust certain visitors. (all I'll say is watch where you step!) The owner clearly enjoys his job and always remembers me when I stop by. Most things are the same or at least, very similar as you go through each year, but some stuff does change to keep it interesting. There are loud noises, messy substances, and electric shocks. A few years in a row, I had to crawl on my hands and knees through what appeared to be a giant intestine to get through one of the many obstacles. That was weird to say the least. There are rooms that include a lot of different fears and props. Everything from snakes to clowns to pitch darkness. Some special events through the year are themed around different holidays or a horror-centered gimmick. And I hate to say it, but the most annoying things to me are: 1. The other people in line. They can get very obnoxious. 2. The constant screaming. I don't like loud things, and I don't like people (or monsters for that matter) screaming in my ear. It is NOT scary, funny or anything remotely enjoyable. It causes real damage to those of us with hearing issues. It also is highly aggravating. 3. Pricing can be a bit much for what you get. 4. I'm not a fan of the saturation of pentagrams all over the place. It's just lame and unimaginative. There are merchandise stands outside with some neat items and lots of stuff to look at while you wait. Just be prepared for some startling surprises if you're spotted being off-guard. The actors seem to have a good time, and if you're a good sport, you can have a good time along with them. It's always fun to join in on the spirit of things. (and besides, when else will you get the opportunity to hang out with some monsters and let loose for awhile?) Anything that feels like a real-life horror movie (with the controlled fear element of course) is a must-do for the Halloween season or any other time during the year that you might need a good, safe scare to keep you on your toes! Because nothing breaks up the monotony of a typical, mundane evening in March, May, or July than a good-natured threat from an Axe-wielding Clown or a playful proposition from a demon-possessed girl covered in blood. Ya know, just another Saturday for some of us! Final word: it's fun and most of the time, you never know what you're gonna walk into when you pass through each door or curtain. So if you decide to visit, proceed with caution, and remember to have fun and enjoy the madness!

Perfect outing to do with friends, had such an awesome time and the scare actors are amazing at…read morewhat they do! (Especially Bubbles and Chucky..) Highly recommend and so worth the money!!

I attended Tidewater Comicon on Sunday with my big sister. Initially, we were very excited, but…read morethat excitement quickly turned into disappointment due to the limited activities available. There weren't many panels or events, and it felt like the main focus was just socializing. Despite this, I still give the con three stars because we enjoyed looking at other people's cosplay and shopping at the various vendor booths. However, the event needs more engaging activities, especially on Sundays. It's frustrating that Saturday had a lot more to offer while Sunday only had three events. Spending $30 for this experience felt like a waste when it could have been $10 just to chat and walk around. I hope the 2025 event is better organized with more things to do throughout the entire weekend.

Tidewater ComicCon 2025 was terrible. I have gone nearly every year but this was terrible. There…read morewere constant reminders and announcements throughout the event that if you didnt buy VIP passes (a limited number and high prices) that you were second class. Then they had the highly touted Cosplay Contest. This began with an announcement from Zach that every should have bought VIP passes so they could win a prize. This resulted in booing. The contest then consisted of an announcement of winners...no parade of contestants, just an announcement of winners. Not only that, most of the cosplays that won were not very good. There seemed to be no grading criteria. The only reason I returned on Sunday was because my kids wanted to go and see the costumes...not the event, the costumes.

Free and open to the public from 12 noon till 2 PM. Had an amazing time. Got me some bourbon,…read morechicken dirty rice and some roasted corn. Bring your money because it ain't cheap. I hope you enjoy the Bayou bonbon festival starting today at 5 o'clock running till the weekend. This is amazing.

Never really gone to the festival before. BUT from 12-2 they have a free time first day from what…read moreI see so I decided to check it out. MAN IT WAS JUMPING! The food out there was sooooo good. I got jambalaya and a shrimp po boy? Fire. Music? Amazing either way what was going on as a perfect complement. And ngl. I just enjoy an experience that caters to everyone well. I'd go again, but I think if I did I would just do it for the free 12- 2 again. I didn't get to see anything that would make it worth it for me yet, but I was just there for a short period. So maybe I needed more time. We'll see next year!

Always enjoy shows at the Sandler Center. They are military friendly and box office interactions…read moreare always helpful when choosing tickets. Small selection of food/drinks to enjoy during events. Comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff willing to assist as needed while visiting.

Beautiful theater with great shows. The staff is awesome. Try the freshly baked chocolate.ship…read morecookies if you want a sweet.

This has to be one of the best haunted things/places I've been to in a long time! Even though…read morethey've been around for 29 years this was my first time going. They are located on the first Floor of MacArthur mall closest to the S1 parking near Dillard's. It's cash only. $20 per person. The side that has the huge spider and the brain exposed dummy is where you purchase tickets. As you leave you turn to the right and they have a corded off area to the wall where you wait in line. Someone will bring you into the Spooky Acres on the other side. Before doing so, they give you a quick briefing of what to expect. One employee will walk with you through the corridors the entire time. Don't worry, this doesn't deter you from getting scared nor does it negatively impact your experience. Honestly, I think it's more for safety reasons, because they can and will touch you! A good chunk of my fat roll on my left side was grabbed in the scare process. LMAO. Having someone guide you also allows you to pace your time while going through. You are informed that after a certain part, you will then be left to venture through a COMPLETELY dark maze to fend for yourself. Lights and cellphones are NOT PERMITTED for use to guide you. There is also mention of having to crawl through a tunnel. When my friend starts asking about the level of crawling involved, you realize you're not as young anymore. Are we talking about army crawl, bend down and crouch through the tunnel height? These are serious questions that need to be answered ;-) The answer to that question is, a hands and knees crawl is required, but it is carpeted/padded. We survived. The acting and props were above par and commitment was strong. We were legit full on screaming. My friend's son several times out screamed me and I thought he was going to hyperventilate. He was fine. To reiterate THEY WILL TOUCH OR GRAB YOU! So keep that in mind before purchasing tickets because there are no refunds. Also make sure if you're not a flight person (fight or flight response) that you keep your fight reactions in check. You DON'T want to inadvertently karate chop some poor kid for doing their job so well. It was a great time and I think we just about screamed all the stress out of ourselves. Great times with good friends!!

Very well put together and fun, however the actors need to tone down how hard they grab visitors…read more Leaving bruises, deep scratches is entirely unacceptable. There is no need to be so violent .

Town Point Park in Norfolk is home to some of the best festivals around. Bayou Boogaloo is a…read morepersonal favorite, Embrace the Culture is another. When the sun is shining and it is at least somewhat warm, you can easily point your compass in this direction and find something worthwhile. But whoever came up with Ribtoberfest.....this person needs a medal. Crossed pig bones WITH BBQ Sauce device and cole slaw clusters. This year the combination was slowly cooked meat and slowly sizzling blues. Two of my favorite things in the universe, and the Scheduling Gawds smiled on me and kept me close enough to 757 to actually physically attend. When faced with Destiny, why fight it? If you like ribs (and who doesn't), this is Nirvana. The choices are off the charts, all varieties, all flavors. Vendors set up their makeshift kitchens and envelop the surroundings with the succulent odor of Pigs giving the Ultimate Sacrifice. For those about to roast, we salute you! For something different, I chose the Korean BBQ rib platter. (Insert protracted silence here as if remembering fallen comrades with a private moment of honor.) My words cannot do justice to the taste, even served with plastic utensils and consumed standing up at a Long Board previously used to demonstrate waterboarding techniques. The atmosphere was strangely reminiscent of when my (now deceased) Uncle Larry roared my sister and me through the sketchy parts of Los Angeles in 1975 in search of the perfect Lamb Sandwich served in a deli with no tables and bars on the windows. Imagine Ward Cleaver herding Wally and The Beav to their front row seats at Showtime at the Apollo and you will have an accurate mental picture of that day. Not to suggest that we here in Norfolk are of the sketchy variety, far from it. You see, all of those gathered were brethren. The Great Calendar had ticked past Labour Day so all of the tourist packed up their plastic beach chairs and tubs of stale Coppertone and headed back to New Jersey in contrary migratory fashion. Nope, this festival is all ours. And we earned it. So the food. Yep, it was tasty and plentiful. A few years ago, Norfolk proudly claimed the title of Fattest City in the US. Ribtoberfest will do little to put that memory into the rearview mirror. With any luck at all, we will regain our rightful title, maybe get Elizabeth River Crossing Toll Nazi Corp to include it on the inflated bills they are sending out to those without an EZPass. Kind of an ersatz sponsorship/promotional type letterhead across the top. Indeed, we could probably convince them to jack up the price of leaving Norfolk and heading to Portsmouth (our much skinnier neighbor). (Editor's note: Umm....weren't we talking about a festival here someplace?) The second wheel of this delightful scooter of a Saturday was the music. Blues cuts me to the core, I would crawl barefoot through a Chicago snowstorm to hear a guitarist torture a vintage Stratocaster, armed only with a pentatonic scale. This year had a lineup of local favorites that swaggered and electrified. The JD Slivia Band is one of my absolute favorites and they certainly did NOT disappoint. The coolest part, though, is that JD is one of the nicest, most positive people that you will ever meet. Go and hear them sometime, it will be well worth your time. As if that wasn't enough, the guy who figured this out had the foresight to also toss in a very liberal dose of local microbreweries hocking their swill. Wait, you mean I can eat ribs, hear scorched-earth blues AND imbibe Young Veterans Pineapple Grenade? Truly, in Heaven there is no Beer....because we drank it all at Ribtoberfest. So this one goes on the calendar along with Bayou Boogaloo.

These is definitely a perfect example of an awesome weekend!!!…read more A pint of cold ice beer, smoky pork ribs and band on the side - what a brilliant combo to spend a relaxing evening. Excellent choices of food and beverages. My only critics, would have been nice if they had options in terms of buying alcohol. Overall, I had a wonderful time and enjoyable experience.

The cutest little Theatre in town. I saw a play last year and it was great. The seats are…read morecomfortable and wherever you sit you can see it all. They host alot of plays/projects. They support the community arts and that's awesome! Parking is plentiful, inside the lot. The bathrooms were so clean. The mini snack bar is perfect for the intermission.

Fabulous place to see a show and to volunteer! They have such talented casts and amazing…read morevolunteers!

Having attended NekoCon in Hampton, Virginia multiple times, including this year's event (October…read more31-November 2, 2025). I can say it's a long-running convention that consistently offers a family-friendly, inclusive space to celebrate anime, gaming, and fandom culture. Whether you're a die-hard anime fan, a casual gamer, or just curious about the community, NekoCon delivers a fantastic weekend experience. The main venue, the Hampton Roads Convention Center, completely transforms for the event, and the Embassy Suites next door adds to the fun with themed experiences like the Maid Café. The con features panels, gaming tournaments, cosplay contests, and more -- with programming that runs nearly nonstop from morning to the early hours (around 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.!). One of my favorite parts is the evening dances/raves, where local DJs spin everything from unique remixes to nostalgic throwbacks that make the dance floor come alive. The only drawback is the lack of food and drink options during the late-night parties. The Vendor Hall and Artists Alley are packed with creativity -- from handmade crafts and original artwork to rare merch and interactive booths. This year featured lots of Japanese-inspired fashion (I even scored a great pair of platform sneakers!) and standout vendors like Surreal Makeup, which is absolutely worth checking out on social media. As with most conventions, food and drinks inside can be a bit pricey, so I recommend bringing a snack or water bottle. One area for improvement would be adding more accessible water stations, but overall, I've noticed the food options and seating areas have improved each year -- a great sign that NekoCon continues to evolve and grow.

I found this event by mistake. I visit the cafe in the Embassy Suites hotel and I saw adults in…read more amazing costumes walking around the hotel lobby and followed them into the conference. The conference staff were in a great mood and very helpful. They explained that this this conference included people interested in Comicon, and video games, cartoons, etc. It was impressive to see the costumes and watching skits outside the venue. The activities thst they included were meet and greets with celebrities, well known characters, make-up clinics, costuming workshops and participants were very helpful to us and each other. The hotels and restaurants in the area were very welcoming to the crowds. Visitors came from California, Texas, Florida, etc. I wish that it had more parts of the venue open to visitors but I understand the need to accommodate paying participants first. I will visit next year!