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NAUTICUS’ WINTERFEST FEATURES NEW EXPERIENCES, ENTERTAINMENT, ILLUMINATIONS November 9, 2023 Battleship-Focused Holiday Festival Opens Veteran’s Day Weekend Norfolk, Va. (Nov. 9, 2023) — New experiences await visitors this season as Nauticus reimagines its popular holiday festival, WinterFest on the Wisconsin. Now in its fourth year, WinterFest has become a tradition for families throughout the Mid-Atlantic; last season more than 65,000 guests enjoyed the waterfront experience. Appropriately, this season the event aboard the Battleship Wisconsin and across the Nauticus campus opens on Friday, November 10th in honor of Veteran’s Day weekend. This holiday, WinterFest visitors can explore more than twice the below deck areas aboard the Battleship Wisconsin and for the first time ever, the Captain’s Cabin and Admiral’s Cabin are open for self-guided tours. Guests will also enjoy all-new live entertainment, including a juggling show, magic show, and an elaborate…

Sail250® Virginia 2026 Dates Announced Release Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2023 Norfolk, VA- The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in 1776 – The United States of America’s Semiquincentennial. For this milestone occasion, a fleet of the world’s most magnificent international tall ships, historic character vessels, and modern military ships, will again sail into the ports of Virginia as part of the national Sail250® tour. Sail250® Virginia, with affiliate events throughout Hampton Roads and Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay region, is planned as part of America’s 250th anniversary, and one of Virginia’s signature events of the Semiquincentennial year. According to Sail250® Virginia CEO and Norfolk Festevents Executive Chairman Karen Scherberger, “In the tradition of the past five iconic OpSail and Sail Virginia events held in the Norfolk/Hampton Roads/Chesapeake Bay region since 1976, the international fleet will once again…

Naval Station Norfolk to serve as temporary homeport for British warship By THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT STAFF | tips@pilotonline.com | From The Virginian-Pilot PUBLISHED: September 29, 2023 at 4:29 p.m. | UPDATED: September 30, 2023 at 12:42 p.m. Naval Station Norfolk will serve as a temporary homeport for Britain’s largest warship, HMS Prince of Wales, during its East Coast deployment. Beginning Saturday, the British aircraft carrier will make multiple port calls to Naval Station Norfolk over the next few months as it practices carrier landings and launches in the Atlantic Ocean for the United Kingdom’s F-35 Lightning stealth fighter jets. The vessel is one of the most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the United Kingdom with a size of 70 meters by 280 meters housing a max crew of 1,600. “These sea states are why the HMS Prince of Wales is…

Norfolk Harborfest Returns to Downtown Norfolk Waterfront June 9-11 Date: Friday, June 2, 2023 Website: bit.ly/Harborfest2023 Norfolk, VA – The 47th Annual Norfolk Harborfest: Music, Food & Maritime Festival returns to Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront Friday-Sunday, June 9-11, 2023. America’s largest, longest-running, free maritime festival, Harborfest celebrates & encapsulates all of the unique elements that make Norfolk & Hampton Roads a historic maritime & Naval community. On both land and sea, thrilling activities and live music take center stage at Harborfest, including the annual Parade of Sail featuring tall ships, one of the largest fireworks shows on the East Coast, a mesmerizing drone show, interactive family games & activities, Navy exhibits and demonstrations, artisan foods & beverages, national & regional live entertainment, and much more. The festival is FREE & open to the public. For more…

USS George Washington redelivered to the Navy after days of sea trials By Caitlyn Burchett Daily Press May 25, 2023 at 4:50 pm The USS George Washington was redelivered Thursday to the Navy after spending six years at Newport News Shipbuilding. The Washington was delivered following three days of sea trials. Sea trials test the carrier’s systems and operations system, and demonstrate all the carrier’s capabilities at sea. “Getting our warship redelivered and back out to sea to take its place as the premier CVN (nuclear-powered aircraft carrier) in the world’s greatest Navy is a direct result of the tenacity and grit displayed by our warfighters,” said Capt. Brent Gaut, the Washington’s commanding officer. The Washington has been at Newport News Shipbuilding since 2017 for its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul, a process that typically takes four years. The refueling…

Uruguayan Tall Ship Capitan Miranda Returns to Downtown Norfolk Waterfront Date: Monday, May 1, 2023 Norfolk was Selected as One of Two East Coast Ports for the Ship’s 2023 Sail Training Public Tour Dates: Saturday, May 13 – Monday, May 15, 2023 Location: Otter Berth, Next to Waterside District, Downtown Norfolk Waterfront, VA Norfolk, VA – The Uruguayan Navy’s sail training tall ship CAPITAN MIRANDA returns to Norfolk, Virginia, Friday, May 12 through Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Norfolk was selected as one of two East Coast ports (Norfolk and New York City) for the ship’s 2023 sail training tour and is one of the Uruguayan Navy’s favorite ports when visiting the US. Arriving at 10am on Friday, May 12, 2023, the 205’ schooner-style ship will dock at Otter Berth next to the Waterside District at 333 Waterside Drive, on the…

George H.W. Bush carrier strike group to return Sunday By Caitlyn Burchett The Virginian-Pilot Apr 21, 2023 at 10:24 am The George H.W. Bush will return Sunday, as the carrier moors at Naval Station Norfolk following an eight-month deployment. The flagship of the strike group, departed Norfolk on Aug. 10 for what was supposed to be a seven-month deployment. It was supported by Carrier Air Wing 7, Destroyer Squadron 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf. Near the end of the strike group’s deployment, the Bush was postured March 31 to bolster the capabilities of CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command) in the Middle East after a series of attacks in Syria, delaying the homecoming of around 5,000 sailors. “Since taking command before deployment, I have had the privilege and honor to serve with the finest…

USS Gerald R. Ford carrier, strike group completes final certification for deployment By Caitlyn Burchett The Virginian-Pilot Apr 05, 2023 at 8:08 am The USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group completed the final certification needed to ready the aircraft carrier for its maiden warfighting deployment. The Ford slipped into port Sunday at Naval Station Norfolk following a month-long composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) off the East Coast. While the Navy’s newest and most technologically advanced aircraft carrier has conducted short, training-focused deployments, completion means the Ford is now a certified combat-deployable warship. “After we complete COMPTUEX, Ford and our crew will be fully integrated with the carrier strike group as a cohesive, multi-mission fighting machine, ready to sail over the horizon to support national tasking,” said Capt. Paul Lanzilotta, the Ford’s commanding officer, ahead of the certification in…

Norfolk’s Nauticus is getting a makeover as it nears $21.5 million fundraising goal By Sandra J. Pennecke Inside Business Feb 14, 2023 at 1:14 pm NORFOLK — Nauticus is getting a makeover — the first significant investment in its exhibits and educational programming since it opened in 1994. The maritime-themed science center and museum on Waterside Drive in downtown Norfolk began its Reimagine Nauticus campaign in January 2020 with a $21.5 million capital fundraising goal to finance its redesign. With close to 80% of its goal met, the campaign is now in its public phase. Stephen Kirkland, Nauticus president and CEO, said in a news release that the transformation will include the entire exhibit space and visitor areas. “We’re developing an interactive maritime discovery center like no other,” Kirkland said. The Ohio-based exhibit design firm, Roto, will work in conjunction…

Naval Station Norfolk welcomes 1st Black female commanding officer By Caitlyn Burchett The Virginian-Pilot Capt. Janet Days will become the 51st commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk, making her the first Black female to hold the position in the installation’s 106-year history. A change of command ceremony will be held Friday morning. Days will relieve Capt. David Dees, who will assume duties as the Chief of Staff for Commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. Days graduated from Old Dominion University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in business. She earned a master’s degree in business administration from the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College command and staff diploma. She also is a graduate of Joint and Combined Warfighting School at Joint Forces Staff College and is a qualified joint specialty officer. Days has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service…

ARE YOU READY TO LEVEL UP? NAUTICUS TO EXPLORE THE ART & SCIENCE OF VIDEO GAMES January 11, 2023 Visitors will test their skills and explore over 120 of the most influential video games. Norfolk, VA.– On Saturday, January 28, Nauticus’ 6500 square foot exhibit gallery will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind video game arcade with the opening of the international exhibit, Game Changers. Developed and produced by subject experts from Ingenium – Canada’s Science and Technology Museum, and managed by Science North, Game Changers takes visitors on a fascinating journey to discover how innovation has shaped the video game industry while exploring 120 of the most influential games. “This exhibit has a universal appeal,” said Stephen Kirkland, Nauticus’ CEO & President “I’m pumped up to play Pac Man, my eleven-year-old daughter can’t wait to learn more about Sonic, and video game afficionados will love the more in-depth tech…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Norfolk Festevents Announces 2023 Season of Events Tickets on sale now at Festevents.org Release Date: Monday, January 9, 2023 Tickets: bit.ly/FesteventsTix Norfolk, VA – Norfolk Festevents has officially unveiled its 2023 Season of Events, marking the organization’s 41st season of dynamic waterfront festivals, events, and celebrations. The action-packed slate begins in early May with the 15th Annual Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival (May 6 & 7), followed by the 33rd Annual Bayou Boogaloo Cajun Music & Food Festival (May 19-21). Tickets for both festivals, as well as for additional ticketed events, are on sale now at bit.ly/FesteventsTix. The 47th Annual Norfolk Harborfest: Music, Food & Maritime Festival (June 9-11), the nation’s longest-running, free maritime festival, takes over the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront in early June with the Parade of Sail, live music, a fireworks show, family programming,…