VIRGINIA BEACH — The beginning of the fall season brings fun for the entire family to the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Here’s a peek at just a few of the October happenings:
Oct. 2: The 2018 Virginia Beach Garden Club Fall Flower Festival & Marketplace
Founded in 1937, the Virginia Beach Garden Club offers free admission to its annual fall flower show and marketplace where select vendors offer accessories for the home and garden along with a showcase of pansies, perennials and native plants.
Container gardening demos at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.
Oct. 3 – 6: AQS QuiltWeek
American Quilter’s Society, the largest quilting membership organization in the world, will debut AQS QuiltWeek – Virginia Beach. More than 15,000 people are expected to come to the four-day event.
Close to 600 quilts will be on display, with $50,000 in prizes to be awarded for quilting excellence.
AQS QuiltWeek will also include a series of workshops with some of the top talent in the quilt industry and an extensive Merchant Mall comprised of local, national and international vendors.
This is a ticketed event.
Oct. 12 – 14: 2018 Fall Treasures of the Earth Gem & Mineral Show
A favorite for locals and visitors alike, Treasurers of the Earth shows feature something for everyone. Vendors from across the United States bring their merchandise to the VBCC for one-stop shopping and more.
Items include 14K and sterling silver, classic, estate, fashion and handmade jewelry along with loose stones, beads and beading supplies, pearls, art jewelry, crystals, fossils and more.
Jewelers and wire wrappers who design, remount and set stones and make repairs will be on site.
There’s also a display of Virginia rocks and minerals, lapidary arts demonstrations and geode cutting by two gem and mineral societies.
A gemologist will be available for on-site appraisals.
Oct. 13 – 14: 29th Annual Tidewater Division Train Show and Sale
This show is presented by model train enthusiasts who are dedicated to furthering the hobby of model railroading to young and old alike through public displays, community involvement and educational activities.
Oct. 26 – 27: 2018 Wicked 10K Sports & Fitness Expo
J&A Racing brings you Hampton Roads’ largest Halloween race and party.
The Anthem Wicked 10K, Old Point National Bank Monster Mile and Mini Monster 1K presented by Bon Secours In Motion will take place on Oct. 27 and 28.
Participants are encouraged to have fun, be creative, and dress up for the Halloween season.
The flat, fast one-mile course will run on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk on Friday night while the 10k course and Mini Monster 1K take you on a scenic tour of the Oceanfront on Saturday.
Celebrate your Friday finish at The Shack and on Saturday with a huge post-race party on the beach with plenty of Blue Moon Beer, live music and post-race food.
Tip: Register here before 10/1/18 for early bird rates.
Oct. 28: 2018 Military Family Fest
The Military Family Festival provides local military families with a day of appreciation and fun sponsored by local business partners, while also staging the largest resource fair in the region geared toward the needs of military families.
Each October, the festival vibrates with the fun of a new kid-friendly theme while vendors have as much Halloween candy and treats for the kids as their tables can hold.
The event welcomes a crowd of thousands eager to have a fun, safe, and wholesome family day focused on their unique culture. The 2018 Military Family Festival is a free event for military families.
For more on these events, and a look at all the upcoming happenings at the VBCC this fall, click here.