South Tidewater News

The Virginia International Tattoo and the Norfolk NATO Festival are set to take place this weekend in Norfolk, Virginia. With street closures and parking limitations anticipated, eventgoers are advised to utilize public transportation options like The Tide light rail and the Elizabeth River Ferry for easier access to venues.

The 2025 Virginia International Tattoo will host over 800 civilian and military performers representing seven countries, including a special tribute to the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps in honor of their 250th anniversaries. These performances are scheduled at the Scope Arena from Thursday, April 24 to Sunday, April 27, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. except on Sunday, which will have an afternoon show at 2:30 p.m.

Saturday is predicted to be the busiest day with the Parade of Nations at 10 a.m. in downtown Norfolk, followed by the NATO Festival's International Village at Town Point Park from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to use The Tide light rail, debarking at Monticello Station for the Scope Arena, and at MacArthur Square or Civic Plaza stations for the parade and festival sites.

Free parking for Tide riders is available at three park-and-ride lots: Newtown Road Station, Military Highway Station, and Ballentine/Broad Creek Station. For visitors traveling from Portsmouth, the Waterside ferry service is recommended.

Bus Routes 6 and 45 will undergo rerouting in the downtown area during the parade on Saturday. Further details can be found on the Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) website at https://gohrt.com/alert/nato-parade-downtown-detour-4/.

HRT focuses on delivering transportation solutions in Hampton Roads that emphasize reliability, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. More information on transit services is available on their website gohrt.com.