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 Virginia Beach has a lot goin' on, especially in the summer. And you don't need a lot of money to enjoy the events here. In many cases, you don't need any money at all. Music festivals and fantastic parks provide a fun and free atmosphere, gratis.
Mahi Mah's features great live bands on their hot pink, cool turquoise and sunshine yellow 7th Street Stage. You can't sit on the boardwalk, but standing room only is free and easy with plenty of space on the shore to listen to the sizzling sounds of the hottest bands around. The amphitheater at the 24th Street Park is also host to live entertainment, which is always free. Music, puppetry, and plays: the diversity of the shows here keep thousands of visitors entertained late into the fall season. Another popular seaside music venue is at 17th Street Park. There's a permanent stage here with shows that are appropriate for audiences of all ages. Outdoor movies are a particular favorite, especially with kids for whom the whole idea is novel.
Sandbridge Beach is a little quieter than these other venues. But a junket to nearby Little Island Park, Back Bay Wildlife Refuge or False Cape State Park may be exactly what you need on your vacation to wind down from all the exciting entertainment along the boardwalk. Town Point Park is a romantic spot with turn-of-the-century lampposts and thick grass just begging to have you slip off your sandals and run barefoot all over the place. (Remember those movie scenes where two lovers run toward each other in slow motion? Yeah, they were all filmed here.) With concerts and festivals galore, Town Point hosts an event every single weekend during the summer. Harborfest draws thousands of music and boat lovers to Town Point annually, and the shopping, dining and entertainment in the nearby Waterside Festival Marketplace keep people coming back the other 364 days of the year.
 The Chrysler Museum of Art is literally a free-for-all during the middle of the week, when admission is waived for every visitor walking through the door. The Tiffany lamp collection is a particularly great feature, in addition to the classic paintings and sculpture housed here. Hampton University Museum is always free and is the oldest African-American museum in the United States. Traveling exhibits, workshops and lectures are also a staple of this museum and always a worthwhile activity.
Of course, the boardwalk is always free and a joy to stroll. In fact, Virginia Beach may just be one of the most accessible vacation spots for those who are short on cash, but long on fun.
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