Pungo Strawberry Festival

View on map
Food & DrinkVirginia Beach
DatesDates TBA · Usually MayCheck locally before booking
DurationSpringEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkAt its peak, the festival's scale was
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Pungo Strawberry Festival in Virginia Beach

The Pungo Strawberry Festival was a Memorial Day weekend tradition in Virginia Beach's rural Pungo district from 1983 through 2019, celebrating the area's strawberry harvest with a parade, carnival, military displays, and live entertainment drawing well over 100,000 attendees annually. The festival did not resume after pandemic-era cancellations, and its future status remains unresolved.

The Pungo Strawberry Festival began in 1983, started by local farmers and community members eager to showcase the strawberry harvest grown in Virginia Beach's rural Pungo district, an area more associated with agriculture than the city's better-known oceanfront tourism.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

At its peak, the festival's scale was striking for a rural farming district: what began with roughly 50,000 attendees in 1983 grew to more than 120,000 visitors annually, one of the largest single-day agricultural festivals in coastal Virginia, built around a modest local strawberry crop rather than a major industry

02

The mystery stays covered

Its military display component, unusually large and multi-million-dollar in scale for a strawberry festival, reflected the influence of nearby Naval installations on Virginia Beach's civic culture

03

The city starts moving

The event's abrupt, unresolved discontinuation after decades of steady growth, rather than a clean retirement or announced end, makes its current status a genuine open question for the wider Hampton Roads festival calendar

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

In the years it operated

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the festival centered on a Memorial Day parade and a large military display honoring service members

The sacred route

Living ritual

paired with a harvest-themed celebration of the Pungo district's strawberry farms

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually May

Getting around

For Pungo Strawberry Festival, plan transport around the exact Virginia Beach venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

In past editions: casual outdoor festival wear suited to a Memorial Day weekend carnival and parade, with sun protection for daytime hours.

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

For Pungo Strawberry Festival, stay near the part of Virginia Beach you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map36.85 N, 75.98 WOpen in Google Maps

Virginia Beach, VA

Nearest airportORF — Norfolk
TransportFor Pungo Strawberry Festival, plan transport around the exact Virginia Beach venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Pungo Strawberry Festival, stay near the part of Virginia Beach you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Virginia Beach via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Virginia Beach, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for May.Compare faresFestival gearIn past editions: casual outdoor festival wear suited to a Memorial Day weekend carnival and parade, with sun protection for daytime hours.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Pungo Strawberry Festival?

Pungo Strawberry Festival is listed for May · Spring. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Pungo Strawberry Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Virginia Beach, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Spring is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Virginia Beach, VA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLpungostrawberryfestival.info
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually May
Source statusOfficial source linked
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