THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 1, 1994 TAG: 9410010263
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
The Neptune Festival, the Beach's annual farewell to summer, will end this weekend with a bang, a sizzle and a little rock 'n' roll.
Boom Boom Zambelli, a fireworks specialist from New Castle, Pa., will light up the sky tonight with a 20-minute pyrotechnical show beginning at 9:30.
Zambelli has created fireworks along the Oceanfront for the past five summers as part of the regular weekend entertainment on the resort strip.
As the maestro of fulminations sends skyrockets, star bursts and orange blossoms crackling into the night sky, food vendors manning 62 stalls will cook up everything from Hule Hule chicken to funnel cakes for locals and out-of-town visitors on the Boardwalk.
Ethnic food stalls will cater to the tastes of the adventurous gourmand.
Traditional American hot dogs, hamburgers and fries also will be available.
Festival-goers can slake their thirst at six beer tents along a 30-block area on the strand.
For entertainment the Neptune Festival committee has scheduled wall-to-wall musical acts on stages at 11th, 15th and 24th streets. Included are groups such as Panic, Against All Odds, Rhythm Kings, Lewis McGehee, Vendetta, Sick Dogs, Sea of Souls, Blues Exchange, The R&B Allstars, Waterworks, On Edge, Blvd. 58, The Kingpins, Gentlemen and Their Lady, Bill Deal and Ammon Tharp, The Stingrays, Slapwater and others.
Special Youth Day events are scheduled today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 15th Street stage. On hand will be jugglers, musicians, clowns, puppets, dancers and an acting troupe. The day also will include a playground area on the beach with sandcastle-building and face-painting for ages 4 and under, a beach obstacle course, a slippery pole climb and more games.
Sunday, the final day of the festival, will be crammed with events as well.
They include a sandcastle-sculpting competition, surfing and volleyball tournaments, arts and crafts shows and a grand parade on Atlantic Avenue at 2 p.m.
Heather Tace, first citizen of Virginia Beach, is the honorary marshal of the parade, which also features King Neptune XXI, Virginia Beach businessman Roger M. Pierce.
The Neptune Festival began 21 years ago as a weekend seafood festival staged by resort merchants on the Oceanfront for locals to celebrate the end of the summer tourist season.
Since then it has grown to a month-long celebration with events across the entire city. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
Tae Hun Om, a Newport News artist, works on a painting at the annual
Neptune Festival on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The Beach's
annual farewell to summer will end this weekend.
SCHEDULE
TODAY
Chesapeake/Atlantic Race for Monohull Sailboats.
Neptune Surfing Classic at 14th Street on Oceanfront - 7 a.m. to
6:30 p.m.
Art and Craft Show - 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Volleyball Tournament - 2nd Street to 7th Street.
Youth Sandcastle Classic - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Freelance).
Youth Day - Boardwalk and Oceanfront - 15th Street Stage.
Fireworks - 14th Street Pier - 9:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Neptune Surfing Classic continues.
Volleyball Tournament continues.
Neptune Festival Sandcastle Classic - Oceanfront - Business,
Organization, and Masters Class.
8K Run - 10 a.m.
Youth Art Show - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Art and Craft Show continues.
Entertainment stages open.
Food and beverage booths open.
Grand Parade - Atlantic Avenue between 15th and 31st streets - 2
p.m.
Awards Ceremony - 15th Street Stage - 5 to 6 p.m.
KEYWORDS: NEPTUNE FESTIVAL
by CNB