Free walking tours of Downtown Norfolk and NEON District

Madie MacDonald
·2 min read

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – Norfolk’s NEON District is preparing for the spring and summer season by offering free walking tours through the month of December.

The Downtown Norfolk Council (DNC) partnered with the Norfolk Tour Company to announce 21 free monthly walking tours of notable locations around the city of Norfolk.

The tour will include notable public art from the NEON District, the importance of the Granby Street corridor, a history of Downtown theaters, an tour focusing on Downtown’s redevelopment, the Elizabeth River Trail and notable historic buildings throughout the city, according to the DNC.

“Downtown Norfolk has so many unique attributes and stories to tell that we are excited to be able to share this with the community,” Downtown Norfolk Council President and CEO Mary Miller said. “We are always looking for new opportunities to bring people together and show off everything happening Downtown.”

The schedule for Downtown Norfolk walking tours can be found below:

  • Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m.: Houses of Worship

  • Saturday, April 13 at 2 p.m.: Waterfront and the Elizabeth River Trail

  • Saturday, May 4 at 4 p.m.: Granby Street

  • Saturday, June 1 at 2 p.m.: Historic Theaters

  • Saturday, June 29 at 4 p.m.: Urban Design

  • Saturday, July 13 at 2 p.m.: Behind the Scenes

  • Saturday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m.: Plant Norfolk Tour

  • Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m.: Downtown Norfolk Mermaid Tour

  • Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m.: Historic Houses

  • Saturday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.: A True Crime Tour

  • Saturday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m.: Houses of Worship

  • Saturday, Dec. 7 at 2 p.m.: Downtown Norfolk Elf Door Tour

Tours of Norfolk’s NEON District will start at the Plot on the corner of Granby Street and Olney Road and will showcase over 100 pieces of public art. Public parking is available on the street at both the Plot’s parking lot and the Harrison Opera House parking lot.

The schedule for NEON District walking tours can be found below:

  • Saturday, April 27 at 11 a.m.

  • Saturday, May 18 at 4 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 15 at 4 p.m.: Tour content will highlight Black artists featured in the District

  • Saturday, July 27 at 11 a.m.

  • Saturday, Aug. 17 at 11 a.m.

  • Saturday, Sept. 28 at 4 p.m.: Tour content will highlight women artists featured in the District

  • Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m.

“I am very excited to renew this partnership with Downtown Norfolk Council,” Owner of Norfolk Tour Company Joshua Weinstein said. “We believe our tour programming enriches Downtown Norfolk by highlighting its attractions and architecture, as well as the beauty and intrigue of its stories. We offer these tours to the public for free, thanks to the support of DNC.”

For more information on the tours throughout Norfolk, visit Norfolk Tour Company’s website here.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

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