Poquoson Seafood Festival returns Oct. 16-18 with seafood, music and artisans

The 44th annual Poquoson Seafood Festival comes back to Poquoson Municipal Park on Oct. 16-18, 2026, with Chesapeake Bay seafood, free concerts, 150 artisans and family activities. The festival is also doubling down on its tribute to the working watermen who define Poquoson’s coastal identity.

Why it matters: - The Poquoson Seafood Festival is one of Coastal Virginia’s signature fall events and a major showcase for Chesapeake Bay seafood, local arts and community culture. - The 2026 festival centers the working watermen who harvest the Bay’s catch, tying a popular weekend event to the region’s maritime economy and heritage. - The event draws families, shoppers, music fans and seafood buyers to Poquoson Municipal Park for a full weekend of activity.

What happened: - The 44th Annual Poquoson Seafood Festival returns to Poquoson Municipal Park on Oct. 16-18, 2026. - The City of Poquoson presents the festival. - Festival hours are Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - The festival features fresh seafood, free concerts on two stages, a juried arts and crafts show and family entertainment.

The details: - The Dockside Food Court will serve seafood soups, fried, broiled and steamed shrimp, crab cakes, flounder, scallops, shrimp and oyster po' boys, fried clam strips and corn on the cob. - Food options for non-seafood eaters include barbecue, chicken, gourmet burgers, desserts and a kid’s combo. - More than 20 food vendors will participate across the weekend. - Seafood vendors include Capt. Harrell & Son's Seafood Kitchen, Graham & Rollins Seafood & Hampton Seafood Market and Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls. - Dessert and beverage vendors include Bean's Ice Cream, Maddy May's Lemonade and Grazing, We Are Nuts and Wild Bill's Olde Fashion Soda. - Community groups serving food include the Poquoson Kiwanis, Poquoson Lions Club, Poquoson Exchange Club and American Legion Holloway-Moore Post 273. - Visitors can use table and chair seating in the food court. - Every concert is free, and guests may bring chairs and blankets. - Municipal Stage headliners are Tidewater Drive Band on Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Nashville Nights Band on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and The Deloreans on Sunday at 2 p.m. - The Municipal Stage also includes performances by the Poquoson High School Band, the Poquoson Islanderettes, the Poquoson Dance Academy, the PHS Evolution Show Choir, The Request Station Band and line dancing with Cindy Norge. - The Dockside Food Court Stage lineup includes The Music of Mike Reed, The Second Wind Band, Isaac & Winston Duo, Hunter Owens, Bru Houndz, Dave Crumpler & the VA Shellphish Coalition, The Bill Miles Band, Thru w/ Therapy Band and Troy Breslow Acoustic. - The Poquoson Art League Arts & Crafts Awards will be presented at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. - The juried Arts and Crafts Show will feature 150 regional and local artisans and crafters along lighted wooded trails. - Shoppers will find handmade jewelry, soaps, paintings, sculpture, photography, coastal décor, decoys and other handmade gifts. - The 2026 official festival design is “Memories of Him,” by artist Alice Nell Firth. - The design was inspired by memories of her late husband, Nelson Firth, and includes a crab basket, a buoy and Bubba boots. - Official festival wear and prints featuring the design will be sold at the festival. - Family attractions include the Vertical Kids Puppet and Magic Show, Lolli Bubbles, the Mad Science Science Show, The Magic of John Kingry and The Merman Illusion Show. - Other children’s attractions include a petting zoo on Saturday and Sunday, Jack's Jungle Reptile and Science Exhibit on Friday, Cole Shows Amusements rides, Giant Building Blocks, the Bluewater Building Company & Aaron K. Holmes Children's Playhouse Village, activities with the PHS Drama Club and Rainbow Puppets. - The Sam Rust Seafood Working Watermen's Heritage Area will spotlight the people and traditions behind Chesapeake Bay seafood harvesting. - Exhibitors include the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Batten School, the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research & Extension Center, the VA250th Mobile Museum, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and local public safety agencies. - Local agencies participating include the Poquoson Police Department, the Poquoson Volunteer Fire Company, Poquoson CERT and the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office.

Between the lines: - The festival is leaning into its identity as both a food event and a cultural heritage festival. - The emphasis on watermen, artisan crafts and local youth performances suggests a strategy to keep the event rooted in Poquoson while appealing to a broad family audience. - The official artwork and heritage area reinforce the festival’s role as a community memory piece, not just a weekend market.

What's next: - Festival organizers say schedules and participants are subject to change. - Businesses interested in joining the sponsor list can call 757.868.3580. - More information is available at Poquoson Seafood Festival. - The festival will continue collecting support from sponsors, community organizations and local families ahead of opening weekend.

The bottom line: - Poquoson is pitching its 44th seafood festival as a full weekend of Chesapeake flavor, free entertainment and hometown heritage, with the working watermen story at the center.