VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia Beach officials say larger-than-normal crowds are expected to attend the Fourth of July Stars and Stripes Celebration at the Oceanfront this weekend, and while there are plans to manage traffic, they caution people to expect “unusually heavy” traffic throughout much of the holiday weekend, particularly on Saturday, July 4.
Local Fourth of July Fireworks and Events | 2026
The Oceanfront Fourth of July Stars and Stripes celebration begins at 7 p.m. with performances in the parks at 17th, 24th and 31st streets, with fireworks launching at 9:30 p.m. from a barge near 24th Street. The city encourages people to arrive early, as those arriving later can expect “extremely slow-moving traffic … [and] heavy pedestrian traffic.” It said a modified traffic plan could be put into place.
Around 7 p.m. Saturday, cars heading east on Interstate 264 may be directed westbound at Parks Avenue, with the eastbound exit at South Birdneck Road and the westbound exit at First Colonial Road likely to be closed if the city puts the traffic diversion into place.
The city said Shore Drive and Laskin Road would remain open, and the traffic diversion may be in place through about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. It expects Atlantic Avenue to close to traffic leaving the Oceanfront after the fireworks from about 15th to 25th streets for pedestrian safety…