Virginia is set to welcome visitors in 2025 with an all-new list of exciting openings, anniversaries, events, accommodations, dining options, attractions, and experiences promising a fun and memorable trip for all ages.
Events and Anniversaries
– America’s 250th Anniversary – The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the founding of the nation, with a multi-year series of signature events, special exhibits, and interactive experiences leading up to the official anniversary in 2026. The first major 250th show in the nation, Give Me Liberty is a signature 5,000 square foot exhibition will be displayed at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown throughout 2025 to 2027. Moreover, At the Second Virginia Convention, held within the St. John’s Church in Richmond, Patrick Henry gave his legendary speech on revolution leading to a resolution that committed Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. 250 years later, St. John’s Church and VA250 invite you to witness history come alive at a series of reenactments in the very spot where this pivotal moment unfolded including the online LIVE streaming of this historical enactment on va250.org.
100th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim– This year marks the 100th Annual Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction to be held July 30-31, 2025. The annual event funds the care and protection of wild ponies that roam the marshes and maritime forests of the Eastern Shore. Established in 1925, the week-long festivities include a sunrise beach walk, a swim across the channel, guided by the Saltwater Cowboys, a nightly carnival, and more.
50 Years of Thrills at Virginia’s Amusement Parks- To celebrate its 50th anniversary season in 2025, Kings Dominion, the Doswell, VA amusement park, is welcoming a brand-new ride, Rapterra, the world’s tallest and fastest launched wing coaster while Busch Gardens Williamsburg celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025 with the launch of a new coaster – Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf’s Revenge.
Biking Championship- Virginia’s Blue Ridge is set to host the 2025 and 2026 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships, with seven days of racing events and over 1,500 athletes in July 2025 and 2026. The races will be held along the trails of Explore Park, Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke, and Carvins Cove, with plenty of opportunities to watch the riders in action.
World Pride 2025- World Pride 2025 is coming to Washington D.C. in June, and Virginia, just across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital, provides the perfect place to stay while attending. Virginia is also ideal for a pre or post World Pride holiday offering an array of experiences such as a trip to Virginia Beach for a little sun and surf, a wine holiday in DC’s wine country, Loudoun County, or a historic city stay in Virginia’s capital of Richmond.
New in Accommodation
Caesars Virginia– Roman luxury meets southern charm at Caesars Virginia, which opened in December 2024 in Danville. Caesars Virginia offers a luxurious experience, complete with a 320-room hotel, a casino, full-service spa, pool, upscale bars, lounges, convention space, entertainment, and 12 restaurants and bars, including a first in Virginia, Ramsay’s Kitchen, by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol– Opened in November 2024 with an epic guitar-smashing ceremony, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol blends Hard Rock’s signature style with the charm of Southwest Virginia. The resort features luxurious accommodations in its 300-room hotel, an expansive casino, world-class restaurants, bars and lounges, a Rock Spa®, and live music.
AC Marriott & Residence Inn Reston- A dual property AC Marriott & Residence Inn Reston opened in Reston in early this year. This is the first dual concept of this type from Marriott. The Residence Inn offers 120 guest rooms featuring fully equipped kitchens while the AC Hotel offers 147 guest rooms with a distinctive modern design, featuring the SEVEN Restaurant & Bar, a full-service, all-day dining outlet, and the SYN Rooftop Bar & Lounge atop the property, and dining options.
The Birdwood Mansion- The Birdwood Mansion, located on the grounds of the Boar’s Head Resort in Charlottesville, is undergoing a renovation and expects to open its doors by fall 2025. The historic property features four accommodations in the mansion, three adjacent cottages, and a culinary program that brings in some of the most experienced creative chefs from around the world.
Shenandoah Mansions- The yet to be opened Shenandoah Mansions in Richmond’s Fan District is a redbrick 73-key hotel in a six-story historic apartment building dating back to the 20th century exhibiting old-world charm through cinematic interiors.
New in Eats and Drinks
Ebbitt House- Ebbitt House, the first-ever expansion of Washington, DC’s world-famous Old Ebbitt Grill, is coming to Reston Station in 2025. It will feature a 300-seat indoor dining experience with two bars, along with 125 outdoor seats and a patio bar. The menu will include curated offerings of the American classics for which Old Ebbitt Grill is known.
Electric Bull Steakhouse- Electric Bull Steakhouse is a boutique South American steakhouse by famed Chef Victor Albisu opening in Vienna in the summer of 2025.
Local Lion- Set to open in April 2025 in Hillsboro, Local Lion is the latest brewery on Loudoun County’s booming LoCo Ale Trail. It is named for two African lions, once part of a privately owned game park on a neighbouring farm, buried on the property.
Virginia Wine Collective- The Virginia Wine Collective tasting room is expected to open just south of Charlottesville in May 2025 and will include seven winemaker studios off the main production area, as well as a winemaker incubator for seed-stage projects. Visitors will be able to sample wines in the tasting room from all participating winemakers and daily production tours will also be offered.
Chef’s Market- Chef’s Market, a 17,000-sq.-ft. food hall featuring a grilled cheese bar, brewery, taco bar, distillery, and more opened in October 2024 in Newport News. Shops offer fresh meats, seafood, wine, and baked goods plus duckpin bowling and arcade games.
National Museum of the United States Army- The National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir will unveil a new exhibit in June 2025 curated specifically for the U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday and America’s 250th Anniversary commemoration. The exhibit, called CALL TO Arms: The Soldier and the Revolutionary War, features more than 280 artefacts in a 5,000-square-foot space.
Level99- Level99 opens at Tysons Corner Center in 2025 as a first-of-its-kind destination for adults. Featuring real-world, interactive, social gaming with over 50 physical and mental challenges set in immersive, artistic environments, the space will include installations from local artists, opportunities for groups and player-vs-player, and a food and beverage area.
Allianz Amphitheater- The Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront in Downtown Richmond alongside the historic James River will make its debut in the summer of 2025 with a variety of live performances.
Science Museum of Virginia- Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks at the Science Museum of Virginia runs from February 1 – August 25, 2025. Featuring 20 of the world’s most innovative skyscrapers built using half a million bricks by one of only twelve LEGO®-certified professionals worldwide, this exhibition showcases the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) involved in architecture and design.
Muscarelle Museum of Art- The Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary will transport visitors to Renaissance Italy and commemorate the 550th anniversary of Michelangelo’s birth with “Michelangelo: The Genesis of the Sistine,” on view March 6-May 28, 2025. The groundbreaking exhibition, exclusively on view at the Muscarelle, unveils discoveries about the artist’s work.
Atlantic Park- On track for a Spring 2025 opening, the highly-anticipated Atlantic Park, brainchild of Pharrell Williams, is coming to the birthplace of East Coast surfing, allowing visitors to surf year-round in Virginia Beach. And, set to open in tandem with Atlantic Park, new entertainment venue The Dome will overlook the surf lagoon.