A local event in Virginia Beach was set to bring gardening lessons, community resources, and hands-on activities to residents at the farmers market.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension Community Grow Fest was scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, offering a free public event focused on gardening, healthy living, and practical household education. According to the City of Virginia Beach, the event was planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Virginia Beach Farmers Market, located at 3640 Dam Neck Road.
The event was expected to feature garden tours, workshops, interactive exhibits, and resources designed to help residents learn more about growing and maintaining gardens. The City of Virginia Beach Department of Agriculture and Virginia Cooperative Extension organized it through a partnership.
A free community event focused on gardening and education.
Virginia Beach residents were invited to attend the Community Grow Fest for free. The City of Virginia Beach described the event as open to the public, allowing community members to explore educational activities and connect with local resources.
Organizers said visitors could participate in short workshops, interactive exhibits, giveaways, and take home resources throughout the event. The program was planned to cover several topics, including horticulture, conservation landscaping, nutrition, household financial planning, and youth development opportunities.
The event was designed for residents interested in learning more about gardening and other practical skills. Rather than focusing on a single activity, Community Grow Fest brought together multiple areas of education in one community setting.
Master Gardeners planned to lead tours of demonstration gardens.
One featured part of the event was expected to be tours of demonstration gardens managed by Virginia Beach Extension Master Gardener volunteers.
The gardens were planned as spaces where visitors could explore examples of gardening projects while learning from volunteers who maintain the areas. The tours were part of the event’s broader effort to offer residents hands-on learning opportunities.
The City of Virginia Beach identified Extension Master Gardener volunteers as the people managing the demonstration gardens featured during the event.
Workshops covered gardening, conservation and household topics
The Community Grow Fest was planned to include educational sessions on a variety of subjects beyond gardening.
Organizers highlighted horticulture and conservation landscaping as part of the programming, along with topics involving household financial planning, nutrition and youth development opportunities.
The range of subjects reflected the event’s goal of offering practical information that residents could explore in a single visit. Attendees were expected to access different activities based on their interests.
Food trucks added another attraction.
Along with educational activities, food trucks were expected to be available during the event.
The City of Virginia Beach said food trucks would offer local favorites for purchase, giving visitors another reason to spend time at the farmers market while taking part in the scheduled activities.
The food options were part of the overall event experience planned for attendees.
City partnership brought the event to the farmers market.
The Community Grow Fest was presented as a collaboration between the City of Virginia Beach Department of Agriculture and Virginia Cooperative Extension.
The city said the partnership supported efforts to provide residents with educational opportunities connected to local growers and community resources.
Virginia Cooperative Extension hosted the event, while the City of Virginia Beach provided information about the schedule, location, and activities planned for the day.
Residents could get more information about the event.
The city announced the event on Aug. 13, 2026, sharing details about the date, time, location, and activities planned for Community Grow Fest.
Residents seeking more information were directed to contact the Virginia Beach Cooperative Extension Office at 757-385-4769.
For people interested in gardening, community programs, or practical learning opportunities, the event offered a chance to explore local resources and connect with organizations providing education in Virginia Beach.
