Norfolk, VA & NATO Fest Featuring Tattoo Festival

Duration: 4 Days | Meals Included: 3 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners

 

Trip Highlights:

 

Norfolk NATO Festival

Travel the globe in a single day—no passport required—at NATO Fest! This vibrant international celebration invites you to explore the sights, sounds, and flavors of more than 30 countries, all in one exciting destination.

 

Savor authentic cuisine, experience diverse cultural traditions, and enjoy lively entertainment as NATO member nations come together to showcase their heritage. From captivating performances and colorful demonstrations to interactive exhibits, NATO Fest offers a fun and immersive way to celebrate global unity and cultural diversity.

 

Parade of Nations

The Parade of Nations is the longest-running parade in the region and the only parade in the U.S. that honors NATO. Celebrate an incredible procession featuring marching bands, NJROTC teams, Virginia International Tattoo performers, and colorful floats representing all 28 NATO member countries.

 

Virginia International Tattoo

The Virginia International Tattoo is a world-renowned celebration of tradition, patriotism, and international camaraderie.

 

Experience the powerful sounds of massed pipes and drums alongside an extraordinary cast of over 900 performers—including bagpipers, drummers, military bands, dancers, singers, drill teams, and color guards—who travel from around the globe to Norfolk for this spectacular event. As the largest military tattoo in the United States, it offers a thrilling showcase of precision, pageantry, and cultural exchange that honors American pride and our allied partnerships. Enjoy the show from Premium Center seats, featuring comfortable, theater-style folding seats and convenient hand railings along every staircase for ease and safety.

 

Virginia International Tattoo Hullabaloo: Three hours prior to the Tattoo performance, enjoy a variety of tasty foods and craft beers, live music, dance and drill performances, photo-ops with performers and even an audience-judged piping competition, all on Scope Plaza.

 

 

Nauticus & The Battleship Wisconsin

Visit Nauticus, an exciting science and technology center dedicated to exploring the power and mystery of the sea. This cutting-edge, interactive museum features virtual reality experiences that bring to life the ocean realm, showcase humanity’s relationship with the sea through shipping and naval history, and highlight the importance of the Hampton Roads port in global maritime affairs.

 

A highlight of your visit is the USS Wisconsin, one of the largest and most powerful battleships ever built. This iconic Iowa-class battleship played a pivotal role in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War, and now serves as a fascinating floating museum. Step aboard to explore its massive decks, see its impressive weaponry, and gain a firsthand understanding of life aboard a legendary naval vessel.

 

 

Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise

Set sail on a fascinating journey aboard the Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise, where history and modern military power come to life. This 2-hour narrated cruise glides along the smooth waters of the Elizabeth River and Hampton Roads Harbor, offering up-close views of one of the world’s largest naval fleets. Keep watch for impressive aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, guided missile cruisers, and more as you explore the heart of America’s naval operations.

 

Relax and enjoy the journey with comfortable seating, clean restrooms, and both indoor and outdoor viewing options, including an air-conditioned enclosed deck and an open-air upper deck. A snack bar and souvenir shop are also available on board.

 

Douglas MacArthur Memorial

The Douglas MacArthur Memorial serves as the final resting place for General Douglas MacArthur and his wife. The memorial houses an extensive collection of military and personal artifacts, offering visitors a comprehensive look into the life of General MacArthur and the millions of American men and women who served during the Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, the Occupation of Japan, and the Korean War. Treasures on view include 19th and 20th-century medals, flags, paintings, weapons, and equipment. Additionally, a 25-minute film on MacArthur's life is shown in the theater.

 

Norfolk Botanical Garden

Norfolk Botanical Garden spans 155 breathtaking acres surrounded by Lake Whitehurst. Explore more than 40 themed gardens that boast some of the East Coast's largest collections of azaleas, camellias, roses, and rhododendrons. The Garden is recognized as a Virginia Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Admission includes a guided tram tour highlighting seasonal blooms.

 

 

Fresh Cone & Ice Cream at Doumar's

Step into a true taste of history at Doumar's Cones & Barbecue, the legendary home of the original waffle cone. Here, tradition is served fresh daily, with delicious ice cream nestled in handmade waffle cones rolled right before your eyes on the original four-iron waffle machine, built in 1904.

 

Rich in heritage and flavor, Doumar’s has delighted generations of guests and earned national recognition with features on the Rachael Ray Show and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

 

 

Chrysler Museum of Art

Discover a world of art and innovation at the Chrysler Museum of Art, home to an impressive collection spanning centuries and styles. With fifty galleries and more than 30,000 objects, the museum invites visitors to explore everything from ancient artifacts to works by modern masters. A highlight of the experience is the museum’s renowned glass collection—one of the finest in America—featuring stunning Tiffany glass and showcased alongside the only glass studio of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic region. Visitors will also enjoy an engaging interactive space designed to inspire creativity and discovery for all ages.

 

Meal Information:

 

Dinner on day one is included at Orapax Restaurant. Choices are:

• Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti

• Fried Flounder with fries

• Chicken Alfredo Pasta

• Grilled Chicken Breast

• Personal Cheese Pizza

Dinner is served with bread, salad, and a brownie for dessert. Soft drinks, coffee, and hot tea are included.

 

Dinner on day two is included aboard the Victory Rover Cruise.  Boxed meal choices are:

Menu TBA

 

Menus are subject to change.

 

Need to Know:

• Starr has reserved seats (not bleachers) for the Parade of Nations. We recommend bringing a sweater or jacket for the beginning of the parade.

• NATO Festival: This is a citywide event and the downtown area will be very crowded. Expect a moderate amount of walking; wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate attire.

• Every Starr trip includes deluxe round-trip motorcoach transportation from one or more of our departure locations.

• A Starr Tour Director will accompany you on this trip.

• Baggage handling at hotels is included.

 

Accessibility:

• Virginia International Tattoo: Seats in the Scope Arena are comfortable theater-like seats that fold down. Each of the staircases have railings. If you require accessible seating, please alert a Travel Advisor at time of booking; accessible seats are limited and not guaranteed.

• Victory Rover Naval Base Cruise: accessible for standard sized non electric wheelchairs. They cannot accommodate electric wheelchairs or mobility scooters on board. If you have an electric wheelchair or a scooter they can lock it up for you at the dock; you can then transfer to one of their manual wheelchairs for boarding.

• Nauticus: Wheelchair accessible throughout the building. There is an elevator to access the second and third floor.

• Battleship Wisconsin: Wheelchair accessibility on board the main deck of the Battleship Wisconsin only. Located right off the wardroom on the Battleship Wisconsin, the Ship Experience Access Room (SEAR) was developed for visitors that want to experience the Battleship, but are unable to physically take the tour. Built in the former Administrative Office of the Wisconsin, the SEAR creates a virtual tour of the ship through the use of video surveillance equipment. The room has been designed to mimic a control center and is equipped with four, high-resolution monitors with individual access to video surveillance management software. Visitors are able to sit at a station and create their own tour of the Wisconsin as they navigate the software. 

• Norfolk Botanical Garden: Please note that some of the pathways are permeable, packed gravel pathways which can be a little tricky to navigate with wheelchairs but it is doable. There are portions of the permeable pathway that are on a slight incline/decline including the road from the back of Baker Hall to the Rose Garden, the road from Rose Garden bridge to NATO Bridge, and the road from Rose Garden Bridge to Wildflower Meadow. Wheelchairs are available to borrow on a first come, first served basis at the Front Desk of the Visitor Center (ID will be held while you have the wheelchair checked out).

• Starr has a select quantity of wheelchair accessible motorcoaches available; therefore, we suggest you contact a Travel Advisor to discuss any needs you may have before reserving your trip.

Holiday Inn Express Norfolk Airport (Norfolk, VA)

 

The hotel has an indoor pool and fitness room. Guest rooms are suites with a separate living and bedroom area and include a coffee maker, mini-fridge, microwave, hair dryer, and iron/board.

Norfolk Tattoo Promo Video