Virginia Arts Festival presents Virginia International PANFest

Image provided by Virginia Arts Festival

Virginia Beach Oceanfront becomes an island paradise THIS WEEKEND May 9 & 10 with steelpan performers from across the U.S. on the 24th Street stage!

Virginia International PANFest returns to Virginia Beach this weekend May 9 & 10 featuring over 20 elementary, middle, high school, college, and community steelpan drum bands from throughout the United States and abroad. After workshops on Friday, May 9, led by nationally known steelpan artists and educators, the bands compete on Saturday, May 10, for the coveted Grand Champion Award. Saturday evening, international jazz musician and steel pan virtuoso, Leon Foster Thomas, headlines the 24th Street stage at Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Born in Trinidad, his music is a blend of his Caribbean roots with the harmonic and improvisational complexities of jazz, creating a lively and eclectic meld all his own. Additional performers include 2 Islands, Brian Hunt, and LittKeys.

Virginia International PANFest is free and open to the public. Virginia International PANFest is produced by Virginia Arts Festival and Beach Events. Visit www.vafest.org/panfest to register as a participant or for more information.

Virginia International PANFest

Friday, May 9, 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM

24th Street Stage, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

2 Islands 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Leon Foster Thomas 8:00 – 10:00 PM

Saturday, May 10, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

24th Street Stage, Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Steel bands compete throughout the day

Brian Hunt 12:30 – 1:10 PM

LittKeys 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Leon Foster Thomas 8:30 – 10:00 PM

The Virginia International PANFest has been recognized as one of the American Bus Association’s Top 100 Events and holds membership in the Student Youth Tour Association (SYTA). PANFest is directly aligned with the Virginia Arts Festival’s mission of impacting the lives of students through outstanding educational programs throughout Hampton Roads, including the Rhythm Project, while making a tangible difference through regional partnerships and cultural tourism.

About Virginia Arts Festival

Since 1997, the Virginia Arts Festival has transformed the cultural scene in southeastern Virginia, presenting great performers from around the world to local audiences and making this historic, recreation-rich region a cultural destination for visitors from across the United States and around the world. The Festival has presented numerous U.S. and regional premieres, and regularly commissions new works of music, dance, and theater from some of today’s most influential composers, choreographers and playwrights. The Festival’s arts education programs reach tens of thousands of area schoolchildren each year through student matinees, in-school performances, artists’ residencies, master classes and demonstrations.