More than 1,000 Jeep enthusiasts from at least 15 states are expected to roll into Virginia Beach's Oceanfront this weekend as Jeep Fest marks its fifth year in the city, bringing beach driving, off-road challenges and community events to the boardwalk between 26th and 30th streets.
The event, presented by Hall Jeep, is one of the East Coast's premier Jeep gatherings, according to WAVY.com. It sprawls along the boardwalk beneath the King Neptune statue, a stretch organizers describe on the event's website as running from 26th Street to 30th Street, per vabeachjeepfest.com. Online registration for beach cruises and the sand course closed Friday.
Sand Course Gets New Obstacles
The centerpiece of the weekend is a super-sized beach sand course featuring hills, dips, mounds and obstacles, including new advanced challenges this year, per the event's report. Registered Jeep drivers can test their skills on the course, and according to the same source, those who book a shift can ride it as many times as they want within their 90-minute window.
The course runs between 28th and 30th streets from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, then wraps up Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., per the event's schedule. Each evening on Friday and Saturday, the action shifts to a night crawl and LED light show from 7 to 9 p.m., staging at Rudee Loop.
Sunrise Cruises and a Public Parade
Daily sunrise beach cruises and beach crawls begin at 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. each day of the festival, staging at Rudee Loop, per the WAVY report. For Friday's beach driving specifically, the event's website instructs that all Jeeps will leave Rudee Inlet Loop and enter the beach at 20th Street. Members of the public can watch the Jeep parade from the boardwalk at no cost.
The festival also offers free public events beyond the parade, including a 4x4 Village on the boardwalk at 29th Street, running 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day of the weekend. National industry leaders are set to showcase products and services there, giving spectators a chance to browse gear even if they aren't driving the course themselves.
Evening Parties Round Out the Weekend
Off the sand, Jeep Fest has a nightlife side too. A Friday Jeep Fest party kicks off at 8 p.m. at SK8 House on South Lynnhaven Road, while Saturday brings a Jeep Fest after-party from 5 to 8 p.m. at Smartmouth Brewing Co. on 32nd Street. Organizers list the event's social presence on Instagram under the handles @beacheventsvb and @vajeepfest.
Crowd size has grown steadily in recent years. At last year's event, the festival's executive director told wjla.com, “This year, we got almost 1,000 Jeeps, right around 980. We'll probably get past 1,000 over the weekend.” The same director estimated the 2025 event drew about 5,000 people total in and around the festivities, according to that report.
