District businesses related to health, safety or crime prevention are invited to participate at no cost. This is a great opportunity to promote your business, show your community support, and network with other District businesses. Click here to register.

Podcasts are very popular and can be a great way to learn from experts. Here are a few local organizations that have started their own podcasts:

Dominion Physical Therapy & Associates recently launched their podcast, “The Community Connection.” Director of Marketing & Business Development, Lindsay Lopez, talks with community leaders and addresses topics that are relevant to Hampton Roads. You can find this podcast on their YouTube channel here.

Hampton Police Division’s podcast, “Unveiled: with Chief Jimmie Wideman”, gives insight into the world of policing and the men and women who protect and serve. New episodes drop every Thursday on Spotify and Amazon Music. Click here to listen on one of these platforms.

Hampton City Schools (HCS) just completed the first season of “HCS Talks” with Dr. Raymond Haynes, HCS Superintendent. This podcast discusses all aspects of education, including programs and initiatives, community partnerships and more. “HCS Talks” is available on most podcast apps, including Apple, Spotify and Pandora. Click here to listen on your favorite platform.

Bryant & Stratton College (5030 Kilgore Ave.) will host a Community Health & Resource Fair Wednesday July 24 from 10AM-6:30PM. The Chesapeake Regional Healthcare 3D Mobile Mammography Unit will be onsite from 10AM-2PM providing free breast cancer screenings. The Red Cross will be conducting a blood drive from 11AM-3PM. Other activities include massage therapy, mental health awareness, local community resources, vendor giveaways, and more.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information call 757-896-6001 or email Kim Holman at kdholman@bryantstratton.edu.

Summer is officially here and there’s lots to do and see in Coliseum Central! Beat the heat with some indoor fun, do a little shopping for that summer vacation or grab a bite to eat at one of our more than 90 restaurants! You’ll find everything you need here.

July 24
11AM-3PM
Bryant & Stratton College
5030 Kilgore Ave.

Riverpointe Shopping Center
Velvet Wax & Beauty
1110 W. Mercury Blvd.
757-550-1928

Peninsula Town Center
Teriyaki Madness
2033 Coliseum Dr.
757-243-8001

Peninsula Town Center
Arisa Medical
4410 E. Claiborne Sq., Ste. 208

Peninsula Town Center
Day & Night Cereal Bar
1260 Merchant Lane

This is a great opportunity to promote your business, show your community support, and network with other District businesses. Click here to register. Deadline to register is July 12.

Want more exposure for your upcoming event? Add it to the coliseumcentral.com event calendar! Click here and complete the form with details of your event. Once submitted, events will be published on the site calendar within one business day.

If your event takes place Friday-Sunday, we’ll also feature it on our “Weekend Roundup.” Information about events happening in the District each weekend will be shared in a Weekend Roundup guide on the front page of our website as well as on our social media.

Retail Alliance is hosting a Retail 360 event on June 11 from 8-10AM at the Manor House at Windsor Castle Park (705 Cedar St., Smithfield). With Retail 360, Retail Alliance aims to facilitate an exchange of knowledge and solutions. The event uses a unique format where participants are divided into three groups that rotate tables every 30 minutes. Tables are facilitated by an expert who will guide discussions on the designated topic. Topics include:

The event is free however registration is required. Registration is open until June 7.

It’s June and that means shopping for dads and grads. Let Coliseum Central help with all your gift-giving needs. Our Graduation and Father’s Day Guides can be found here.

The Splashdown Park at the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex (1908 Coliseum Drive) is open for the season. The park will be open on weekends through June 16 and will open daily beginning June 17 through Labor Day. Gaining entry to the SplashDown Park is easier this year. Guest will be able to sign their day pass waiver and jump right in. Information about day passes or membership, can be found at https://news.coliseumcentral.com/SplashDownPark.

Registration is now open for Summer Splash Camp at the Aquaplex. Week-long themed camps for ages 6-12 will be held throughout the summer. For camp dates and registration, visit https://news.coliseumcentral.com/summer-camp.

June 14
12:30-4:15PM
YMCA Health & Wellness Center
4001 Coliseum Drive

June 28
10AM-3PM
Bass Pro Shops
1972 Power Plant Pkwy.

June 30
9AM-2PM
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
2150 Cunningham Drive

Coliseum Corner
Como en Casa
2169 Cunningham Drive
757-640-8844

Coliseum Corner
Royalty Rentals
2175 Cunningham Dr.
757-839-2031

Peninsula Town Center
Log In
1690 Merchant Lane

Mercury Plaza
Chick-fil-A
110 Marketplace Dr.

District businesses related to health, safety or crime prevention are invited to participate at no cost. This is a great opportunity to promote your business, show your community support, and network with other District businesses. Click here to register. Deadline to register is July 12.

Coliseum Central is showcasing District businesses as part of our seasonal billboard campaigns. Each campaign will have a theme and will highlight businesses using fun taglines. There is no cost to participate. Adams Outdoor Advertising will create the ad and businesses will have final approval before it runs. Billboard campaigns will run for up to two weeks.

Our next campaign is Summer events, activities and leisure. If your business pertains to those categories, is located in Coliseum Central and you would like to participate, please visit https://news.coliseumcentral.com/billboard.

Deadline to submit materials for summer campaign is May 31. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Ewton at aewton@coliseumcentral.com.

There are many small businesses that call Coliseum Central home. We understand that they are an important part of the success of the District and would like to recognize them in our Small Business Spotlight. Each month we want to shine the spotlight on a District business to learn who they are, what they do, and where you can find them.

If you are a small business owner in the District and would like to be featured in an upcoming newsletter, please click here to submit your business information, logo and headshot.

Spring is in the air and Coliseum Central is the place to be! We have 14 shopping centers where you’re sure to find all the spring essentials, dozens of salons and spas to pamper yourself, 70+ eateries when you need a break, and lots of entertainment venues for a day of fun. Find all there is to do in Coliseum Central this spring here.

Parklawn – Wood Funeral Home and Memorial Park (2551 N. Armistead Ave.) is hosting The Spring Festival May 10-11. The Parklawn-Wood Social on Friday, May 10 provides guests with an opportunity to meet the staff and tour the facility from 10AM-3PM. Saturday events include a Mother’s Day Celebration and Paws for Pride pet expo from 10AM-2PM. Guests can enjoy music, food, 80+ vendors, giveaways, pony rides, goat yoga and pet rescues. For more information click here.

Get ready for water fun this summer with swim lessons at the Hampton Virginia Aquaplex (1908 Coliseum Drive.) They offer lessons for all ages and skill levels. Parent and child classes introduce children 6 months – 3 years to the water and teach parents water safety. Separate classes are available for preschool and school-aged children as well as those with special needs. Adult classes, dive instruction, and intro to competitive swim round out the offerings. Click here for more information or to register.

May 23
11AM-3PM
Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home
2551 N. Armistead Ave.

Peninsula Town Center
Chase Bank
1700 W. Mercury Blvd.

Peninsula Town Center
Luna Estelle
1246 Merchant Lane

Onelife Fitness (2190 Coliseum Drive) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 8 to open their new 60,000 square foot club. Amenities at the facility include state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment, indoor saltwater pool & whirlpool, boutique studio classes, cycle studio, strike boxing, cardio cinema, kid’s club, and more! In addition to these amenities, members also have access to 9 area locations. Click here to take a virtual tour of the facility, join online, or claim a free trial pass.

Many city dignitaries and community members were on-hand as sweetFrog (97 Coliseum Crossing) held a grand opening celebration on April 17. sweetFrog features a variety of flavors of soft-serve premium frozen yogurt and a large toppings bar, allowing customers to create their own dessert. This location also features a party room perfect for birthdays or other celebrations. For more information, click here.

Hampton City Schools has transformed its four high schools into 16 career-focused, community-connected, small learning communities, better known as the Academies of Hampton. The 16 academies are broken down into 44 different pathways of study including:

Every business, no matter how large or small, can be engaged in the Academies of Hampton. Partnership activities vary depending on the pathway needs and partner interests and resources. Partnership opportunities include:

Could your business use additional help this summer? The city’s Office Of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities is accepting applications from local businesses to employ Hampton youth and young adults ages 16-24. Employees may work up to 20 hours per week from June 17-August 23.

There is no cost to businesses. All program participants are paid by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Opportunities. Students are matched with businesses based on their interests and availability. For more information or to apply, visit https://news.coliseumcentral.com/summer-employment. The deadline to apply is May 1.

For information about sponsorships, restaurant registration, or to purchase tickets, click here.

NBA star Allen Iverson brings his Iverson Classic, an NBA-certified event, to Hampton this May. The top high school basketball players in the country will battle in the 24K Showcase and skills competition May 2 at Bethel High School (1067 Big Bethel Rd.) and the All-American Game at the Hampton Coliseum (1000 Coliseum Dr.) May 4. Former NBA stars will serve as coaches and mentors. Get your tickets today!

In honor of Women’s History Month, Bryant & Stratton College Hampton Campus is hosting the Women Who Lead With Purpose Symposium on March 21 at 5:30PM. A panel discussion featuring Captain Janet H. Days, Commanding Officer, Naval Station Norfolk; Mary Bunting, Hampton City Manager; and Michelle Ellis-Young, CEO, YWCA South Hampton Roads will provide insights on achieving success in business and community endeavors.

For more information, call 757-896-6001. Click here to register.

The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank needs your help to fill their shelves. Food or monetary donations can be dropped off at their location at 2401 Aluminum Ave. or at one of these local events:

April 4 – Cava (2033 Coliseum Dr.) will be accepting donations during their grand opening.

April 6 from 9:30AM-12:00PM – Hampton Roads Educators Credit Union (2130 Cunningham Dr.) will be accepting donations during their shred event.

April 1-29 – Walmart (1900 Cunningham Dr.) will be giving customers the option to make a donation at the check-out. Customers can also give online.

The Hampton Master Gardeners spring plant sale will take place May 4 at Bluebird Gap Farm (60 Pine Chapel Rd.) from 9AM-12PM. Bring your own wagon or cart and stock up on locally grown plants. Master Gardeners will be available for free plant advice as well. Click here for more information.

Artwork from Hampton City School students will be showcased at the Hampton Roads Convention Center (1610 Coliseum Dr.) from April 1-28 for Create 2024, the annual high school art show. Visitors can view the artwork Monday-Friday from 8AM-5PM. There will be a reception on April 16 from 6:00-7:30PM with make-and-take and interactive activities, including selfie stations, origami, friendship bracelets, and more.

April 7
9:30AM-2:30PM
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
2150 Cunningham Dr.

Coliseum Marketplace
Onelife Fitness
2190 Coliseum Dr.
757-516-7530

Peninsula Town Center
Cava
2033 Coliseum Dr.

Coliseum Crossing
SweetFrog
96 Coliseum Crossing

The Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board (CSB) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the BJ Roberts Behavioral Health Center (300 Marcella Rd.) on March 14. Many elected officials, healthcare providers and stakeholders were on-hand for the ceremony. The center is named after longtime Hampton Sheriff B. J. Roberts, who died in 2020.

The center, which is expected to open in December, will provide 16 residential crisis beds and will have 16 temporary seats for patients awaiting treatment.

Image & Stylez Salon (3130 Allainby Way) held a grand opening celebration on March 25. Mayor Donnie Tuck was on-hand to assist with the ribbon cutting. Image and Stylez Salon provides cosmetology, barber and nail services. Book your appointment today.

The Coliseum Central Annual Meeting took place February 21 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. District stakeholders and business partners came together to network, learn and celebrate the theme of “connection”. Coliseum Central would like to extend a special thanks to the Academies of Hampton, Allison Moore, Ava Green, Drenna Love, Hampton Mayor Donnie Tuck, Hampton Police Chief Jimmie Wideman, Karen Orie and Sonya Daniels for their contributions to our program. Sincerest thanks to all who attended and for their continued support of Coliseum Central’s efforts. Click here to learn about BID benefits and resources.

Coliseum Central would like to congratulate the 2024 “Best of” Coliseum Central Award winners.

Ambassador of the Year
Drenna Love, Legacy School & Career Apparel

For information about sponsorships, restaurant registration, or to purchase tickets, click here.

Country for Kids, the annual charity concert to benefit the Center for Child & Family Services, is coming to the Hampton Roads Convention Center (1610 Coliseum Drive) April 27. Country music singer/songwriter Chris Janson returns to the stage, bringing hits like “Buy Me a Boat” and “Good Vibes”, as well as his soon-to-be-released single “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get.” For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

In honor of Women’s History Month, Bryant & Stratton College Hampton Campus is hosting the Women Who Lead With Purpose Symposium on March 21 at 5:30PM. A panel discussion featuring Captain Janet H. Days, Commanding Officer, Naval Station Norfolk; Mary Bunting, Hampton City Manager; and Michelle Ellis-Young, CEO, YWCA South Hampton Roads will provide insights on achieving success in business and community endeavors.

For more information, call 757-896-6001. Click here to register.

For more information or to apply, click here. The deadline to apply is May 1.

April 1
10AM-3PM
Bass Pro Shops
1972 Power Plant Pkwy.

Coliseum Central partnered with Vistity to create a 360° virtual tour of the entire District. The tour is prominently located on the front page of our new website, allowing visitors to see all that Coliseum Central has to offer.

Individual businesses can be included as points of interest. A brief description, photos, video, and website link can be included for each point of interest. Have your Coliseum Central business added to the virtual tour by submitting your information here.

Coliseum Central’s updated website includes a free, personalized business page for each District business. Each page includes a description, address, phone number, email address, website and social links, photos, hours of operation, and Google map. Click here to find your business page. Review your business page and submit any updates, photos, or information here.

Share your job openings with us. Our robust form allows you to share information such as employment type, job description, weekly and shift hours, duties, requirements, work conditions, benefits, and more. Click here to share your job listing. Submissions will be reviewed prior to posting on the website.

Add your events to the Coliseum Central website calendar! Click here and complete the form with the details of your event. Once submitted, events will be published on the site calendar within one business day.

A list of participating restaurants will be available later this month.

Restaurants located in Hampton are invited to participate. Click here to register. Applications are due by February 7.

Tastefully Yours, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s largest fundraiser of the year, will take place April 11 at the Hampton Roads Convention Center (1610 Coliseum Drive). This premier food tasting event features samplings from local food establishments, craft beer, wine, live music, mini Vegas, photo booths, and more.

The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank is looking for local restaurants, culinary programs and catering companies interested in participating in the event. Participants will provide bite- sized samples of signature dishes for up to 1,000 guests to enjoy. There is no fee to participate. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged.

For more information or to register, click here.

Retail Alliance will hosts Retail Therapy: A Women’s Wellness Retreat February 25-26 at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Virginia Beach Waterfront. This one-of-a-kind retreat offers the opportunity to unwind, recharge, and discover the perfect balance between self-care and business growth.

Attendees will enjoy:

For more information or to register, click here.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Momo’s Cafe (1930 Power Plant Parkway). They will be offering a Valentine’s Day Buffet on February 14 from 5:30-8:00PM. The menu includes a salad bar, peel and eat shrimp, three entrees, sides and chocolate fondue for dessert. Dinner for two to go and dessert orders will be available for pick up. Click here for more information.

The Hampton Virginia Aquaplex offers preschool, school aged, adult, parent & child, and intro to competitive swim lessons. New classes are starting this month. Click here to register.

February 9
12:45-4:30PM
YMCA Health & Wellness Center
4001 Coliseum Drive

February 29
2-6PM
Northampton Christian Church
1409 Todds Lane

Coliseum Crossing
Foot Locker
17 Coliseum Crossing
757-827-2395

Peninsula Town Center
Kidtique
4400 Kilgore Ave.
757-755-3312

Peninsula Town Center
UR Custom T-Shirt
2503 McMenamin St.
757-770-6393

KEDPlasma
1960 Saville Row

Coliseum Central is showcasing District businesses as part of our seasonal billboard campaigns. Each campaign will have a theme and will highlight businesses using fun taglines. There is no cost to participate. Adams Outdoor Advertising will create the ad and businesses will have final approval before it runs. Billboard campaigns will run for up to two weeks.

Our next campaign is Spring events (spring break, spring cleaning, etc.). If your business is located in Coliseum Central and you would like to participate, please click here for the registration form.

Deadline to submit materials for spring campaign is March 1. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Ewton at aewton@coliseumcentral.com.

Vote for the “Best of” Coliseum Central businesses here. Deadline to vote is January 31. Winners will be announced at the Coliseum Central Annual Meeting on February 21.

The Coliseum Central Annual Meeting will take place Wednesday, February 21, 2024 from 8:30-10:00AM at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. This year’s agenda will look a little different. We will be providing information about benefits that BID members can take advantage of as well as an awards ceremony highlighting the “Best of” businesses in the District.

If you work, conduct business, own property or have another vested interest in Coliseum Central, we encourage you to attend! This event is free and open to all members of the BID. Formal invitations will be mailed out soon. RSVP now.

City Manager Mary Bunting and Hampton City Schools Superintendent Dr. Raymond Haynes reported on the successes of the Academies of Hampton, including an on-time graduation rate above 96 percent.

Click here for more information.

The Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau (CVB) has earned several accolades recently. They won two Pinnacle Awards from the regional chapter of the Public Relations Society of America — for the Black History Pass digital platform and for the marketing of the Aquaplex. The CVB also received a Community Award from USA Artistic Swimming for hosting the Junior Olympics at the Aquaplex this year. The CVB and the Hampton Roads Convention Center earned Readers’ Choice Awards from ConventionSouth.

Coliseum Central has everything you need to start the new year off right! Whether you’re trying to eat healthy, get in shape or make a fresh start, find everything you need at one of the hundreds of businesses that call Coliseum Central home.

Click here for more information.

January 15
10AM-3PM
Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home
2551 N. Armistead Ave.

February 9
12:45-4:30PM
YMCA Health & Wellness Center
4001 Coliseum Drive

CenterWell Senior Primary Care officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 6. CenterWell Senior Primary Care is a one-stop doctor’s office with complete care for Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients. Each location is designed around the unique needs of older patients, with special exam rooms, longer appointments, and shorter wait times. Their on-site activity centers offer patients and local seniors alike opportunities to stay socially and physically active. For more information, visit https://www.centerwellprimarycare.com/

Coliseum Central is showcasing District businesses as part of our seasonal billboard campaigns. Each campaign will have a theme and will highlight businesses using fun taglines. The winter campaign highlighted holiday shopping and dining.

There is no cost to participate. Adams Outdoor Advertising will create the ad and businesses will have final approval before it runs. Billboard campaigns will run for up to two weeks at three locations- two on I-64 at Rip Rap Road in Hampton (east-and westbound) and one on High Street in Portsmouth, reaching motorists heading to I-664.

Deadline to submit materials for Valentine’s Day is January 19. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Ewton at aewton@coliseumcentral.com.

Bowman’s Soul N The Wall Restaurant (1899 N. Armistead Ave.) is collecting new or gently used coats and socks for those in need during their CommUNITY Winter Drive, through December 20.

In addition, the restaurant will be serving free holiday meals on Christmas Day, December 25, from 11AM-1PM. Click here for more information.

Winter 2024 Registration is underway at Bryant & Stratton College (5030 Kilgore Ave.) Rapid Registration Days Kickoff takes place Saturday, December 9th from 10AM-1PM. Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the campus, learn about financial aid opportunities, and speak with representatives about degree programs that are offered.

To RSVP for Rapid Registration, call 757-896-6001. For more information about Bryant & Stratton College Hampton Campus, click here.

The Hampton Virginia Aquaplex was honored recently with two awards for its design. The facility, which opened late last year, was recognized by the Design-Build Institute of America with the National Award of Merit in the Civic/Assembly category. Also, Engineering News-Record magazine recognized the Aquaplex with an Award of Merit in the Sports/Entertainment category for the Mid-Atlantic region.

The holiday season is here and Coliseum Central is your one stop for all your holiday needs. With fourteen shopping centers and hundreds of stores you’ll find something for everyone on your list. And find the perfect place for a holiday get-together at one of our 70+ dining options.

Click here for more information.

December 26
10AM-3PM
Bass Pro Shops
1972 Power Plant Pkwy.

January 7
9:30AM-2:30PM
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
2150 Cunningham Drive

To learn more about how you can help or to find a list of drop-off locations, click here.

Qdoba Mexican Eats held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their newest location at 1123 W. Mercury Blvd. on November 30. Dignitaries on-hand included Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray and Council Members Chris Bowman and Hope Harper. Qdoba’s mission is to make the world a more flavorful place. They use quality ingredients in their freshly-made, Mexican-inspired food to bring out the most delicious flavors. For more information, click here.

Submit your nominations here. Nominations will close on December 31, 2023. Stay tuned! Voting information will be included in the January newsletter. Winners will be announced at the Coliseum Central Annual Meeting.

For more information, click here.

MADE Hoops will bring basketball teams from across the region to the Hampton Roads Convention Center (1610 Coliseum Drive) December 2-3. The East Winter Circuit features top teams in 5th-8th grades in the East Region. For more information, click here.

Hampton Roads Educators Credit Union (HRECU) (2130 Cunningham Drive) was awarded a $10,000 grant by the National Credit Union Administration. This grant will be used to implement additional features to improve HRECU member’s online experience.

Technical upgrades will allow for Video/Chat banking with members via the credit union website. In addition, the grant will fund an ATM Deposit Processing Software that will allow an automated release of deposits to members on holidays, after hours, or on weekends.

The upgrades will become available to members by the first of the year.

The State of the City – Hampton will take place Friday, December 8 from 11:30AM-1:30PM at the Hampton Roads Convention Center. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Bass Pros Shops (1972 Power Plant Parkway) kicks off Santa’s Wonderland on November 4 with a parade to welcome Santa to the store.

The event will feature tons of fun. Be sure to see Santa and receive a free 4×6 photo of your visit, stop by the Christmas Toy Shop, or mail your letter to Santa. There will also be giveaways while supplies last

Bass Pro Shops Santa’s Wonderland will run through December 24.

November 10
10:30AM-1:30PM
Hampton Roads Convention Center
1610 Coliseum Drive

November 17
12:45-4:30PM
YMCA Health & Wellness Center
4001 Coliseum Drive

Sweet Frog
Coliseum Crossing
96 Coliseum Crossing

Teriyaki Madness
Peninsula Town Center
2300 Coliseum Drive

Riverside Health System held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the stand-alone Psychiatric Emergency Department at Riverside Mental Health & Recovery Center (2244 Executive Drive) on October 5. This 15,800 square-foot facility, the first of its kind in Virginia, is designed to provide immediate care to people in a mental health or addiction crisis. There are twenty treatment areas, with separate areas for adults and pediatrics, open community areas, sensory rooms, and secure outdoor areas designed for de-escalation, and on-site lab services.

Governor Glenn Youngkin and Mayor Donnie Tuck were on-hand to assist in the ribbon cutting. The facility will open to the community later this fall. For more information, click here.

The new and improved coliseumcentral.com is live with updated graphics, new and exciting features and enhanced business pages to better serve your business.

Share your job openings with us. Our robust form allows you to share information such as employment type, job description, weekly & shift hours, duties, requirements, work conditions, benefits and more. Click here to share your job listing. Submissions will be reviewed prior to posting on the website.

Did you know that every District business has its own page on coliseumcentral.com? Visit https://news.coliseumcentral.com/business-list to find your business page. Review your business page and submit additional updates, photos or information here.

Coliseum Central’s Whimsical Winter Wonderland returns to the Hampton Coliseum (1000 Coliseum Drive) on November 18 from 12-5PM. This FREE, festive celebration includes fun for the whole family. Aerialists, jugglers, and illusionists will entertain guests on the main stage and holiday-themed decor will provide ample opportunities for photos. In addition, there will be roaming characters and stilt walkers, a variety of photo booths, face painting, balloon and glitter tattoo artists, and carnival-style games.

We are excited to announce that this year the Whimsical Winter Wonderland will expand to include activities outside the Hampton Coliseum! New for this year:

New indoor activities include enhanced games, Princess Meet & Greets, inflatable amusement fun park for the little ones, and axe throwing with foam velcro axes.

Celebrate the season and promote your organization by serving as a Whimsical Winter Wonderland sponsor. Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities.

Disney on Ice: Magic in the Stars comes to the Hampton Coliseum (1000 Coliseum Drive) October 19-22. Take a magical journey through the timeless stories of Cinderella, Aladdin, Toy Story, and Cars, and today’s favorites including Encanto, Frozen 2 and Moana. Celebrate with Tiana, Rapunzel and the Disney Princesses and meet Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon. Click here for more information, or to purchase tickets.

The Jazz Legacy Foundation’s 11th Annual Gala Weekend returns to the Hampton Roads Convention Center (1610 Coliseum Drive) November 9-12 with a star-studded lineup, including Boney James, Jeffrey Osborne, and Sheila E. The Jazz Legacy Foundation’s mission is to preserve the Art of Jazz through music education. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

The Bodacious Bazaar Fall Show comes to the Hampton Roads Convention Center (1610 Coliseum Drive) November 10-12. This three-day shopping extravaganza features hundreds of vendors, artists, crafters, and several of Virginia’s finest wineries. Click here for more information.

If you missed Retail Alliance’s Virginia Retail Matters live, you can watch it on WTKR News 3’s website. This video includes a presentation of an in-depth retail study conducted by Main Street America and the 2024 Outlook on Virginia legislation that impacts the retail sector. Watch the replay here. To purchase a digital copy of the full research report, click here.

Guest speakers include Matt Wagner, Chief Program Officer at Main Street America, expert lobbyists from Virginia Retail Federation, and leadership from Retail Alliance. For more information or to register, click here.

Usher in the Fall season at the Bluebird Gap Farm Fall Festival (60 Pine Chapel Road) October 21-22. The festival runs from 10AM-5PM each day with a variety of children’s activities, hayrides, master gardening, punkin’ chunkin’, live entertainments, and much more!

Admission and activities are free. Food and pumpkins are available for purchase.

Virginia Peninsula Foodbank needs your help to keep their shelves full so that they can continue to provide healthy meals to those in need. It is estimated that one in 7 individuals, or more than 50,000 people in our area are affected by food insecurity. That number continues to increase with rising food and fuel costs.

There are many ways to help:

To learn more about how you can help, click here.

October 24
8AM-2PM
City Hall
22 Lincoln St.

Coliseum Central wants to hear from you- our business owners and managers. We understand that running a business can be challenging, and we are here to help. Coliseum Central staff would like to meet one-on-one with retailers to discuss your concerns and ideas. The feedback you provide can help us focus our resources in areas that better serve our businesses.

We’re committed to the success of our businesses and look forward to working with you. If you are a Coliseum Central retailer and would like to schedule a meeting, click here.

Coliseum Central is offering District businesses an opportunity to be part of our seasonal billboard campaigns. Campaigns will have a theme and highlight a specific segment of businesses. For example, our summer campaign, “Play around in Hampton this Summer,” highlighted sports and entertainment businesses using fun taglines.

There is no cost to participate. Adams Outdoor Advertising will create the ad and businesses will have final approval before it runs. Billboard campaigns will run for up to two weeks at three locations- two on I-64 at Rip Rap Road in Hampton (east- and westbound) and one on High Street in Portsmouth, reaching motorists heading to I-664.

Our winter campaign, which runs November 1-December 24, will highlight holiday shopping and dining. If you are a Coliseum Central Business and would like to participate, please click here and:

Deadline to submit materials is October 20. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Ewton at aewton@coliseumcentral.com.

Mark your calendar! Coliseum Central’s Whimsical Winter Wonderland returns to the Hampton Coliseum (1000 Coliseum Drive) on November 18 from 12-5PM. This FREE, family-friendly event will usher in the holiday season with aerialists, roaming characters stilt walkers, inflatables, a variety of photo booths, face painting, balloon and glitter tattoo artists, and carnival-style games. This year’s event will expand to include the outdoor portion of the Hampton Coliseum and will include 14 new activities. Stay tuned for more details!

Celebrate the season and promote your organization by serving as a Whimsical Winterland sponsor. If your organization is interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact Eboni Council at ecouncil@coliseumcentral.com.

Coliseum Central is revamping coliseumcentral.com. In addition to a fresh, new look, the updated website will also have new features and functions including a trip planner, enhanced home page and business pages, and a virtual tour. Website design is expected to be completed this Fall.

Make sure that your District business is properly represented on our new website. Click here to view your current business page. To submit or update your businesses information, click here. To submit photos (up to 5) and logo, email Angie Ewton at aewton@coliseumcentral.com.

The BayPort Foundation Crawlin’ Crab Half Marathon & 5K takes place October 7-8. Saturday events include the 5K and the Kids 1K, while Half Marathon runners take to the streets of Hampton on Sunday. All races will end in front of the Hampton Coliseum (1000 Coliseum Drive), where participants and their guests can enjoy live music, food, and refreshments at the Post-Race Party. For more information or to register, click here.

The Hampton Brick Convention is coming to the Hampton Roads Convention Center (1610 Coliseum Drive) on October 14-15. This ultimate Lego event gives fans the opportunity to view incredible displays, play with thousands of bricks in multiple building zones, and purchase new and retired Lego sets. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.

Add your events to the Coliseum Central website calendar! Click here and complete the form with the details of your event. Once submitted, events will be published on the site calendar within one business day.

Virginia Retail Matters presented by Retail Alliance takes place on September 22 from 11:15AM-2:00PM at the Renaissance Hotel (425 Water St., Portsmouth). This luncheon will include the presentation of an in-depth retail study conducted by Main Street America and the 2024 Outlook on Virginia legislation that impacts the retail sector.

Guest speakers include Matt Wagner, Chief Program Officer at Main Street America, expert lobbyists from Virginia Retail Federation, and leadership from Retail Alliance. For more information or to register, click here.

Coliseum Central is compiling a list of low-cost marketing opportunities and networking opportunities for small business owners. We will continue to update this list as new information is obtained. To view the current list of opportunities, click here. If you have events or opportunities you would like to share, contact Angie Ewton at aewton@coliseumcentral.com.

Onelife Fitness (2190 Coliseum Drive) will be opening this winter in the former Farm Fresh location in Coliseum Marketplace Shopping Center. Stop by the Preview Center on location to learn more about the programs and amenities and join now to get Founding Member rates. Amenities available in this 60,000 sq. ft. facility will include:

Click here for more information, to take a virtual tour of the facility or to join online.

September 18
11AM-3PM
Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home
2551 N. Armistead Ave.

October 1
9:30AM-2:30PM
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
2150 Cunningham Dr.

Hot Pot 757
Coliseum Crossing
32 Coliseum Crossing

Cava
Peninsula Town Center
2033 Coliseum Drive

Hampton broke ground Friday, August 18 on the Lake Hampton Resilience Park. This is the first of three innovative resiliency projects designed primarily to reduce the impact of flooding on the area around Newmarket Creek. Lake Hampton Resilience Park will reduce flooding and pollution by retaining more water and filtering runoff. It will also become a thriving habitat for birds and other wildlife and create a shared use path that will connect to the existing Waterwalk Trail park. Click here for more information.

The Embassy Suites by Hilton Hampton (1700 Coliseum Drive) recently completed a multimillion-dollar makeover, which included the renovation of all 295 suites and painting the open-air atrium lobby and corridors. The suites, including two presidential suites, are decorated in neutral colors of gray and white and include new, modern furniture and fixtures. For more information, click here.