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Dash to Downtown Hampton September 7 for the Second Annual Hampton Bay Days 8K

--New Color the Dolphin Fun Run added this year!--

Hampton, Virginia-                           ###

Hampton, Virginia – At 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, September 7, dash over to downtown Hampton for the Second annual Hampton Bay Days 8K! The race, taking place during the 31st annual Hampton Bay Days celebration, is sure to get your heart pumping and your body moving.

The course starts at the Virginia Air & Space Center (600 Settlers Landing Road), goes over the Martin Luther King Bridge, through the campus of Hampton University, through Phoebus, out to Fort Monroe, and concludes back at the Virginia Air & Space Center.

All 8K runners will receive a technical shirt, souvenir finisher’s medal, personalized bib, and goody bag. In addition to the finisher medal, first, second, and third place overall male and female finishers will receive a winner medal along with a surprise prize pack. The Hampton Bay Days 8K After Party will take place in Mill Point Park at the conclusion of the race, complete with live music and refreshments.

New to race day this year is the Color the Dolphin Fun Run, a “colorful” race for the whole family taking place at 8:00 a.m.! Runners will be doused in brilliant colors (all of which commemorate the Chesapeake Bay) along the 1 mile course. All entrants will receive a white short-sleeved shirt with dolphin design, good bag, and entry into the Hampton Bay Days 8K After Party.

Race Entry Fee:

Second annual Hampton Bay Days 8K                      $40

Color the Dolphin Fun Run                                        $15

Saturday, September 7

Color the Dolphin Fun Run                                        8:00 a.m.

Second annual Hampton Bay Days 8K                      8:30 a.m.

Downtown Hampton

For registration, check out www.baydays8k.com.  Interested parties can also register onsite at the festival at the Bay Days 8K booth on September 6 and 7. Packet pick up will also be held at the Bay Days 8K booth September 6 (there will be no packet pick up the day of the races). Proceeds from the Hampton Bay Days 8K benefit the Bay Days Foundation.

In 1982, Hampton Bay Days was created as a unique outlet to educate the public on the importance of the Chesapeake Bay in the Hampton Roads region, as well as the rest of Virginia and Maryland. The goal of the festival is to provide an entertaining atmosphere while ultimately serving the greater purpose of highlighting aspects of the bay and promoting its upkeep and conservation.

This year, the festival will take place September 6-8, 2013. About 150,000 people are expected to attend the 31st annual celebration in downtown Hampton. Activities include live musical entertainment, over 100 merchandise and craft vendors, a 30-minute fireworks display, bay education area, and more.

The Hampton Bay Days schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 6- Noon - 11:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 7- 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 8- Noon - 6:00 p.m.

More information on the 31st annual Hampton Bay Days can be obtained by calling 757/ 727-6348

30th Annual Hampton Bay Days Announces Full Musical Lineup

--An estimated 200,000 attendees expected to enjoy free event headlined by acts such as House & Sinnett, Heather Edwards, The Deloreans, Grant Austin Taylor Band, Lewis McGehee, and more--


Hampton, Virginia- This September 7-9, Hampton, Virginia will once again welcome an estimated 200,000 fun seekers and festival attendees to the 30th annual Hampton Bay Days. The free event, one of the largest family-friendly festivals on the entire east coast, will showcase music by artists such as Grinners Flight featuring Mike Williams, Rare Mixx, House & Sinnett, The Dharma Initiative, Heather Edwards Country All Stars, The Deloreans, The English Channel, Bobby “Blackhat” Walters Hampton Blues All Stars, Grant Austin Taylor Band, Kaycee McGhee, Lewis McGehee Family and Friends, and a special Friday night twilight performance by US Air Force Blue Aces. There are four stages of musical entertainment total: Main Stage (Mill Point Park), Wine Street Stage, Carousel Park Stage, and King and Queen Street Stage.

The fun begins on the 2012 Headliner Stage at Mill Point at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 7 with the blues-rock sound of Grinners Flight, featuring nationally-renowned drummer Mike Williams. Stroll over to the Wine Street Stage at 6:00 p.m. for a performance by the US Air Force Blue Aces.  At 7:00 p.m., head back over to the 2012 Headliner Stage at Mill Point and enjoy an eclectic dance party with Hampton Roads’ R&B “supergroup” Rare Mixx. Close out the evening at 9:00 p.m. with House & Sinnett. Jae will play a short jazz set with pianist Justin Kauflin before going into a full-on House & Sinnett show.

Come out early on Saturday, September 8 as the entertainment begins at 1:00 p.m. on the 2012 Headliner Stage at Mill Point with the unique sound of Hampton Roads’ favorites The Dharma Initiative. At 2:00 p.m., check out a performance by Chicago Blues legend Jackie Scott and The Housewreckers. The crowd will go country at 4:00 p.m. when Heather Edwards assembles a star-studded cast of Hampton Roads and Nashville pickers for Heather Edwards Country All Stars. Flash back in time to the decade of decadence, the 1980s, at 6:00 p.m. with The Deloreans. Finally, get ready for a ‘British Invasion” at Bay Days when The English Channel takes the stage at 8:00 p.m. The performance will lead right into the Hampton Bay Days Fireworks Show.

Close out the 30th annual Hampton Bay Days on Sunday, September 9, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the 2012 Headliner Stage at Mill Point with Bobby “Black Hat” Walters Hampton Blues All Stars. At 2:30 p.m., enjoy the sounds of 17-year old award-winning Norfolk-native Grant Austin Taylor Band. Bay Days welcomes home pianist and vocalist Kaycee McGehee at 3:30 p.m., followed by a set by her father, guitarist Lewis McGehee at 4:30 p.m., with Lewis McGehee Family and Friends.

In addition to all of the great musical headliners, this year Hampton Bay Days will showcase YouthBands. YouthBands was founded in April 2011 by three local Hampton musicians, Manny Manuel, B. Hem and Doug Hall each with their own children performing in three different bands. Today the Non-Profit Organization has nearly 20 bands who have performed all over Tidewater, including restaurants, public venues, city parks, parades, even for the Air Force. YouthBands has quickly grown to become Tidewater's largest youth live concert venue, supporting over 60 shows in the 2011-2012 performance season. Be sure to look for them next year at a venue near you. This year, Bay Days will showcase YouthBands on multiple stages. The bands are all comprised of teens from the Hampton Roads region. For more info, check out www.youthbands.org.

Gold Row Seating Available for $3
You too can be a V.I.P.!  Purchase a $3.00 wristband and get all-day access to Gold Row, the enclosed area in front of the Headliner Stage at Mill Point.  The area has its own beverage sales and restroom facilities. Wristbands go on sale two- hours before the first headliner act each day.

Hampton Bay Days To Re-Release Iconic Crabzilla and Space Posters During 30th Annual Festival

--Artist John Sharp set to be in attendance and sign autographs Saturday, September 8--


Hampton, Virginia- Two of the most iconic Hampton Bay Days posters, Crabzilla and Space will be re-released September 7-9, during the 30th annual festival. Only 150 copies of each poster will be available. Cost is $30 each and proceeds benefit Hampton Bay Days.

In addition to the re-release, artist John Sharp will be in attendance on Saturday, September 8 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., to sign autographs and greet attendees.  John helped create the first Hampton Bay Days poster in 1985 (the first Bay Days poster was introduced for third annual festival) with the help of the Hampton Graphics Department. Sharp created the first six Hampton Bay Days posters (1985-1990, third annual festival through eighth annual festival).

“I am flattered that Hampton Bay Days has decided to reprint the Crabzilla and Space Posters,” said artist John Sharp. “A lot of folks may not know this, but there are actually some very funny background stories attached to each of those posters.”

Sharp was working for the City of Hampton as art illustrator when he produced the first six posters for Hampton Bay Days.

“I did the Crabzilla art at home on my own time and never let the Bay Days committee see it until it was too late to make a decision on its appropriateness and sent it to the printers,” said Sharp. “It arrived just in time to be distributed to the vendor at Bay Days for sale. I was shocked the next morning when the poster was printed almost full page on the cover of the Daily Press with comments of outrage from a particular councilman and his call to have me ‘tarred and feathered’ for this obscenity. As I was preparing to leave town, the citizens of Hampton came to my rescue, and during television interviews, said they loved it and were going to buy several copies for their out- of- state friends. Later that weekend that same councilman bought six copies for himself and framed and hung one in his place of business! Even USA Today picked up the story and printed a feature about it. Crabzilla sold out quickly and I am told that they printed two more runs during Bay Days to meet the demand. The extras were not numbered or signed as was the original 500, but people brought them to me afterwards to be signed. I also remember a US soldier stationed in Guam that had read the USA Today story on Crabzilla and requested the Bay Days Committee send him one. I, being a relatively shy person, laid low for the entire weekend of the seventh annual festival and just rode it out. I knew I was not going to lose my job when the Mayor told me what a great marketing strategy I had cooked up.”

--Help needed September 7-9--

Hampton, Virginia- Hampton Bay Days , the city’s largest festival, is currently seeking volunteers for its 30th annual event, taking place September 7-9 in downtown Hampton.

Areas needing assistance include:

Beverage Control
Trash Pick-Up
Entertainment
Parking
VIP Lounge

Win a Trip for Four to the Daytona 500 with 30th Annual Hampton Bay Days

--Raffle tickets only $10 a piece--


Hampton, Virginia- Hampton Bay Days, the city’s largest annual festival, is sending one lucky person and three of their friends to the Daytona 500 February 23-25, 2013! For only $10, interested parties can purchase a raffle ticket that will allow them chance to win a trip to the highly-popular NASCAR event this winter. Only 1,000 raffle tickets will be sold.

The winner will receive a trip for four people, including roundtrip coach airfare, tickets to the Daytona 500, and hotel stay for four. Individuals must be 21 or older to purchase a raffle ticket.

The drawing will be held Saturday, September 8 at 7:00 p.m. on the Headliner Stage at Mill Point Park during the 30th annual Hampton Bay Days. The winner does not need to be in attendance.

Raffle tickets are currently on sale at Hampton Parks & Recreation, located on the 5th Floor of Hampton City Hall (22 Lincoln Street, Hampton, VA 23669). For more information, contact Cyndi Masterstaff at 757/727-8314.

In 1982, Hampton Bay Days was created as a unique outlet to educate the public on the importance of the Chesapeake Bay in the Hampton Roads region, as well as the rest of Virginia and Maryland. The goal of the festival is to provide an entertaining atmosphere while ultimately serving the greater purpose of highlighting aspects of the bay and promoting its upkeep and conservation.

This year, the festival will take place September 7-9, 2012. About 200,000 people are expected to attend the 30th anniversary celebration in downtown Hampton. Activities include live musical entertainment, over 100 merchandise and craft vendors, a 30-minute fireworks display, bay education area, and more.

The Hampton Bay Days schedule is as follows:

• Friday, September 7- Noon - 11:00 p.m.
• Saturday, September 8- 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 9- Noon - 6:00 p.m.

More information on the 30th annual Hampton Bay Days can be obtained by calling 757/ 727-1641 or by visiting www.baydays.com. Additional information can be obtained by calling the Hampton Visitor Center at 757/727-1102 or 800/487-8778.

30^th Annual Hampton Bay Days Welcomes Tidewater DockDogs Inaugural Summer Splashdown

--New three-year partnership between the two organizations sure to provide excitement--

Hampton, Virginia- The 30^th annual Hampton Bay Days, one of the largest family-friendly festivals and largest “Green” events on the entire east coast, is happy to welcome Tidewater DockDogs Inaugural Summer Splashdown! The competition will take place September 7-9 in downtown Hampton in front of the Virginia Air & Space Center on King Street. Watch as teams compete for cash, ribbons, prizes, and of course, bragging rights!

We offer a variety of media assistance that includes media passes, artist interviews, special arrangements and access to photo library. We ask that you contact us 60-days out if you plan on attending and need services.

For more press information:

Email:
 ryan@hamptoncvb.com

Address & Phone:
Hampton Bay Days
34 Wine Street, Suite A
Hampton, VA 23669

Telephone: 757.727.1641
Fax: 757.727.8313

Pictures on website courtesy of Hampton Convention & Visitor Bureau