Visiting Hampton Roads: The Great American Backyard Barbeque

photos and story by Kaitlyn Fohl

This past weekend (May 22-May 24), the boardwalk at the Virginia Beach oceanfront was bustling with excitement. In honor of Memorial Day and the start of summer, people crowded the area to take part in the Great American Backyard Barbeque.


The Great American Backyard Barbeque is a token to delicious food and soulful music. The event pays respect to the roots of American life – pulled pork, sweet country music, and the blues. It’s an event designed with the whole family in mind. The BBQ is brought to residents and visitors alike by Beach Street USA, the events program presented by the City of Virginia Beach, with concerts, festivals, and activities primarily held at the oceanfront resort area.


This year, local vendors lined the boardwalk near the 31st street and 21st street concert arenas. The sweet, smoky smell of roasted barbeque was impossible to resist while enjoying the musical talents of blues artists like Marcia Ball and Roomful of Blues, and country artists like Keith Anderson, Sammy Kershaw, and Jason Michael Carroll.

In addition to fantastic food and music, the boardwalk was also lined with essays written by Advanced Placement U.S. History students at Salem High School. The essays covered historical military events that our country has been a part of over the years. Each essay was printed on a large banner and the banners lined the boardwalk all the way from 17th street to 31st street. This display of patriotism was called the “Heroes Walk”.


To conclude the eventful weekend, fireworks lit up the night sky at ten o’clock on Sunday evening. This colorful demonstration was the perfect way to top off the American Backyard Barbeque. One can only hope next year’s barbeque bash will be just as successful and fun!


Kaitlyn Fohl is a rising sophomore at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech, Go Hokies!) in International Studies and Art. Kaitlyn is a resident of Virginia Beach and completed the Teen Apprenticeship Program at the Contemporary Art Center in 2008. For Summer 2009, Kaitlyn is an intern with the Hampton Roads Partnership covering Arts, Culture, History and Tourism with her own special flair.