School closures, cancellations and more this weekend due to Hurricane Ian

Caitlyn Burchett, The Virginian-Pilot
Updated ·5 min read

Fall festivals, events and in-person school days are being canceled as Hampton Roads braces for prolonged rain, persistent flooding and gusty winds as Hurricane Ian moves across the southeastern region of the country.

Hurricane Ian made landfall along Florida’s west coast Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 storm. Meteorologists say the storm will move off the east coast of Florida and make a second landfall near the Georgia-South Carolina border before traveling north.

Cities across Hampton Roads could see 6-8 inches of rain, tidal flooding and gusts up to 55 mph as remnants of Ian combine with a stalled cold front from the northeast and move through the region. The nasty weather forecast prompted the cancellation or postponement of some events.

Send any closures or cancellations to tips@pilotonline.com.

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Chesapeake

  • The AutumnFest and Arbor Day has been canceled due to forecasted inclement weather. The fall festival was scheduled to take place Saturday at the Chesapeake Arboretum. The AutumnFest will not be rescheduled but an Arbor Day Ceremony will be held later this year.

  • Chesapeake’s “Fireside Chat” has been canceled. The outdoor event was slated for Saturday. It has been rescheduled for Nov. 5.

  • All Chesapeake Public Schools after-school activities for Friday have been canceled. The cancellation included YMCA after-school programs. The school division also canceled all extra-curricular activities slated for Saturday, but SAT testing will continue.

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Hampton

  • The Crawlin’ Crab 5k has been canceled due to forecasted inclement weather. The race was scheduled to take place Saturday and Sunday. The 5k will not be rescheduled this year.

  • All Hampton City Schools after-school and evening activities slated for Friday and Saturday have been canceled.

  • Hampton University postponed the grand opening ceremony of a new campus Starbucks previously slated for Friday. A new date will be announced.

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Health

  • Bon Secours free drive-thru flu shot clinics scheduled Saturday have been postponed by two weeks. The events will instead be held Oct. 15 from 8-12 p.m. in Newport News, Portsmouth and Suffolk.

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Newport News

  • The 47th annual Newport News Fall Festival has been canceled due to forecasted inclement weather. The event was scheduled to take place Friday and Saturday in Newport News Park. The festival will return in 2023.

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Norfolk

  • Norfolk Public Schools will dismiss students and staff early on Friday, in accordance to their established early release schedule. That means all students will be dismissed two hours earlier than their regular dismissal time. Additionally, all after-school and athletic activities on Friday are cancelled, including YMCA, Norfolk Parks and Recreation, Champions, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia, Southside Boys and Girls Club, and Berkley/Campostella Early Childhood Education Center.

  • Saturday’s Virginia Children’s Festival has been canceled. The festival, which is presented by Optima Health, will not be rescheduled. All ticket holders will be automatically refunded in 7-10 days.

  • The Eastern District Cheer Competition slated for Saturday has been rescheduled to Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. The event will be held at Norview High School at 6501 Chesapeake Boulevard.

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Portsmouth

  • All Portsmouth Schools weekend events and after-school activities slated for Friday have been canceled.

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Suffolk

  • The Nansemond River Cleanup slated for Oct. 1 has been rescheduled to Oct. 8.

  • Suffolk Public Schools canceled all after-school activities scheduled for Friday.

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Transit

  • Hampton Roads Transit trolley service at Oceanfront will continue through Friday, weather permitting. The Virginia Beach Wave and the Bayfront Shuttle, which was previously scheduled to end Sunday, will conclude its seasonal service Friday. Routes 30, 31, 34 and 35 will be impacted by the early conclusion of the service.

  • The Elizabeth River Ferry will suspend service Friday. Normal service hours will resume Saturday.

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Virginia Beach

  • The Neptune Festival, planned for this weekend at the Oceanfront, has been canceled, with the exception of a couple events. Organizers scrapped all “Boardwalk Weekend” events, which includes hundreds of artists and vendors on the Boardwalk, a surf contest, concerts, a parade and other activities. Events that will still happen include the international sandsculpting competition which has already begun under a tent on the beach. The tent will be open to the public for viewing on Monday and remain open through Oct. 9. Neptune’s Final Toast event featuring four-time Super Bowl champion Rocky Bleier, scheduled for Sunday, also will still be held.

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Williamsburg/James City County

  • Williamsburg’s An Occasion for the Arts was canceled. The cancellation includes all events related to the festival, including Friday’s fundraiser, An Evening for the Arts. The festival will return in 2023.

  • Busch Gardens will be closed Friday due to inclement weather. The park is scheduled to re-open at 10 a.m. Saturday.

  • The James City County Freedom Stories event has been canceled due to forecasted severe weather. The event, which was slated for Saturday at Freedom Park, is not being rescheduled at this time.

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York County

  • All after-school activities at York County School Division have been cancelled for Friday.

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North Carolina

  • Dare County schools will move to remote instruction Friday as the region is impacted by weather conditions related to Hurricane Ian. No students or staff will report to school Friday.

  • The Hatteras-based Ocracoke Express passenger ferry ended its seasonal service two days early due to poor weather conditions forecasted to impact the Outer Banks Thursday. The passenger ferry service was scheduled to end its season service Friday, but opted to conclude the season Wednesday.

  • Sound route ferries between Ocracoke, Swan Quarter, and Cedar Island have been suspended. Commuters should call ahead at 252-996-6000 to see if their ferry is running.

  • The National Park Service has postponed the 150th anniversary celebration of the first lighting of the Bodie Island Lighthouse south of Nags Head. The event will be rescheduled. The park service has also canceled lighthouse climbing and ranger-led programs at the lighthouse this Saturday.

  • The N.C. Maritime Museum in Beaufort will be closed Friday.

  • Hyde County offices will be closed Friday due to impending weather.