Downtown Norfolk guide: Town Point Park, Waterside, Nauticus, the NEON arts district, free two-hour garage parking, The Tide, the ferry and the free F.R.E.D. cart.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts come from the Downtown Norfolk Council, its getting around and NEON District pages, the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation, Norfolk Festevents and the attractions named, each linked.

Downtown is Norfolk’s waterfront center: Town Point Park, Waterside District, Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin sit on the Elizabeth River, and the NEON arts district and the Chrysler Museum of Art are a short walk away. The Downtown Norfolk Council, founded in 1979, manages the 50-block Downtown Improvement District and runs the Grand Illumination Parade.

Who to call

  • Downtown Norfolk Council: downtownnorfolk.org
  • City services, parking questions: Norfolk Cares, 757-664-6510
  • Police, not an emergency: 757-441-5610
  • Emergency: 911

On the waterfront

  • Town Point Park: the waterfront park where the Fourth of July fireworks and the Yule Log Bonfire are held. TowneBank Fountain Park, its interactive fountain, sits beside Waterside Marina (fountain).
  • Waterside District, Waterside Drive: restaurants and bars, the Miracle on Waterside Drive holiday pop-up and the NYE Live party (watersidedistrict.com).
  • Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin, 1 Waterside Drive: the maritime museum and the last battleship built by the U.S. Navy (nauticus.org).
  • The Pagoda and Oriental Garden, beside Nauticus, on the Elizabeth River Trail.
  • Elizabeth River Trail: the 10.5-mile trail’s Downtown Waterfront section runs past Waterside Marina, Town Point Park and the Wisconsin; see walking and biking trails.

Museums and history

  • MacArthur Memorial, 198 Bank St.: museum and research center on Gen. Douglas MacArthur, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (macarthurmemorial.org).
  • Chrysler Museum of Art, One Memorial Place: always free, with free parking; open Tuesday through Sunday (visit).
  • Moses Myers House, 323 E. Freemason St., run by the Chrysler: open noon to 5 p.m. weekends.
  • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the historic streets of the Freemason district; see our history and landmarks guide.
  • Slover Library, 235 E. Plume St., the downtown branch of Norfolk Public Library.

The NEON District

NEON, for New Energy Of Norfolk, is the city’s first official arts district, the council says. The Chrysler Museum and the Harrison Opera House anchor it; within a few blocks are murals, improv at Push Comedy Theater, live glassmaking, shops, tattoo studios and restaurants. Mural tours and events are on neonnfk.com.

Theaters and arenas

The city’s Seven Venues run Chrysler Hall, the Harrison Opera House, the Wells Theatre, the Attucks Theatre and Scope Arena; schedules are on sevenvenues.com. See our live music and nightlife guide.

Parking and getting around

From the council’s getting around page:

  • Street meters have a 2-hour limit (15 minutes in front of Waterside). Metered parking is free daily after 6 p.m., for two hours within posted times on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all day Sunday. Pay by phone with ParkNorfolk.
  • Garages: the city’s Division of Parking has more than 19,000 public spaces downtown. The council lists free two-hour parking at garages including Bank Street (441 Bank St.), Boush Street (112 W. City Hall Ave.), Charlotte Street (440 Monticello Ave.), Fountain Park (130 Bank St.) and Scope (201 E. Brambleton Ave.) (list).
  • The Tide light rail runs 7.4 miles from Eastern Virginia Medical Center through downtown to Newtown Road, with 11 stops; trains run every 10 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day.
  • Elizabeth River Ferry: paddlewheel ferries run from Waterside to North Landing and High Street in Portsmouth, every 30 minutes and more often at busy times (HRT).
  • F.R.E.D. (Free Ride Every Day): a free electric cart for up to five riders inside the Downtown Improvement District, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; riders must be over 8.
  • Lime scooters and bikes, and Pedego electric bike rentals.

Big downtown events

  • Norfolk Harborfest, the free maritime festival on the downtown waterfront; its 50th edition was June 19-21, 2026 (Festevents).
  • Grand Illumination Parade, 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026; see Christmas parade and tree lighting.
  • Holiday Yule Log Bonfire and Holiday Marketplace, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, at Town Point Park.

What is changing

MacArthur Center, the downtown mall, was scheduled to close by June 30, 2026, so the city can redevelop the site, its announcement said.

What this means for you

  • Park free on Sundays and weekday evenings at street meters, or use a free two-hour garage.
  • The council’s Public Service Ambassadors help visitors downtown and run a safety escort service.

Related guides: getting around, brunch in Norfolk and date night in Norfolk.

Frequently asked questions

Is there free parking in downtown Norfolk?

Metered street parking is free daily after 6 p.m., for two hours within posted times on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all day Sunday. The Downtown Norfolk Council also lists garages with free two-hour parking, including Bank Street, Boush Street and Scope.

What is the NEON District in Norfolk?

Norfolk’s first official arts district, in downtown, anchored by the Chrysler Museum of Art and the Harrison Opera House, with murals, Push Comedy Theater and glassmaking demonstrations.

How do I get around downtown Norfolk without a car?

The Tide light rail runs 7.4 miles through downtown with 11 stops, the Elizabeth River Ferry crosses to Portsmouth from Waterside, and F.R.E.D., a free electric cart, gives rides inside the Downtown Improvement District.

Is MacArthur Center still open?

No. The city scheduled the downtown mall to close by June 30, 2026, for redevelopment.