Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
Featuring nearly 700,000 gallons of aquariums and live animal habitats, along with 300 hands-on exhibits and a 3D IMAX Theatre, this venue can host events ranging from a sit-down dinner for 20 to a cocktail reception up to 2,000. Habitats include a Malaysian peat swamp, the Red Sea, a coastal desert and an erupting volcano. www.virginiaaquarium.com
Virginia’s Jewel
With a capacity for 149, the luxury charter vessel Virginia’s Jewel features two enclosed climate-controlled decks with open-air areas. The 100-foot yacht plies the protected waters of Chesapeake Bay and offers guests plated and buffet-style dining. Fully accessible, a portion of the company’s profits go to ParaDocks Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free recreation to those with mobility impairments. www.virginiasjewel.com
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
A stunning showpiece, and the center of Virginia Beach’s cultural scene, the new Sandler Center for the Performing Arts offers theater-style seating for up to 1,300, and boasts a light-filled, three-story Grand Lobby for catered events under a spectacular chandelier. The venue also offers an outdoor performance plaza capable of accommodating up to 400 guests, as well as its performance hall, Miller Studio Theatre, the Bill and Anne Wood Founders Room, classrooms, and various other lobbies and outdoor performance areas. www.sandlercenter.org
Contemporary Art Center of Virginia
This architecturally impressive venue features a 4,800-square-foot atrium with a vaulted ceiling, mahogany trim and live trees, and can accommodate anywhere from 35 guests for a more-intimate affair to 350 for a gala celebration. Tents can also be added on the adjoining patio or grounds. Other options include the 1,600-square-foot Rodriguez Pavillion, boasting a 16-foot Dale Chihuly chandelier; the 268-seat Price Audiorium, with a 15-by-30-foot screen, a stage and a computerized light board for audiovisual presentations; and various galleries. The Contemporary Art Center also offers a fully equipped kitchen adjacent to the Atrium and available for use by licensed caterers. www.cacv.org