The Good News: Highlighting the Good in Newport News
A Celebration of Culture, Creativity, and Community in the 757
Newport News is closing out the year with incredible momentum — and as Your Anime Home Girl, I love seeing our city shine, level up, and put itself on the national stage. From Food Network spotlights to festivals that bring world-class talent to our backyard, the 757 is buzzing with energy, creativity, and possibility. Here’s your dose of The Good News — highlighting some of the biggest, brightest things happening right here at home.
🎉 A Major New Festival Is Coming to Newport News (Memorial Day Weekend 2026!)
During this week’s City Council meeting, Newport News approved a $3,030,000 grant to launch a massive new festival in partnership with the Port Warwick Foundation and Global Music Touring.
This isn’t just another event — this is a trajectory-shaping moment for the city, designed to ignite downtown and spotlight Newport News as a hub where technology, culture, and community intersect.
What to expect:
Internationally recognized musical artists
Thought leaders in business, tech, and innovation
Large-scale art installations & interactive workshops
Hands-on tech experiences
Youth + community programming leading up to the event
Cultural and business showcases
With an expected $3+ million economic impact, this festival will bring new energy, opportunities, and visibility to the region. Antonio Dowe of Global Music Touring captured it perfectly:
“Together, against a backdrop of creativity, culture, and real dialogue, we'll shape the future and set a new direction for what's possible.”
This is the kind of moment that shifts a city’s story — and I cannot wait to cover it for The Good News.
🚚 Newport News Featured on The Great Food Truck Race
Newport News made a national TV appearance! The Great Food Truck Race rolled through the 757, featuring Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach as key stops toward the end of the season.
What made it extra special for me? I was there with my family, tasting food from the final four trucks as they wrapped up the season — experiencing firsthand the energy, excitement, and buzz that comes with a national production choosing our city as part of its story.
Moments like that matter. They showcase:
Our local food scene and waterfront spaces
The vibrancy of our downtown areas
The kind of atmosphere that makes people want to visit, stay, and come back
When a nationally loved show chooses Newport News as a destination — and brings families, visitors, and cameras with it — it reinforces what we already know: the 757 has flavor, character, and heart worth highlighting.
🎄 Mario + More at the Christmas Tree Lighting
This year’s City Center at Oyster Point Christmas Tree Lighting was one for the books.
The celebration brought out:
Mario, the R&B legend
Other incredible performers
Thousands of locals flooding City Center with holiday joy
It felt like a cinematic moment — lights reflecting off the fountain, families wrapped in scarves and smiles, music echoing off the buildings.
Events like this are a reminder that Newport News is stepping up, not just in economic development but in community culture — delivering moments that bring people together in the best way.
🌟 The 757 Is Rising — and The Good News Is Here to Tell the Story
From national TV spotlights to world-class performances to a groundbreaking festival on the way, Newport News is building something bigger — and doing it with momentum.
2026 already looks exciting, and I’ll be right here bringing you the neighborhood wins, city highlights, and everyday joy that prove Newport News isn’t just a place to live… it’s a place to love.
More good vibes and more Good News coming soon.
— Erika, Your Anime Home Girl 💫
