CAPE CHARLES, Va. — Cape Charles’ first Festive Friday event drew approximately 4,800 visitors between 5 and 8 p.m., according to foot-traffic data from analytics firm Placer AI, highlighting the event’s growing regional appeal.
The data shows that while local residents made up a significant portion of attendees, the event also attracted visitors from across Virginia and beyond. The largest share of visitors came from Northampton County, with an estimated 1,400 people, followed by Virginia Beach with 662 visitors and Accomack County with 272.
Among individual ZIP codes, Cape Charles’ 23310 led with 627 visitors. Other top ZIP codes included 23350 (Exmore) with 316 visitors, 23059 (Glen Allen) with 147, and several Virginia Beach ZIP codes — 23454, 23452, and 23455 — each contributing more than 125 visitors.
Out-of-state attendance was also recorded, with visitors traveling from Camden, New Jersey; Stamford, Connecticut; and New York City, including ZIP codes in Queens and Manhattan. Smaller but notable visitor counts also came from Fairfax, Richmond, Chesapeake, and Norfolk.
Town officials and business owners have said Festive Fridays are designed to boost evening foot traffic, support local merchants, and create a community gathering atmosphere during the holiday season. The Placer AI data suggests the event is meeting those goals by drawing both residents and visitors from across the Mid-Atlantic region.
Additional data from future Festive Friday events is expected to provide further insight into attendance trends and visitor behavior as the season continues.
About the Author
Color regarding Festive Fridays on Facebook was much less enthusiastic. I don’t know the truth but blaming an unelected volunteer committee is pointless. Town Council is to blame as they continue to insulate themselves from responsibility with unelected volunteers and consultants. Maybe today would be a good day to make a list of Town Council’s 2025 accomplishments:
1) master beach plan? nope
2) harbor master pan? nope
3) permanent town hall? nope
4) a downtown bathroom? nope
5) a bike path? yes
5.1) an unbudgeted perpetual obligation to
maintain the bike path? yes
6) a zoning amendment allowing multi family housing on any parcel? yes
I am sure I missed some things so feel free to add.