SOMETHING IN THE WATER is an accessible event, and we are dedicated to continually improving our efforts to ensure you have access to all the event amenities. We welcome and encourage all feedback and suggestions from our patrons. The following explains the services provided this year. Please read this informational guide thoroughly before sending an inquiry email. For any accessibility-related questions not answered in the guide, please email us at ada@somethinginthewater.com. We will do our best to assist you and address your accessibility needs.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
The venue is navigable for people with mobility disabilities. The event is held on the beach and is mostly sandy terrain. There are accessible routes connected throughout the venue including parking, entrances, stages, ADA viewing areas, vendors, and other activity areas. We encourage all guests with mobility disabilities to utilize personal forms of transportation, including wheelchairs and scooters. Crutches, walkers and canes are permitted as well to be brought into the event. If you need to recharge your motorized mobility device, you may do so at the Accessibility Services Hub. Patrons should bring all cords and accessories needed to charge their devices. Chargers must use a 110-volt, 20 amp circuit.
We will not be providing wheelchair or scooter rentals.
ADA PARKING
There will be limited-to-no public parking available in the immediate area near the festival. We do not recommend driving to the area on event days. We encourage all festival attendees to make use of the park and ride from the amphitheater. There will be accessible shuttles from the ampitheater to the festival.
RIDESHARE LOT
The designated rideshare, taxi, and pickup/drop off area is located on Monroe Avenue, adjacent to the parking lot of the Virginia Beach Sports Center at 1045 19th St, Virginia Beach, VA.
Drivers can enter from Jefferson Avenue (966 Jefferson Ave, Virginia Beach, VA 23451) and drop off along Monroe Avenue.
Access to Atlantic Ave and its cross streets will be restricted during the event; therefore, rideshare, taxi, and friends/family picking up or dropping off patrons for the event will not be permitted to do so in the immediate area near the venue and will be directed to Monroe Avenue.
OFFSITE ACCESSIBLE SHUTTLES
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater Shuttles
Shuttle Passes are sold out.
SOMETHING IN THE WATER is excited to offer a safe and comfortable pre-paid, park & ride, shuttle service from the Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach to the festival entrance. Shuttles begin running each day at 12PM on Friday & Saturday and 1PM on Sunday.
Shuttles depart from the Veterans Home Loans Amphitheater (3550 Cellar Door Way, Virginia Beach, VA). After the show, follow directional signage at festival exits to the shuttle departure location; shuttles will depart from where you were dropped off. Outbound shuttles will conclude 60 minutes after the music ends each day.
There will be limited-to-no public parking available in the immediate area near the festival. We encourage all festival attendees to make use of public transportation or our park & ride shuttle service (carpooling is strongly encouraged).
Please review our Shuttle FAQs for more information.
ADA ENTRANCE
There will be an Accessible Entry lane at every entrance into the festival. However, disabled guests are encouraged to enter through the 6th Street VIP entrance. The Accessibility Services Hub will be located immediately inside this entrance..
ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES HUB
The Accessibility Services Hub is located at the VIP Entrance at 6th/Atlantic Ave
Please Note: You must stop here to get your ADA wristband credential. There is no ADA pre-registration before the event - this is all done onsite at the event.
There will be an Accessibility Services Hub, location will be updated closer to the event dates. The exact location of this hub will be labeled on the event map when it is released. At this location, you can:
Get your ADA wristband credential
Get your ADA questions answered
Learn about our accessibility services
Wristband Policies
ADA wristbands are good for the whole weekend
DO NOT remove your wristband for the entire duration of the event
One companion wristband will be issued for each disabled patron (exceptions will be made for families with young children)
If a disabled guest wants to switch their companion, please bring the old companion wristband to the Accessibility Services Hub to be reissued
ACCESSIBLE VIEWING AREAS
There will be accessible viewing areas made available to ADA patrons at designated stages. For more information on how to gain access to these areas, please visit us at the Accessibility Services Hub.
Accessible Viewing Area Policies:
Companions may be asked to stand in the back if capacity is reached
Patrons and companions may not smoke in these areas
Patrons may not save spots
Do not block the view of the guests behind you
Seating is first come, first served
SERVICE ANIMALS
Service animals are permitted throughout the venue. However, this does not include emotional support animals, therapy animals, or companion animals. Any animal whose task is to provide protection, emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship is not considered a service animal and will not be allowed into the venue. Only service animals that have been individually trained and are under the proper care of their owners will be allowed within the premises.
The following guidelines must be followed:
All service animals must be registered with the ADA department upon entry into the event
All service animals must remain by the handler’s side at all times and must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered. If these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or if the handler’s disability prevents the use of these devices, the handler must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls
Service animals must be housebroken and should use the service animal relief area
Anyone bringing an animal will be responsible for and liable for any damage or injury caused by the animal
All service animals should have legally required vaccinations (which ADA staff may ask to see for verification)
We ask that you do not leave your animal in your car while you're inside the event, as vehicles without air conditioning on may become too hot and unsafe for any animal.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION REQUESTS
We accept requests for any of the following services:
ASL Interpretation
Other forms of Effective Communication
Requests for these services must be emailed to us at least 30 days prior to the event to allow for sufficient preparation. The deadline for this event is April 7th, 2023. To submit a request, please fill out the Effective Communication Request Form.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
First Aid: We have several First Aid locations throughout the venue, noted on the event maps and mobile app, if available. Professional medical staff can help you with your medical needs at these locations.
Special Dietary Needs: The event will have food vendors that provide gluten-free dietary options. For those with special dietary needs beyond what will be offered at the event, please contact us at ada@somethinginthewater.com for further assistance.
Prescription Medications: All prescription medications must be in the original manufacturer container with your name on it, which matches your government-issued photo ID. Please only bring a sufficient amount of medication for the duration of the event. Your medications must be cleared by the medic team at the event entry.
Other Services: If you would like to request large format print/braille literature, guided tours for guests with visual disabilities, assisted listening device systems or another accommodation not listed, please reach out to us at ada@somethinginthewater.com. If you require assistance due to pregnancy/nursing, please reach out to the event's information email address at ada@somethinginthewater.com.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & SUGGESTIONS
SOMETHING IN THE WATER will consider any request by a guest with a disability for reasonable modification of its policies, practices or procedures or for auxiliary aids and services that will permit the guest equal enjoyment of the goods and services offered at the event. We encourage you to make any such request as far in advance as possible to enhance our ability to evaluate and fulfill the request.
In continually trying to make our event more accessible, we encourage you to contact us at SOMETHING IN THE WATER for any of your accessibility-related needs. Additionally, if you have any questions about ADA policies or our services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us ada@somethinginthewater.com.
We hope you find this guide informative, we look forward to seeing you at SOMETHING IN THE WATER 2023!