NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — After three years, Norfolk’s biggest event of the summer is back! That includes the famous fireworks over the Elizabeth River.

Thousands came out to the first two days of Harborfest in Town Point Park.

On Saturday, the community filled the Norfolk waterfront for live music in the park, as well as live demonstrations on the Elizabeth River.

For some, the event is extra special.

“In about a week or two we are going to be married 36 years,” said Diane Foster from Suffolk. “Our first date was at Harborfest 36 years go.”

She adds not much has changed over the past three decades – especially the boats. They’re what many people come for, including Lion Vialboaeo from Virginia Beach.

“We watched the tug boats and we were like right there,” he told 10 On Your Side.

This was the first Harborfest since 2019 since it was canceled the last two years due to COVID-19.

“It feels like we are coming back to normal,” Vialboaeo added.

Saturday night concluded with the famed fireworks over the Elizabeth River.

*Watch part of the fireworks, as seen from Tower Cam 10, in the player above.

On Friday, 10 On Your Side spent the day joining in on the festivities from the Parade of Sail in the morning to an inaugural drone show at the end of the night.

Dozens of drones twinkled over the Elizabeth River. Hearts, sailboats, aircraft carriers, mermaids, American flags and even ‘Norfolk’ lit up the sky.

We spoke with people from all over Hampton Roads who came out for the fun. For many, it was their first time at the festival.

Katharine Brownfiel and Iain Tartel spent the afternoon touring the tall ships.

“They went into all the mechanics of how it worked so they would explain how do you steer, how do you lift things, which is really cool,” Brownfiel said.

For Wayne and Sharon Johnson, Harborfest is a blast from the past. It was the first time they’ve been back to the festival in 30 years. They used to live in Richmond, just moved to Hampton Roads, saw that Harborfest was back for the weekend and decided to relive some old memories.

“It’s just nice to get out and be out and about and just enjoying people and just having fun,” Sharon Johnson stated.

If you weren’t able to make it out to Harborfest Friday or Saturday, the festival continues Sunday morning at 10 a.m.