Barry Art Museum Cancels Friday Helios Activities
Weather forced the cancellation of Friday evening events at Old Dominion University's Helios Public Arts Festival, with performances moved to Saturday.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Fine Art
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The Barry Art Museum canceled Friday evening activities for the Sixth Annual Helios Public Arts Festival at Old Dominion University due to a forecast of heavy rain and lightning. Festival performances originally planned for Friday have been moved to Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
Why it matters
Museum officials said the safety of visitors, artists and community partners is their first priority, and they consulted the university's Office of Emergency Management before making the decision. The change affects residents across Norfolk who planned to attend the free public event.
The festival's giant inflatable Helios sculpture is built at a 1:200 million scale and is being shown for the first time in North America. The Friday activities were canceled ahead of the forecast, and performances have shifted to Saturday, Nov. 7, though it is not stated whether the full schedule will be retained.
The players
Barry Art Museum
The Barry Art Museum is the Old Dominion University art museum on 43rd Street in Norfolk that hosts the festival and is undergoing a major expansion project.
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is the public research university in Norfolk that hosts the Helios Public Arts Festival and whose Office of Emergency Management was consulted on the cancellation.
Luke Jerram
Luke Jerram is the British artist who created the Helios sculpture and previously brought the installations Museum of the Moon and Mars to the ODU campus.
The details
The Sixth Annual Helios Public Arts Festival is free and open to the public outside the Barry Art Museum on 43rd Street in Norfolk, featuring the North American debut of artist Luke Jerram's illuminated sun sculpture depicting solar storms. Hands-on activities, performances and demonstrations led by university and community groups continue at the Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium and along the Elizabeth River Trail.
Timeline
Friday, Nov. 6, 2026: Barry Art Museum Friday evening activities canceled due to weather.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026: Sixth Annual Helios Public Arts Festival proceeds with expanded schedule.
Season Trajectory
The Helios festival continues a series of large-scale Luke Jerram installations at Old Dominion University that began with Museum of the Moon and Mars. The rescheduling of this year's event keeps the Helios debut on track in Norfolk's fall arts calendar.
Attendees planning to see the Helios festival should plan for Saturday, Nov. 7 rather than Friday, as the event is free and open to the public outside the Barry Art Museum on 43rd Street. Updated programming details will be posted on the museum's website and social channels before the rescheduled day.
The takeaway
Check the Barry Art Museum's website and social media before heading out, since weather-driven changes can shift when festival activities take place.
What happens next
The festival performances will take place Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, and updated programming schedules will be published on the Barry Art Museum website and social media channels ahead of that day.
Further reading
For more on public art installations in the region, browse Fine Art coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WAVY-TV 10 Hampton Roads.
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