CW Planner

Growing a Colonial Garden

Explore this garden filled with vegetables and perfumed by heirloom roses and herbs.

A Neighbor Stops By

Tour Bassett Hall and meet a close friend of the Rockefellers. Mrs. George P. Coleman, a long-time Williamsburg resident, became a personal friend of the Rockefellers during the restoration of Williamsburg.

American Indian Life Series

A different program each day will examine a specific aspect of American Indian history, society, and role in the American story.

Arboretum Walk: Griffin Campus

Discover Colonial Williamsburg’s Arboretum and some of the trees and woody shrubs that make up its collection (some of which are state champions!).

Bassett Hall Garden Walk

Enjoy a walk in the Rockefellers' garden with a Bassett Hall interpreter. Regular ticket required, along with a no-cost reservation ticket that can be picked up at any ticket office.

Behind the Wythe House

Explore the yard of the Wythe House. Discuss Enlightenment thinking and the ideas that shaped the Revolution.

Behind-the-Scenes Tour at Bruton Heights

Explore historic preservation and research with the experts. Approx. 90 minutes.

Brickyard Work

Discover the process of making bricks that will be used in building projects around town.

Capitol Exploration

Take a guided tour of the first floor of the Capitol. Learn about the founding principles of our government and your rights and responsibilities as citizens of a new republic.

Carpenter's Yard

Discover how the carpenters use hand tools to transform trees into lumber and lumber into buildings.

Chownings' July 4th Celebration Pig Roast

Chownings' July 4th Celebration Pig Roast

Colonial Williamsburg Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Venture behind-the-scenes on a two-hour walking tour and discover little-known facts and secrets that only a private tour guide can tell you. Learn the complexities of preserving and recreating Williamsburg’s buildings as y…

Compounding 18th-century Medicines

Gain insight into the dynamics of 18th-century professional pharmacy from the medicines and applications, to the tools and equipment.

Courthouse Exploration

Experience justice in the 18th century. Discover how the courthouse connects colonists to their community. Guest entry every 15 minutes

Created Equal

This museum theatre experience explores African American perspectives on the Declaration of Independence.

Cry Witch

Question witnesses, weigh evidence, and determine the guilt or innocence of "the Virginia Witch." Not appropriate for young children due to subject matter and intense emotion.

Dancing at the Governor's Palace

Decorative Pruning of Fruit Trees in the 18th Century

Learn about decorative pruning of fruit trees in the 18th-century with the Colonial Gardeners.

Donor Visit with a Nation Builder

Donors who contribute $250 or more annually to the Colonial Williamsburg Fund are invited to visit with a Nation Builder. A free ticket is required.

Embroidery, a Branch of the Millinery Trade

Milliners often advertise that they practice "the trade in all its branches." Visit the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop as they highlight different branches, including embroidery.

Entertainments at the Play House

See the theatrical entertainments of The Jug Broke Theatre Co. Enjoyment for all! Check the marquee by the stage for daily performances.

Freedom's Paradox: The Randolph House Tour

Take a 90-minute walking tour of the Randolph House, Market Square and Palace Green. Explore the paradox of the institution of slavery and the movement for independence by looking at the experiences of the free and enslaved…

Hairweaving Done Right

Learn the trade secrets of hairweaving from making men's queues to lady's curls, false braids, buns and chignons in this three hour workshop.

Handsewing Stitches for Embroidery

Practice five basic embroidery stitches using wool yarns dyed by the Historic Weavers and Dyers oni this workshop.

Haunted Williamsburg

Brave centuries of scares, from 18th-century colonial ghost stories to creepy modern-day encounters!

Instruments from the Collection Concert

Join The Governor’s Musick, our resident ensemble, as they bring authentic pieces from the Colonial Williamsburg antique instrument collection to life.

July 4th Auction

Every stone has been turned to find the finest of wares for our Independence Day auction. Items include hand forged cressets, fine American furniture pieces and more!

Military Activity

Come explore the Magazine Yard and discover how this military storehouse and Virginia's diverse peoples shaped an empire and defined a new nation.

Mr. Jefferson's Palace Garden Party

Join us for an immersive 18th-century Autumn garden party at the Governor’s Palace. Welcomed by their host Mr. Thomas Jefferson, guests will enjoy the seasonal enchantments with libations, traditional music, dancing, and th…

Mrs. Shields' Presents The Pig & The Stein

Mrs. Shields' invites you to The Pig and The Pint, her harvest home feast. Come join her in the covered Pavilion of Shields Tavern Whole Roasted Pig and Ale! Shields' Pavilion. Separate prepaid ticket required.

My Story; My Voice

Witness a compelling story from the life of an 18th century person, and then hear from the actor interpreter as they share how they discover and bring to life a voice from the past

Official Ghost Walk Junior

Everyone loves a haunted tale! Bring the entire family for all of the phantom fun with none of the nightmares.

One Knot at a Time

Join our Wigmakers to learn the art of hand-knotting, a technique used in material culture for centuries.

Order in the Court

Participate in a re-enactment of an 18th-century trial.

Palace Concert

Colonial Williamsburg's early music ensemble, the Governor's Musick, offers an elegant evening of chamber music.

Palace Exploration

Experience the grandeur of royal government in Virginia just before its collapse. Explore the first floor of the residence of Virginia's last royal governor at your own pace.

Pub Crawl

Experience an historical pub crawl filled with drinks and revelry, where the stories of a libation’s origins are paired with pours of the drinks themselves!

Randolph Yard Exploration

Explore the kitchen building and yard of the Randolph House at your own pace. Learn about the paradox of the Randolph household, home to 27 enslaved people and the Randolph family.

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Gather with the citizens of Williamsburg on July 25, 1776 to hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Rediscover Custis Square

Take a guided tour and talk with archaeologists in the field about the current archaeological investigations at John Custis IV’s 4-acre home and early 18th century gardens.

Renegade Tours

Do you want to catch the stories that most Colonial Williamsburg interpreters will never tell? Do you want to discover the Bizarre, the Strange, the Wild of the 18th-century past? This fun, fast-paced walking tour explore…

Rubbish, Treasures, and Colonial Life: The Archaeology Labs

View archaeological artifacts in the setting in which they're studied, and learn about the archaeological staff's current research.

Specialist Tour

Join one of our specialists on a tour of The Rockefellers' Bassett Hall. Free reservation required. Space is limited for this program. To book your reservation, please visit a ticket office or call our Guest Services …

Tall Treasures

Take a guided walking tour focusing on the trees that line Williamsburg streets. Learn the identification of several species and their colonial uses.

The Public Armoury

Witness the effort of diverse individuals to support the Revolutionary War at this industrial complex.

To Hang a Pirate

Join with us in a trial of a member of the crew of Blackbeard the pirate that actually occurred in Williamsburg in 1719. Hear the evidence and make a judgment!

Trial of a Patriot

Enjoy this alternative-history trial, where you question witnesses, weigh the evidence, and determine the fate of an American Patriot.

Veterans Day Memorial Service

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Williamsburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honor veterans passed with a memorial service including patriotic exercises and memorial wreath-laying in the Revoluti…

Veterans Day Proclamation Ceremony

Our Veterans Day programming begins with a brief ceremony honoring the men and women who have served in the military branches of the United States Armed Forces on Duke of Gloucester Street, in front of the Liberty Lounge en…

Veterans Day: A Military March Honoring America's Veterans

A march and ceremony honors America's veterans, featuring the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums, Military Programs staff, and an address of gratitude to Williamsburg community veterans by Mrs. Washington. This concludes …

Visit A Nation Builder-Young Gowan Pamphlet

Step into the past with young Gowan Pamphlet.

Visit a Nation Builder

Step into the past with a Nation Builder and learn about their contribution to the founding of our nation.

Visit a Nation Builder- Aggy of Turkey Island

Step into the past with Aggy of Turkey Island, Entangled with her master; fighting for her family's freedom.

Visit a Nation Builder- Ann Wager

Step into the past with Ann Wager, Educator of free and enslaved children.

Visit a Nation Builder- Clementina Rind

Step into the past with Clementina Rind, Mistress of a Free Press.

Visit a Nation Builder- Edith Cumbo

Step into the past with Edith Cumbo, Free Black Sister, Mother, Fighter, Founder.

Visit a Nation Builder- General George Washington

Step into the past with George Washington, Father of the Country.

Visit a Nation Builder- George Mason

Step into the past with George Mason, Father of American Rights.

Visit a Nation Builder- George Wythe

Step into the past with George Wythe, teacher, lawyer, judge, and revolutionary.

Visit a Nation Builder- James Madison

Step into the past with James Madison, Scholar Statesman.

Visit a Nation Builder- Marquis de Lafayette

Step into the past with the Marquis de Lafayette, French Hero of Two Worlds.

Visit a Nation Builder- Martha Washington

Step into the past with Martha Washington, our Nation's first First Lady.

Visit a Nation Builder- Patrick Henry

Step into the past with Patrick Henry, the Revolution's Son of Thunder.

Visit a Nation Builder- Thomas Jefferson

Step into the past with Thomas Jefferson, The Rebellious Philosophe.

Visit a Nation Builder- young George Washington

Step into the past with young George Washington, Colonel of the Virginia Regiment.

Weavers at Work

Watch how flax, cotton, and wool are converted from tangled masses into orderly, precise fabrics.

Weaving Workshop

Try your hand at weaving in this class for all levels of experience.