CW Planner

(re)educate

This theatrical performance explores the agency of free and enslaved students of the Williamsburg Bray School and the legacies of their lessons.

18th-Century Field Music with the Fifes & Drums

Watch and listen to the Fifes and Drums as they demonstrate the music and drill of various military ceremonies from an 18th-century soldier's working day.

90 Years of Folk Art Collecting

Join Laura Barry, curator, to discuss Colonial Williamsburg's 90 years of folk art collecting.

A Congressional Curriculum

Join James Madison for a crash course in government from some of history’s greatest philosophers and thinkers.

A Discussion of Military Topics

Join the Magazine staff to discuss a topic relating to 18th-century military history.

A Shoemaking Primer

Participants will receive an introduction to shoemaking and learn what you need to run a successful shop. We will cover measuring, fitting, and picking out the right materials.

A Soldier's Journey

Meet John Jarret Carter, a solider in Washington’s army and a barkeep in Williamsburg. The year is 1781 and Williamsburg stands on brink of invasion!

A Wooing We Will Go

Two men, Benedict and Ferdinand, try to win over the same woman, Isabella, in this fast-paced comedy written in the style of an 18th-century farce.

Acoustic Guitar Recital

Enjoy this recital by Louis Vangieri, from Williamsburg, Virginia as you experience the sights and sounds of this beautiful 300+ year old worship center.

Acting How To

Learn about the new acting style published in the 1753 edition of Aaron Hill's Essay on the Art of Acting. Then test out the styles for yourself!

Ales Through the Ages 2022

An exciting weekend of beer & history.

All Things Masonry

Tour the town through the eyes of our Brickmakers as they share the stories behind the buildings in this one-hour walking tour.

All Things are Possible

On September 5, 1791, Robert Carter III recorded an extraordinary document. Why did the largest slaveholder in Virginia do what most of his peers consider impossible?

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.

American Stories

Based on his new book, Paul Aron, Colonial Williamsburg editor, discusses the origins and evolution of our founding stories and myths.

An Apprentice Founder's Workday

Learn about the daily routine of an apprentice at the Geddy Foundry by completing from start to finish a pewter spoon to take home.

An Assemblage of Wares: Tinware in the Home

Through the lens of ongoing research, we will explore who was using tinware, where it shows up, and what kind of price tag it had in 18th-century Virginia.

Arboretum Tour - Central Historic Area

Learn about some of Colonial Williamsburg's most asked about trees, how the colonists used them and why they continue to be important today.

Arboretum Walk: Griffin Campus

Find out about Colonial Williamsburg’s Arboretum and the native and exotic trees and shrubs that make up its collection, some of which are uncommon in commercial landscapes.

Archaeology Behind the Scenes

Visit the Archaeological Lab for a guided tour and learn about a century of archaeological discovery at Colonial Williamsburg!

Are You Hot in those Clothes?

Explore how the right clothing helped 18th-century Virginians beat the extreme summer heat and humidity.

Armoury Activity Stations for Home Educators

Explore Anderson’s armoury compound and learn about the demands that war placed on Williamsburg’s industry.

Art Museum Members: Behind the Scenes

Art Museum Members are invited to join us for a private tour behind the scenes with Mary Cottrill, manager of museum operations and the Hennage Auditorium.

Art Museums Members: Making Music in Early America

Art Museum Members are invited to a private tour of the exhibition "Making Music in Early America" with Amanda Keller, musical instruments curator. Meet Amanda in Wolf Hall.

At a Glance

Join us on a 20-minute guided tour and enjoy some Museum favorites at a glance.

Baroque Violin & Cello Recital: 18th Century Music

Enjoy a Baroque Violin & Cello recital by Sophie Genevieve Lowe, Baroque Violin; Ryan Lowe, Baroque Cello; Rebecca Davy, Harpsichord.

Bits and Bridles

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our modern stables and learn more about our carriages.

Botanical Art Workshop

Learn methods to capture the botanical world in watercolor from Linda C. Miller, a local artist. This two-day workshop, with an optional third day, is for all artists.

Botanical Art Workshop - Optional

Learn methods to capture the botanical world in watercolor from Linda C. Miller, a local artist in this optional third day of the Botanical Art Workshop.

Capitol Activity Stations for Home Educators

Learn about the founding principles of our government and your rights and responsibilities.

Clothing Enslaved People in Colonial Virginia

This lecture will explore some of the complex relationships between apparel, labor, identity, and enslavement.

Coffee Cantata

Mrs. Charlton’s daughter is in love with the delicious juice of the coffee bean! A comedic ballad opera, based on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Coffee Cantata.

Colonial Williamsburg's Rare Breeds Program

Learn about the rare breeds of livestock that live at Colonial Williamsburg.

Constitution Day Event

Colonial Williamsburg celebrates the signing of the U.S. Constitution with a free event, "To Support and Defend" on the lawn in front of the Art Museums.

Cost of War

Colonel George Washington discusses the Seven Years' War and its high cost on combatants and non-combatants alike.

Created Equal

This performance 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.

Crystal Concert

Dean Shostak shares the music and stories of Benjamin Franklin's glass armonica. This multi-media concert features new and antique glass instruments from around the world.

Custis Square Community Open House

Join us for a day of archaeology at Custis Square! Free flow exploration all day and conversations with George and Martha Washington.

DIY - Decorating Grapevine Wreaths

In this hands-on workshop, Colonial Williamsburg's Landscape Designers will show how to decorate a grapevine wreath with natural materials the participant can take home.

DIY: Centerpieces

In this hands-on class, you will learn how to make a garden-inspired centerpiece, perfect for your end table or mantel.

Designing Virginia's Seal

Join George Mason and George Wythe as members of the committee to design the new seal of a free and independent Virginia.

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.

Draw Thy Sword

Sword fights ensue as we explore combat weapons and the works of William Shakespeare.

Drawing the Line

Lord Dunmore, the last Royal Governor of Virginia, finalizes his proclamation issuing martial law and offering freedom to enslaved people owned by those rebelling against the King.

Dye Day at the Weaving Shop

Join us as natural dyes and dye recipes of the 18th century are recreated to achieve a spectrum of dazzling colors.

Expert Insights: 18th Century Black Cabinetmakers

Join Tara Chicirda, furniture curator, as she offers an in-depth look at the Black cabinetmakers featured in the “I Made This” exhibition.

Expert Insights: African American Quiltmakers

Join Kim Ivey, textile curator, as she offers an in-depth look at Black quilters in the Colonial Williamsburg collection and in the “I Made This” exhibition.

Expert Insights: Archaeology Update

Join our archaeologists as they share what we have learned from our current archaeological sites and new research into our artifact collections.

Expert Insights: Black Potters

Join Angelika Kuettner, ceramics curator, as she offers an in-depth look at the Black potters featured in the “I Made This” exhibition and other museum galleries.

Expert Insights: Cesar Chelor and Jethro Jones

Join Scott Merrifield, architectural historian, as he offers an in-depth look at the Black toolmakers, Cesar Chelor and Jethro Jones featured in the “I Made This” exhibition.

Faith, Hope, and Love

An uplifting story invites you to imagine what it costs to pursue love and freedom in an enslaved society.

Fall Sidewalk Sale

Support local merchants during our Fall Sidewalk Sale! With more than 40 modern-day shops and dining locations, you'll find unique gifts, accessories and more!

Finding First Baptist Church

Join Meredith Poole, archaeologist, and Connie Harshaw, president of the Let Freedom Ring Foundation, for an update on findings at the First Baptist Church archaeological site.

Fire a Flintlock Musket

Fire live rounds at a target from two different reproduction 18th-century flintlock firearms used during the Revolutionary War.

Firing the Brick Kiln

Fall is time to fire the bricks! Come see the kiln fires rage as the bricks reach a temperature of over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

First Baptist Archaeology Community Open House

Join us for a day of archaeology on the original site of the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg! Explore the site and check out recently uncovered artifacts from 10am to 4pm.

Freedom's Paradox

Explore the paradox of the institution of slavery and the movement for independence in a 60-minute walking tour that begins and ends at the Randolph Yard.

From Excavation to Interpretation

Join a Nation Builder and a Colonial Williamsburg Archaeologist as they discuss important sites in Williamsburg from the 18th century to today.

From Freedom to Slavery

After making a free life for herself as an adopted Shawnee Indian, Methotaskee is brought back into slavery.

George and Martha and John and Abigail

Professor Peter Henriques explores the marriages of the Washingtons and Adams.

Ghost Walk Junior

Calling guests of all ages! Enjoy this 45-minute ghost tour of traditional spooky stories with a Colonial Williamsburg flavor. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Good Progress

Meet Mrs. Wager, teacher of the Williamsburg Bray School, as she debates the nature of her school with Elizabeth DeRosario, a free Black woman.

Good Stories about Great Stuff

Discover who created the object, who owned it, and how it ended up in our collection. Each week an object will be examined by a curator, educator, or conservator.

Governor’s Musick at the Raleigh Tavern

Visit with members of the Governor’s Musick to explore music in colonial Virginia and explore the ways in which music was an important part of everyone’s life. Limited capacity.

Harpsichord Battle Sonatas

Learn how the evolving and bombastic battle sonata helped shape an American musical identity separate from our British ancestors.

Haunted Williamsburg

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

Highland Jubilee

In this interpretive concert, the Jug Broke Theatre Co. plays the tunes, songs, and poetry of Scottish origin that would have been heard here in Williamsburg.

Historic Organ Recital - Norman Elton

Norman Elton, organist at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, gives a recital on the Historic English Chamber Organ, one of Colonial Williamsburg's 18th-century instruments.

Historic Organ Recital - Rebecca Davy

Rebecca Davy, Music Director at Bruton Parish Church, gives a recital on the Historic English Chamber Organ, one of Colonial Williamsburg's 18th-century instruments.

Historic Organ Recital - Sarah Bland

Sarah Bland, organist at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church, gives a recital on the Historic English Chamber Organ, one of Colonial Williamsburg's 18th-century instruments.

Home Educators: Private Tour of the Capitol

Students and their families are invited on an engaging and interactive tour of the Capitol building.

Home Educators: Private Tour of the Palace

Students and their families are invited on a private tour of the Governor’s Palace.

How Did They Survive?

Join Journeyman Carpenter Ayinde Martin to discuss enslaved people in Colonial Virginia and their survival techniques and skills.

In Defense of Our Liberty

Enlist in the Continental Army, become a recruit, and see what it was like to be a soldier in the 18th century. Minimum required age of 9 to participate.

Intersections

The Williamsburg community comes to life in this street theatre experience exploring the daily lives of ordinary people during extraordinary times.

Isaac Bickerstaff: The Deed Without A Name

Discover the tale of this musical theater playwright, who lost his career due to public exposure of his homosexuality. Mature subject matter, audience discretion advised.

Judith and Daniel

Judith and Daniel, an enslaved couple, anxiously await their reunion after a year apart. Learn the tragic story resulting in their separation.

Kids in the Taverns Tour

Try your hand at some of the responsibilities children held in Williamsburg’s 18th-century taverns.

Lighting of the Cressets

Join us on the historic Duke of Gloucester Street as we bring our 18th-century streets to life at night.

Lives Stitched Together

Join our modern milliners as they discuss what they have learned about the work and lives of the free and enslaved women who worked in the Millinery Shop in the 18th century.

Loquacious Lucy, Queen for a Day

When Lucy, a loquacious enslaved child, learns that her friend has been sold, her father must teach her hard lessons about slavery and instill in her the pride of her ancestors.

Lucinda and the Lottery

Based on a story from The Christmas Frolick (1775), Lucinda, a charming young heiress, devises a stratagem to test whose love is true.

Madrigals, Catches and Glees, Oh My

From England to America, join the Governor’s Musick ensemble as it traces the journey of a form of vocal music where “each man takes his part.”

Make According to Art

Discover 18th-century insights into the practice of pharmacy and pharmacy education.

Make a Bracelet

Make a copper bracelet with the Silversmiths.

Make a Stitched Book and Decorative Paste Paper

Book Binders will show different types of books and book sections. Each participant will make a booklet to keep and make a paste sheet for later pickup.

Meet the Gardener

Garden volunteers answer questions about growing flowers and vegetables in the Historic Area.

Military Activity

Take part in activities relating to 18th-century military life and experience what it would be like to be a common soldier of the Revolution.

Military Walking Tour

Join a member of Military Programs for a walking tour discussing various parts of town relating to 18th-century military history.

Mind the Music and the Step

Join members of the Governor’s Musick for an exploration of the political lyrics set to popular tunes at the time of the American Revolution.

More Labor than Ingenuity

Families will be able to experience some of the major elements of the Wheelwright’s trade.

Museum Murder Mystery: Murder in the Music Gallery

The museum photographer has been found murdered in the gallery! Join the team and collaborate with other investigators to solve a fictitious murder.

Music of Queen Anne's World

The Jug Broke Theatre Co. explores tunes and songs that wove themselves through the fabric of this important transitional time in our nation's history.

My Dear Madam

Mrs. Washington reflects on her life in the public eye and how her friendship with Mrs. Adams has shaped the role of the president’s lady.

My Story, My Voice - Joseph Martin, Indian Agent

Joseph Lynch Martin, agent of Indian Affairs, returns home to Virginia and is confronted by his teenage son about his new Cherokee wife.

My Story, My Voice - Sam's War

Sam, a formerly enslaved soldier, tells us his heroic story of self-liberation, encounters with the Shawnee, his supposed enemy, and those who enslaved him.

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

Nation Builder at the Encampment

Visit an interpretive camp of a small American Indian delegation, and a Nation Builder discussing their relationships and interactions with indigenous peoples.

Nation Builder on Palace Green

Meet a Nation Builder for a conversation on Palace Green.

Nation Builders Discuss War and Conflict

Join two Nation Builders as they discuss war and conflict.

Nation Builders Discuss the Cost of Freedom

Join two Nation Builders as they discuss the Cost of Freedom.

Order in the Court

After a short exploration of the Courthouse and its surroundings, participate in a local court session where lives, liberties, and property are contested.

Organ Recital - Dr. JanEl Will

Enjoy a candlelit recital by Dr. JanEl Will, organist at Bruton Parish Church.

Organ Recital - Dr. John Lowe

Experience a candlelit recital by Dr. John Lowe, organist from Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Gainesville, Florida, in this 300-year-old worship space.

Organ Recital - Justin Oei

Experience a candlelit recital by Justin Oei, organist from Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Norge, Virginia, in this 300-year-old worship space.

Palace Activity Stations for Home Educators

Step into our gardens and participate in an interactive spotlight on different aspects of the 18th century.

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 residence of Virginia's last royal governor at your own pace.

Patriots at Play

Participate in the daily activities of an 18th-century family at the Geddy House.

Pictures of West Africa

Join Harold Caldwell, apprentice carpenter, as he shares a pictorial of the connected 18th-century African and Virginian history, while tying it to a modern understanding.

Play the Fife and Beat the Drum

Join an adult staff member of the Fifes & Drums to learn the fundamentals of fifing and/or drumming as if you were a recruit. Practice with a fife and/or drumsticks.

Pop-Up Archaeology!

Drop in to the Art Museums for a special pop-up exhibition of artifacts from the Custis Square, First Baptist Church, and Powder Magazine archaeology sites!

Pride not Prejudice

Join members of the Gender and Sexual Diversity Research Committee to explore some of the exciting research they have uncovered.

Public Auction

Take part in an exciting auction! Bid on selected items from Colonial Williamsburg stores as well as exclusive items not available elsewhere.

Pursuing Happiness

Witness imagined conversations between Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, and King George III to discover the ghosts behind Jefferson’s drafts of the Declaration of Independence.

Raleigh Activity Stations for Home Educators

Gather on the Raleigh porch to try your hand at a variety of games played in 18th-century taverns.

Raleigh Tavern Interpretation

Discuss the meanings of liberty and equality from the different perspectives of those who witnessed the events leading to our nation's independence. Tours every 20 min.

Rediscover Custis Square

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

Restoring Williamsburg

Dani Jaworski, architectural historian, will discuss the architectural clues that informed the restoration of the Historic Area, and the “Restoring Williamsburg” exhibit.

Revel at Chowning's Tavern

Join us at Chowning’s Tavern for an evening of 18th-century merrymaking.

Revolutionary Points of View

Step back in time to the eve of the American Revolution, and there are just as many opinions about war and independence as we hear about politics and religion today.

Same Song Different Day

Join the Jug Broke Theatre Co. as they perform songs from the 18th century that a modern audience may be more familiar with, inspired by the current holiday.

Summer Breeze Concert Series

Join us each Wednesday at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg for a variety of bands performing jazz, blues, beach music, and party and dance tunes.

Summer in the Valley

Escape the summer heat with the Waterman family. Delightful music and family stories from the 18th century as we welcome you into our music-making home.

Talk of the Town Walking Tour

Join an 18th-century Virginia resident on a walk through the Historic Area to learn about events in their lives and their perspectives on the world around them.

The Arts and Mysteries of Brewing

This program demonstrates the process of brewing beer as it was practiced in the 18th century.

The Frolic

The Jug Broke Theatre Co. captures the spontaneity and energy of multiple musicians who happen to be playing in the same space at the same time.

The Gamut of Music

Discover the wide gamut of musical forms and styles experienced by colonial Virginians of all social classes.

The Last Two Virtuosi of the Viola da Gamba

Discover the lives of Ann Ford and Carl Friedrich Abel, two 18th-century London musicians and hear music on the most noble of instruments, the viola da gamba.

The Musket

Participants will learn about the evolution of firearms leading up to the American Revolution and the ammunition. Make a paper cartridge to take home with you.

The Necessity of Order in Battle

Witness a demonstration of tactics that are crucial to success in combat.

The Peddler's Opera

The Peddler’s Opera serves as a hilarious morality play to show the downfalls of profiting off a tragedy.

The Soldier and the Widow

Experience the first conversation between Colonel George Washington and Martha Custis that set them on the path to becoming the iconic couple that history remembers.

Thomas Jefferson and John Hemings: A Collaboration

After his retirement, Jefferson returned to Monticello, where he relied on his African American joiner, John Hemings, an enslaved woodworker, to build and decorate Monticello.

Time Conquers All, and We Must Time Obey

Apprentice Engraver William Fleming explores how sundials were made and shares the collaboration between our engraving shop and foundry as they reproduced a sundial.

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!

Tools Tell Stories: The Planes of Cesar Chelor

Join the Cabinetmakers as they construct a raised panel door using planes reproduced from originals made by free Black plane-maker Cesar Chelor.

Tracing Adam Waterford

Discover what we know and what we don't know about Adam Waterford, a free Black man who worked as a cooper in Williamsburg during the time of the American Revolution,

Types & the Press: An Introduction to Printing

Join the Printers to learn the basics of printing. Set type and learn about ink balls and print an item to take home. Limit of 12 participants.

Unraveling the Mystery of Leather Key Baskets

The Public Leather Works wants to share the research we have done into these items and how they fit into the landscape of 19th-century Richmond life.

Veterans Day Proclamation Ceremony

Our Veterans Day begins at 10 a.m. with a ceremony on Palace Green honoring the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Veterans Day: A Military March Honoring America's Veterans

Join us this Veterans Day weekend for a march and ceremony honoring America's veterans.

Virginia Folk Music Instruments

Musical historian Carson Hudson presents a look at the folk instruments that are related to the instruments in our new exhibition "Making Music in Early America."

Visit a Nation Builder

Step into the past with a Nation Builder. Through stories, discussion, and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges they faced.

Visit a Nation Builder- Ann Wager

Step into the past with Ann Wager, educator of free and enslaved children. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges she faced.

Visit a Nation Builder- George Wythe

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

Visit a Nation Builder- Martha Washington

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

Visit a Nation Builder- Reverend Gowan Pamphlet

Step into the past with Gowan Pamphlet, Revolutionary Black Baptist Preacher.

Visit a Nation Builder- Thomas Jefferson

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

Visit a Nation Builder-Colonel George Washington

Step into the past with George Washington, Colonel of the Virginia Regiment. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.

Visit with the Gunsmith

Discover three 18th-century Virginia rifles made along the Great Wagon Road during this photographic study.

Voices of Their Hands

Discuss the lives of enslaved tradespeople on this walking tour. Hear from our historic tradespeople discussing their experiences interpreting skilled laborers and their work.

Washington and the American Indians

Join George Washington throughout his life as he discusses his experiences with and views of various American Indian nations, and hear some of their opinions.

What Goes Up

Take flight with the first passengers in a hot air balloon in 1783!

Wigmaker: Behind the Scenes Apprentice Tour

Explore the trades of Wigmaking and Hairdressing by taking part in several tasks, such as combing, washing, or weaving hair.

Witchcraft in Colonial Virginia

Historian Carson Hudson discusses how colonial Virginians shared a common belief in the supernatural and the existence of witches with their northern neighbors.

Women at Work!

Join us for a walking tour discussing the often-surprising realities of women’s labor, skills, and rights in 18th-century Williamsburg and the Colonial Atlantic World.

Works By Black Artists and Artisans

Tour the museum galleries including the “I Made This” exhibition to explore decorative arts and folk art made by Black artists and artisans. Free reservation required.