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Beyond Words: Bringing History to Life Responsibly
2026: A Five-Year Conference Series is sponsored jointly by The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, William & Mary, and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture.
CW Admission
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Candlelight Organ Recital - Rebecca Davy
Enjoy an organ recital in celebration of 20 years of Music Ministry at Bruton Parish.
Open to the Public
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Carriage Ride
Enjoy a leisurely ride through the Historic Area by horse-drawn carriage. Surround yourself with the sights and sounds of our unique city.
Open to the Public
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Christmas Dinner Shields Tavern
Ring in Christmas in 18th-century style while enjoying a three course traditional holiday fare.
Open to the Public
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Ciaconna: Tour of Italy
The recently formed Early Music Chamber Orchestra, Bruton Baroque, will begin its season “The Grand Tour” with a program from Italy, including music of Monteverdi and Locatelli.
Open to the Public
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Conversation: Meet a Person of the Past
Meet people of the past for some informal conversation or activity.
Open to the Public
Map & Program Guide
Download our printable map and guide to help plan your path around the largest outdoor educational living museum in the country.
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Conversation: Meet and Greet the Rare Breeds
Our Coach & Livestock team cares for over 100 rare breed animals, from lambs to cows to chickens to horses. Discover how they ensure these animals' safety and proper care.
CW Admission
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DIY Craft: Quilting
Discover the story of Rita Mae Pettway, quilter, and enjoy a mini-quilting project.
Art Museums Admission
Event Ticket
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Evening Program: 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.
Open to the Public
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Evening Program: Haunted Williamsburg
Brave centuries of scares, from 18th-century colonial ghost stories to creepy modern-day encounters!
Open to the Public
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Evening Program: Palace Concert
Colonial Williamsburg's early music ensemble, the Governor's Musick, offers an elegant evening of chamber music.
Open to the Public
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Evening Program: Revolutionary Points of View
Step back in time to the eve of the American Revolution. There are just as many opinions about war and independence as we hear about politics and religion today.
Open to the Public
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Evening Program: To Hang a Pirate
Join us in a trial of a Blackbeard crew member that occurred in Williamsburg in 1719. Hear the evidence and make a judgment!
Open to the Public
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Event: Halloween Williamsburg Old Time Radio Hour
Travel back in time to 1930s Williamsburg for a "live" radio broadcast. Immerse yourself in local legends and spooky sound effects. Join us for an unforgettable show.
Open to the Public
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Film: Williamsburg – The Story of a Patriot
See the 1957 film, in its vibrant 70mm format, that tells the story of a Virginia planter deciding to join the patriot cause.
Open to the Public
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For Donors: Visit a Nation Builder
Donors who have access to the donor reception center in the St. George Tucker House as part of their giving advantages are invited to meet with a Nation Builder.
Donor Exclusive
Free Event Ticket
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Goodwin Room Halloween Tea
Enjoy a spooky afternoon with your family and friends while indulging in the fine Afternoon Tea at the Williamsburg Inn with a Halloween inspired menu.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Hands-On: Company of Comedians
Children of all ages! Join the Play House Players on the Duke of Gloucester Street to learn about Williamsburg’s theatre and participate in 18th-century entertainments.
Open to the Public
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Hands-On: Under Arms
Guests of all ages will step into the shoes of soldiers enlisting in the army during the American Revolution.
CW Admission
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Hands-on: Daily Life
Participate in the daily activities of an 18th-century family at the Geddy House.
CW Admission
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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.
Open to the Public
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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.
Open to the Public
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Homeschool Hands-On: 18th-Century Astronomy
Step into the solar system as you become the planets. Discover how 18th-century scientists viewed the stars (or skies).
CW Admission
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Homeschool Hands-On: Create Art!
Explore the Galleries at the Art Museums, then drop by the Goode Education Studio and create art inspired by objects on exhibit.
Art Museums Admission
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Homeschool Hands-On: Importance of Tobacco
Learn about to historic farming trade. See some tobacco firsthand and learn about how tobacco shaped the economy.
CW Admission
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Homeschool Performance: Fashioning a Future
Jane is getting married! Join the Hunter sisters through disagreement, sisterhood, and a little magic. The Play House Players present: Fashioning A Future!
CW Admission
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Homeschool Performance: Nation Builder
Step into the past with a Nation Builder. Through stories, discussion, and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges they faced.
Art Museums Admission
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Homeschool Tour: Bray School Community
Join our interpreters to discover the communities connected to the Williamsburg Bray School on this 45-minute walking tour.
CW Admission
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Homeschool Tour: Women and the Law
Uncover the stories of women who engaged with the highest levels of colonial law and government as victims, participants, and even criminals.
CW Admission
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Museum Discoveries: The Public Hospital of 1773
Explore the Public Hospital of 1773 for a discussion about 18th-century mental health and the history of the reconstructed mental hospital.
Art Museums Admission
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Music: Fife & Drum
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.
Open to the Public
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Music: Fife & Drum March
The Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, representing military field musicians, march down Duke of Gloucester Street.
Open to the Public
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Music: Governor's Musick in the Geddy House
Join members of the Governor’s Musick in the Geddy House as they illustrate domestic music on period instruments.
CW Admission
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Music: Governor's Musick in the Palace Ballroom
Join members of the Governor’s Musick in the Palace Ballroom as they illustrate domestic gentry music using period-style instruments and performance practices.
CW Admission
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Music: Governor's Musick in the Wythe Parlor
Join members of the Governor’s Musick in the gentry setting of the Wythe House parlor as they illustrate domestic music on period instruments.
CW Admission
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Music: How to Play the 18th-Century Violin
The violin was played by all classes and in all settings in 18th-century Virginia. Come hear how this instrument was played; it is easier said than done.
Art Museums Admission
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Music: 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.
Art Museums Admission
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Naturalization Ceremony
Ceremony conducted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, featuring remarks by prominent Nation Builders and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Fifes & Drums.
Open to the Public
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Opera in Williamsburg: Lucia Di Lammermoor
Opera in Williamsburg presents Lucia Di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti. Live fully staged opera with world-class singers and orchestra, in Italian with English supertitles.
Open to the Public
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Organ Recital & Hymn Sing
See this elegant 350-year-old worship space and enjoy a Hymn Festival presented by the Bruton Choirs, Director Rebecca Davy, and Organist JanEl Will.
Open to the Public
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Organ Recital - Dr. JanEl Will
Enjoy a candlelit recital by Dr. JanEl Will, organist at Bruton Parish Church.
Open to the Public
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Organ Recital - Scott Hayes
Experience a candlelit recital by Scott Hayes, organist from All Saints Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia, in this 350-year-old worship space.
Open to the Public
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Organ Recital - Stephen Henley
Stephen Henley, organist from Richmond, Virginia presents a candlelight recital.
Open to the Public
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Performance: 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?
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: Beyond The Walls
The scholars of the Bray school have a lot that they can learn from the tiny creatures within its walls.
CW Admission
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Performance: Designing Virginia's Seal
Join George Mason and George Wythe as committee members to design the new seal of a free and independent Virginia.
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: From Freedom to Slavery
After making a free life for herself as an adopted Shawnee Indian, Methotaskee is brought back into slavery.
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: 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.
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: Harvest's In, Fiddle's Out
Join some of the members of the Play House Players as they play 18th-century songs and dance tunes from the Williamsburg harvest season.
CW Admission
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Performance: Is Our Love Enough
Join Sarah and Lewis Hallam as they step through the trials of marriage, family, and the theatre in the 1770s
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: Play House of Horror
Horror-as-entertainment was as popular in the 18th century as it is today, and in both centuries, it was fodder for fun as much as fear!
CW Admission
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Performance: The Offering
Colonel William Byrd III, one of the most powerful loyalists in Virginia, has suddenly abandoned his allegiance to the king by seeking a commission in the Continental Army.
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: Two Steps Forward…
Hear different stories of the people and events that shaped America’s early history through their own actions and choices.
CW Admission
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Performance: 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.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with 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.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with General George Washington
Step into the past with George Washington, father of the country. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with George Wythe
Step into the past with George Wythe, teacher, lawyer, judge, and revolutionary. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with James Armistead Lafayette
Step into the past with James Armistead Lafayette, Enslaved Revolutionary Spy.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with Jane Vobe
Step into the past with Jane Vobe, keeper of the tavern "where all the best people resorted". Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges she faced.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with Marquis de Lafayette
Step into the past with the Marquis de Lafayette, French hero of two worlds. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with Martha Washington
Step into the past with Martha Washington, our Nation’s first First Lady. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges she faced.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with Patrick Henry
Step into the past with Patrick Henry, the Revolution’s son of thunder. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with Reverend Gowan Pamphlet
Step into the past with Gowan Pamphlet, revolutionary Black Baptist preacher. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.
CW Admission
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Performance: Visit with Thomas Jefferson
Step into the past with Thomas Jefferson, The Rebellious Philosophe.
CW Admission
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Performance: Washington and the Shawnee War
Washington had a long history with the Shawnee as allies and enemies. Come hear his perspectives on the war against the Shawnee in the frontiers of Virginia in 1774.
Art Museums Admission
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Performance: Washington’s Road to Revolution
Join George Washington before he leaves for Congress in 1774 to learn about how the year’s events affected life both publicly and privately on the Road to Revolution.
Art Museums Admission
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Presentation: 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.
Art Museums Admission
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Presentation: Firing of the Noon Gun
The noon gun signaled a cessation of morning drills and work parties and a start to preparing the midday meal.
Open to the Public
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Presentation: Good Stories about Great Stuff
Join a curator, conservator, educator, archaeologist, or historian to discover who created an object, who owned it, and how it ended up in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection.
Art Museums Admission
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Presentation: Musket Demonstration
Military Programs staff will demonstrate the loading and firing of the musket. Experience the sounds and smells a soldier experienced during the Revolution.
Open to the Public
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Presentation: 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.
CW Admission
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Presentation: Rediscovering the Bray School
Discover how our interpreters and scholars are making history by exploring the untold and ongoing story of the Williamsburg Bray School.
Art Museums Admission
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Presentation: Researching Indigenous History
Join the American Indian Initiative team as they share their research, programming, and outreach efforts as the initiative turns twenty years old.
Art Museums Admission
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Presentation: The Necessity of Order in Battle
Witness a demonstration of tactics that are crucial to success in combat.
CW Admission
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Presentation: The Shawnee and Dunmore at War, 1774
Discover how Indigenous alliances, the Proclamation of 1763, and settlers’ quest for land contributed to the 1774 Shawnee-Dunmore War and why choosing a winner isn't always clear.
Art Museums Admission
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Presentation: To Paint for War
Discover the warfare of the Eastern Woodlands tribes and nations and its lasting legacy in the United States.
CW Admission
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Presentation: Two-Spirits in American Indian Life
Join a member of our American Indian Initiative as they explore the lives of two-spirit indigenous people who embody both female and male spirits.
CW Admission
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Public Auction
Take part in an exciting auction! Bid on selected items from Colonial Williamsburg stores as well as exclusive items not available elsewhere.
Open to the Public
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Social Terrace Fall Bash
Bring your fall scarves, boots, and warm-up around the fire pits on the Social Terrace. We will have fall inspired food and cocktails and live music.
Open to the Public
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Social Terrace Tide to Table
Join us for our 2nd Annual Tide to Table event featuring local brews, oyster farmers, seafood, and music.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: A Veterans Day Salute & Procession
Join us this Veterans Day weekend for a march and ceremony honoring America's veterans.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: Celebrating Lafayette
A celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s 1824 Return Visit to Williamsburg with music, pomp, and military salutes.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: Cherokee History and Culture
Join John Tooni for an evening of history and storytelling from the Cherokee culture.
Art Museums Admission
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Special Event: 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.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: Dye Day at the Weaver
Join us as we recreate natural dyes and dye recipes of the 18th century to achieve a spectrum of dazzling colors.
CW Admission
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Special Event: Firing of the Brick Kiln
Fall is time to fire the bricks! Come see the kiln fires rage as the bricks reach a temperature of over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
CW Admission
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Special Event: Ghouls, Ghosts, and Gleeful Gloom
Sing along, shiver, and quake during this delightful family-friendly program of spooky tunes and songs from these veteran performers.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Special Event: Gothic Airs on the Organized Piano
Step into the Making Music in Early America exhibit with Governor's Musick's Kyle Collins for a night of gothic-flavored music on the organized piano.
Art Museums Admission
Event Ticket
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Special Event: Il Était Une Fois-Once Upon a Time
In this dramatic presentation, the Marquis de Lafayette returns to Williamsburg on October 20, 1824, and reflects upon the people and events that he experienced in his life.
CW Admission
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Special Event: Indigenous Gown in a Day
The Mantua-makers are making a gown in a day! See what prominent northern Indigenous nations would have considered the height of fashion made with European trade goods.
CW Admission
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Special Event: Lafayette's "Homecoming"
Commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s Honorary Degree of Laws from William & Mary.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: Lighting of the Cressets
Join us on the historic Duke of Gloucester Street as we bring our 18th-century streets to life at night.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: Public Archaeology Day
Join us at Custis Square for a day of archaeology, featuring exhibits and hands-on activities with archaeologists from across Virginia! Open to the public from 10am-4pm.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: Regency Music of Barraud & Beyond
Step into the Making Music in Early America exhibit with Kyle Collins for a Classical concert on the organized piano, one of the few playable keyboards of its kind in the world.
Art Museums Admission
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Special Event: Salute to the Heroes
A lone bagpiper plays from the Governor's Palace in a heartfelt tribute to honor those men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: Secrets of the Chocolate Maker
Enjoy a demonstration of 18th-century chocolate-making methods.
CW Admission
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Special Event: Splendid Settings
Mottahedeh's President and Design Director Wendy Kvalheim will look back at the founding of the company, highlighting ongoing partnerships with America’s historic properties.
Art Museums Admission
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Special Event: The Arts and Mysteries of Brewing
Enjoy this enlightening demonstration of the brewing process as it was practiced in the 18th century.
CW Admission
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Special Event: The Crisis of 1798
How must a democracy work if it is to survive? How should citizens disagree? What is a loyal opposition? Explore these questions through America's constitutional crisis in 1798.
Art Museums Admission
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Special Event: Veterans Day Proclamation
Our Veterans Day begins at 10:00 a.m. with a ceremony on Palace Green honoring the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Open to the Public
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Special Event: We are Everywhere
Join Professor Greg Smithers to open new insights into histories of gender diversity and sexual fluidity in Native America.
Art Museums Admission
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Special Events: Indigenous Short Films
Richmond's acclaimed Pocahontas Reframed Film Festival comes to Williamsburg to share a series of short films written, directed, and produced by Indigenous artists.
Open to the Public
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Street Theater: A Right to Freedom and Education
Join our 18th-century community and engage with the residents of Williamsburg as we explore multiple different perspectives about freedom, community, and education.
Open to the Public
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Street Theater: The Alternative of Williamsburg
Join the residents of Williamsburg as they consider the cost of pursuing a new government. What sacrifices would you make in support of your government?
Open to the Public
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TVHS 2024 Sunday Lecture Series Kick-Off!
Enjoy a lecture by Calder Loth, retired Senior Architectural Historian on the importance of protecting our historically significant buildings, landmarks, and properties.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Terrace Room Fall Tea
Enjoy a delightful afternoon with your family and friends while indulging in the fine Afternoon Tea at the Williamsburg Inn with a Fall inspired menu.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Tour: Arboretum Central Historic Area
Learn about some of Colonial Williamsburg's most asked-about trees, how the colonists used them, and how they continue to be important today.
CW Admission
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Tour: Art Museums Overview
Join us on a 20-minute guided tour and enjoy some Museum favorites.
Art Museums Admission
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Tour: Backstory
During this guided tour, explore the stories behind the objects on display.
Art Museums Admission
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Tour: Bassett Trace Nature Trail Walk
Take a leisurely stroll on Bassett Trace Nature Trail and learn about Virginia’s wildlife and native habitats. If you like nature and enjoy being outdoors, this walk is for you!
Open to the Public
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Tour: Black Artists and Artisans
Enjoy a guided tour of the exhibit “'I made this': Works by Black Artists and Artisans."
Art Museums Admission
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Tour: Bray School Community
Join our interpreters to explore and discover the communities connected to the Williamsburg Bray School on this one-hour walking tour.
CW Admission
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Tour: Custis Square Archaeology
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.
CW Admission
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Tour: Good Stories about Great Stuff
Explore the galleries with a curator, conservator, educator, archaeologist, or a historian on this guided tour.
Art Museums Admission
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Tour: Meet the Gardener
Garden volunteers answer questions about growing flowers and vegetables in the Historic Area.
CW Admission
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Tour: Nassau Street, Past, Present, and Future
Join us for a walking tour and learn how a century of archaeology is contributing to a dynamic past, present, and future on Nassau Street.
CW Admission
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Tour: Stables Behind-The-Scenes
Get a behind-the-scenes look at our modern stables and learn more about our carriages.
CW Admission
Event Ticket
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Tour: Williamsburg Lost & Found
Explore the history of Williamsburg through objects on exhibit during this guided tour.
Art Museums Admission
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W&M Homecoming Weekend Tailgate Party
Join us at the Sweet Tea & Barley Patio on Saturday, October 19, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the ultimate W&M Homecoming Tailgate Party!
Open to the Public
Event Ticket
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Winston Churchill: Defending Liberty
This stirring, inspirational “Theatrical Keynote” brings Winston Churchill’s keen, incisive message of hope to the 21st Century.
Open to the Public
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Winston Churchill: Man of the Century
Journey with Winston from his 18th Century upbringing through his various careers and ultimately exploring his lasting legacy of leadership and its meaning in the 21st Century.
Open to the Public
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Winston Churchill: The Blitz
London 1940. Never have so many been so inspired by one man heroically leading the British people to Victory from a Rooftop. The audience lives through one night with Winston.
Open to the Public
Event Ticket