CW Planner

'Tis the Season for Weddings

Eighteenth-century weddings often took place during the Holidays. Visit the Milliners and Mantua-makers as they make a festive gown suitable for an 18th-century bride.

(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.

40 Christmastides

Join Bill Weldon on guitar and Dean Shostak on fiddle as they share songs of the season while remembering their past 40 years of making music at Colonial Williamsburg.

A Celebration of the Yule Log

Follow the Yule log, hauled by wagon, from Capitol Circle to Market Square, accompanied by music, festivity, and the community of 18th-century and present-day Williamsburg.

A Charles Dickens Christmas

Gabe Stone, Mark Nixon, David Gardner, and Su Tarr present a holiday show featuring readings from a variety of Charles Dickens' writings paired with Victorian Christmas carols.

A Christmas Remembered

Join a Nation Builder as they share memories of Christmastide and hopes for the coming year.

A Fugitive Christmas

Join two fugitive soldiers on New Year's Day in 1776 as they celebrate Christmastide while recovering from their wounds in a military hospital.

A Gospel Christmas: Music for the Holidays!

Listen and learn music in the Gospel style and bring to life some of the traditional carols and favorite Christmas tunes heard throughout the holiday season.

A Gown in a Day

Visit with the Mantua-makers at the Margaret Hunter Shop throughout the day to track their progress as they create a gown from start to finish in an eighteenth-century workday.

A Patriotic American For Home Educators

Elizabeth Braxton, the wife of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, reflects on her family's changes, challenges, and consequences during the Revolution.

A Public Audience with the 1st First Lady, Martha Washington

Join Mrs. Washington as she speaks about being the first President’s wife and the expectations placed upon her while the new Nation watches on.

A Public Audience with the 1st President, George Washington

Meet with President Washington as he looks back over his long career in public service.

A Public Audience with the 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson

Meet with President Jefferson as he looks back over his long career in public service.

A Public Audience with the 4th President, James Madison

Join President James Madison as he reflects on the invention of the executive branch of the United States.

A Quilter's Story

Join us at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and learn about the quilt and the maker, then enjoy a mini quilting project.

A Soldier's Christmas

Colonel James Innes returns home from the War filled with the haunting voices of his fallen comrades. Will he be able to recover from the War and find peace this Christmas?

A Taste of Freedom

This performance tells the story of Americus Weston’s journey to freedom during the Civil War, developed to commemorate Juneteenth.

A Taste of Freedom For Home Educators

This performance tells the story of Americus Weston’s journey to freedom during the Civil War, developed to commemorate Juneteenth.

A Toast to Christmas

Brass 5 offers an afternoon of Christmas treasures, everything from traditional settings to clever arrangements of secular Christmas favorites.

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 Interpretation

Explore the diverse cultures of Native peoples striving to preserve their traditional way of life and learn about their roles in creating a new country.

An Apprentice Founder's Workday

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

An Evening with the Presidents

Join George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison for a discussion of their experiences as president. Hosted by Alvin D. Hall.

Archaeology Behind the Scenes

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

Armoury Activity Stations for Home Educators

Enhance your visit with our educational activity stations. Explore Anderson’s armoury compound and learn about the war’s demands on Williamsburg’s industry.

Art Stop

Drop by the Education Studio and create a work of art inspired by an object on exhibit.

At a Glance

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

Backstory

During this guided tour, explore the hidden stories behind the objects on display in our museums.

Behind Closed Drawers

Drop in and examine antique textiles, including clothing, accessories and household textiles.

Bits and Bridles

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

Capitol Activity Stations for Home Educators

Enhance your visit with our educational activity stations. Learn about the founding principles of our government and your rights and responsibilities.

Capitol Concert

Celebrate the joys of holiday music with this 18th-century concert by the Governor's Musick Ensemble.

Capitol Freedom Tour for Home Educators

Students and their families are invited on an engaging and interactive tour of Virginia’s second capitol building.

Christmas Clarinet Ensemble Concert

Enjoy a holiday concert presented by the Richmond Clarinet Choir, directed by Anne Coldiron.

Christmas Decorations Walking Tour

Enjoy a one-hour walking tour for a closer look at the Colonial Williamsburg decorations and a discussion of holiday traditions, past and present.

Christmas Dinner Campbell's Tavern

Ring in Christmas in 18th-century style while savoring a three course traditional holiday fare.

Christmas Dinner King's Arms Tavern

Enjoy a traditional holiday fare while relaxing to 18th-century music by candlelight.

Christmas Organ Recital - Dr. Ross Ellison

Dr. Ross Ellison, organist from Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania presents a recital in this 300-year-old worship center.

Christmas Trees and Treasures

Discover trees themed to the exhibitions and the object-inspired ornaments on our 16-foot tree. Enjoy live music with holiday treats and unique gifts available for purchase.

Christmas and the Constitution

Join Madison and Hamilton in the throes of writing the Federalist Papers to support the constitution over a hectic holiday season, as they balance public and personal duty.

Christmastide Music at the Courthouse

Join musicians Brian Forsman & Bill Weldon for the best dance tunes and songs of Christmastide.

Clothing Enslaved People in Colonial Virginia

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

Colonial Williamsburg's Rare Breeds Program

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

Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Join us for our annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, co-sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg. Festivities begin at 5:00 p.m. in front of the Courthouse.

Crystal Carols

Dean Shostak returns with this popular Christmas concert featuring Lance Pedigo and Kelly Kennedy. Discover the unique sounds of holiday favorites played on glass instruments.

DIY - Fresh Fruit Decorations

In this hands-on class, Colonial Williamsburg's Landscape Designers will show you how to make a decorative apple candle and fragrant orange pomander to take home.

DIY - Candle Centerpiece

In this hands-on class, Colonial Williamsburg's Landscape Designers will show you how to make a candle centerpiece to take home and enjoy.

DIY - Holiday Decoration Workshop

Following a demonstration by a Colonial Williamsburg landscape designer, participants will create their own "Williamsburg Style" arrangement in a holiday mug to take home.

DIY - Wreath Decorating Workshop

Take home your own "Williamsburg style" wreath that you decorate yourself after learning the tricks of the trade from the landscape design team who decorates the Historic Area.

DIY Craft: Inspired by the Collection

Celebrate National Craft Month at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg.

DIY: Heritage Star Ornament Workshop

Join weaver, artisan, and teacher Lindsey Campbell of Hello Hydrangea and create a limited-edition Craft & Forge Heritage Star ornament for your tree!

Decorated Wreath Sales

Visitors have the opportunity to buy a Williamsburg-style wreath or centerpiece made by the same designers that create the decorations that adorn the Historic Area buildings.

Decorating the Private Homes

Join us for our 30th annual, fun-filled celebration of the decorating skills of the employees who live in Colonial Williamsburg's restored private residences.

Disaster Strikes! The Cost of Dressing in 1769

While using a 1769-70 merchant's account book, the milliners and mantua-makers demonstrate the layers of a woman's everyday outfit and discuss the other pieces of her wardrobe.

Domestic Diversions

Listen to musical pieces best suited for the intimate settings of an 18th-century home on the organized piano in the Leckie Gallery.

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.

Evening Program: 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.

Evening Program: 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!

Fiddling Away the Holidays

Master fiddler John Turner returns for this Colonial Williamsburg Christmas tradition of reveling in the lighter side of the holiday season.

Fire a Flintlock Musket

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

Firing of the Christmas Guns

In the 18th century, guns were customarily fired in salute to the Christmas season. Join us on Duke of Gloucester Street for a re-creation of this event.

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.

Freedom's Paradox for Home Educators

Learn about the evolution of slavery, and how the institution impacted Williamsburg, the Colony of Virginia, and both the master and enslaved people.

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.

From the Ashes

As the ashes settle on Washington D.C., James and Dolley Madison struggle to find a path forward.

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.

God is My Rock

Gowan Pamphlet, an enslaved man and popular local preacher, offers his perspective on slavery, religion, and freedom.

Good Stories about Great Stuff

Discover who created the object, who owned it, and how it ended up in our collection. A curator, educator, or conservator will examine an object each week.

Governor’s Musick at the Raleigh Tavern

Join the Governor’s Musick in the Raleigh Tavern Apollo Room as they present a musical program on how 18th-century Williamsburg celebrated Christmas.

Grand Illumination

Enjoy musical performances, Lighting of the Cressets, storytelling on Palace Green, and fireworks displays from the Capitol and Palace.

Grand Illumination Dinner Campbell's Tavern

Join us for a traditional three course tavern fare and 18th-century entertainment as we celebrate the beginning of our Christmas season.

Grand Illumination Dinner King's Arms Tavern

Join us for a three-course holiday meal while serenaded by tavern music.

Haunted Williamsburg

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

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.

Historic Organ Recital with Thomas Marshall

Enjoy this Historic Organ Recital in the Wren Chapel at the College of William & Mary performed by Thomas Marshall, organist at Williamsburg United Methodist Church.

Hogmanay! Hogmanay!

Join John Turner and Kelly Kennedy as they usher in the new year with Scottish traditions and songs.

Holiday Acoustic Guitar Recital

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

Holiday Choral Concert - Manassas Chorale

Enjoy the blend of voices as the Manassas Community Chorale from Northern Virginia, directed by Becky Verner presents a Holiday Concert.

Holiday Choral Concert - New Dominion Choraliers

Enjoy a holiday concert by the New Dominion Choraliers Community Choir from Prince William County, Virginia, directed by Katherine Nelson-Tracey.

Holiday Choral Concert - Salisbury Presbyterian Choir

Celebrate the season with a concert by the Salisbury Presbyterian Church Choir from Midlothian, Virginia, directed by Mark Patterson.

Holiday Choral Concert- First Baptist Church Choir

Celebrate the holiday season with a concert by the First Baptist Church Choir from Richmond, Virginia, directed by Phil Mitchell.

Holiday Choral Concert: Bruton Parish Choirs & Orchestra

Join us as the Bruton Parish Choirs & Orchestra, directed by Rebecca Davy, present A Marian Holiday Choral Concert.

Holiday Concert - Tabernacle Baptist Church

Enjoy the sounds of the Tabernacle Baptist Church Choir & Handbells from Richmond, Virginia, directed by Judy Fiske as they present music of the season.

Holiday Handbell & Organ Concert

Enjoy this concert presented by the Bruton Parish Tarpley Ringers directed by Rebecca Davy and accompanied by JanEl Will on the organ.

Holiday Handbell Concert

Enjoy the sound of handbells in a concert by the First Presbyterian Church Handbell Choir from Goldsboro, North Carolina under the direction of Chris Watkins.

Holiday Youth Choral & Strings Concert

Enjoy this holiday choral and strings concert by Soli Deo & Young Musicians of Virginia, directed by Karla Robinson & Sarah Umlauf.

Home and the Holidays

Timothy Seaman, Ann Robinson, Peter Budnikas, and Mei-Li Beane explore the richness of holidays at home and with family with American and worldwide melodies and songs of Christmas.

How Did They Survive?

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

Intersections

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

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Celebrate that jolly old elf and discover worldwide traditions with Gabe Stone and David Gardner through tunes and stories about the star of the Christmas gift-giving season.

Keeping the Home Fires Burning

Kelly Kennedy shares tunes, recipes, tales, and lore from women through the centuries as they continue to keep the flame of holiday traditions alight.

King's Arms Wine Dinner with a Nation Builder

Dine in the company of a Nation Builder on a delightful combination of their favorite fare and international wines.

Lighting of the Cressets

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

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.

Merriment and Measles

Join the Washingtons on the eve of Twelfth Night in 1760 as they reflect on the past year and their hopes for the future in the midst of a measles outbreak at Mount Vernon.

Midwinter Stories

Celebrate American Indian life and culture through stories and traditions.

Music and Mischief

Join the Jug Broke Theatre Co. as they perform holiday stories and music from the 18th century.

Nation Builders Discuss the Rights of Women

Join two Nation Builders to discuss how they viewed and debated the rights of women.

Nine Lessons & Carols

Get ready for the New Year with Lessons and Carols by the Bruton Parish Choirs directed by Rebecca Davy and accompanied by JanEl Will on Organ.

Nowell Sing We Clear

Join Lynn and Barry Trott to sing along with favorite English and American carols from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

Of Christmas Past

A British servant, newly arrived in the colony with his master, reflects on the holiday traditions he has left behind in the mother country.

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.

Order in the Court for Home Educators

Participate in a local court session where lives, liberties, and property are contested.

Palace Activity Stations for Home Educators

Enhance your visit with our educational activity stations. Step into the palace gardens and participate in an interactive spotlight on loyalists.

Palace Christmas Ball

Celebrate the Christmas season with the Royal Governor at a grand ball hosted at the Governor’s Palace.

Palace Concert

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

Palace Freedom Tour for Home Educators

How did evolving definitions of freedom cause conflict between Great Britain and America?

Patriots at Play

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

Phillis Wheatley and the Music of Freedom

Join the Governor’s Musick in a musical exploration of the paradox of freedom as seen through the poetry of Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved person and well-known poet.

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.

Pochettes for Christmas

John Turner and David Gardner perform traditional and seasonal tunes on a variety of instruments made specifically for travel in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

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!

Popular Science: Enlightenment for Home Educators

Engage in the 18th-century pastime of natural philosophy or scientific observation.

Private Family Tour

Your group's private guide will lead your family through town to learn more about what it was like to live in the 18th century.

Profound Joy

Timothy Seaman celebrates the wonder of winter, Christmas, and Hanukkah on extended-range hammered dulcimer, with songs full of joy, hope, and peace.

Public Auction

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

Public Hospital Visit

Tour the reconstructed Public Hospital of 1773 and chat with a historian about Mental Health Care in the 18th century.

Ring Out the Old Year

Join Lynn and Barry Trott for songs and stories from 17th-century England to 20th-century Appalachia celebrating Epiphany to bring your holidays to a joyous close.

Rockefeller Room Feast of the Seven Fishes

The Chefs of the Williamsburg Inn’s beloved Rockefeller Room bring a special nine-course interpretation of the Feast of Seven Fishes to celebrate Christmas Eve.

Rockefeller Room New Year's Eve Celebration

Bring in the New Year with the incredible staff of the Williamsburg Inn's Rockefeller Room.

Rockefeller Room New Years Eve Early Dinner

Join us for an early dining experience with a delicious three-course menu featuring fabulous items from the beloved Rockefeller Room menu.

Salute to the Presidents

Fifes, drums, and cannons salute the Nation's presidents on Market Square, featuring Washington, Jefferson, and Madison.

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.

Same Space, Different Place

Meet Rachel Whitaker, a recently widowed tavern owner, and her enslaved servant, Milly, to discover how the Christmastide season differs for these two mothers.

Santa's Stories

Join Santa and Mrs. Claus as they share some of their favorite stories worldwide.

Scottish New Year's Eve Concert - Happy Hogmanay!

Happy Hogmanay! Enjoy a Scottish New Year's Eve concert of music, story, and dance presented by David Gardner, Eliza Gardner, and Shelton Browder.

She Had on When She Went Away

Explore the material culture and lives of self-liberated Black women in the 18th century and the society they inhabited.

Silent Night

From the Revolutionary War to Vietnam, travel through time as women in various wartime roles struggle to experience a silent night in the midst of the sounds of war.

Take a Drink With Auld Rosen the Beau

On the 89th anniversary of the end of prohibition, join John Turner and a drinking buddy for popular 18th-century drinking and other drinking songs of the season.

Talk of the Town: Christmastide

Walk through town with a resident of 18th-century Williamsburg as they share reflections on the holiday season.

Taste Studio Annual Pie Sale

Come to the annual holiday bake sale and pick up your Christmas treats!

The Art of Politics and Dining

Join Mrs. Washington as she discusses the art of dining and how influential a woman could be in a man’s world.

The Art of the Stuff Maker

Discover the popular fashions and typical construction techniques of late 18-century women's shoes that made women’s shoemaking a separate branch of the trade.

The Art-Full Tree

Explore our exhibitions and our 16-foot Christmas Tree for inspiration, then drop in to make an ornament for your tree.

The Doctrine of Representation

Meet Hannah Corbin and her brother Richard Henry Lee as they explore the future of voting rights and the meaning of representation.

The Only Unavoidable Subject of Regret

Join Mrs. Washington in December of 1799 as she comes to terms with the General’s Last Will and Testament, and hear from George Washington on his evolution on slavery.

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.

To Purchase a Likely Man

Join Colonel and Mrs. Washington as they discuss the intricacies and complexities of purchasing a pair of enslaved brothers.

Tour: Women in Trades

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.

Virginia Evergreens

Before the Community Christmas Tree lighting, join Timothy Seaman to celebrate Virginia’s rich diversity of trees on hammered dulcimer, flutes, mountain dulcimer, and psalteries.

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- 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.

Visit a Nation Builder- 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.

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. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.

Visit a Nation Builder- Oconostota

Step into the past with Oconostota, the Great Warrior of Chota. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.

Visit a Nation Builder- 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.

Visit a Nation Builder- 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.

Visit a Nation Builder- Thomas Jefferson

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

Visit a Nation Builder-Oconostota For Home ED

Step into the past with Oconostota, the Great Warrior of Chota. Through stories and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges he faced.

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.

W&M Accidentals Holiday Concert

Enjoy a cappella arrangements of holiday standards and crowd favorites that the W&M Accidentals love to share with the Williamsburg Community, on and off campus.

Wassails to Hoedowns: Holiday Music in Virginia

Join Henley Fork along with Lee Welch for a musical journey across four centuries of Virginia holiday music and traditions.

Williamsburg Inn Christmas Day

Savor your Christmas with a long-standing tradition of well-crafted offerings from the kitchen of the Williamsburg Inn. Prepaid reservation required.

Williamsburg Inn Holiday Tea

Begin your holiday season with the newly reimagined Williamsburg Inn Holiday Tea featuring the beautiful patterns of Churchill Tea China. Prepaid reservation required.

Williamsburg Lodge Christmas Day Meal

Gather for a festive feast at the Williamsburg Lodge this Christmas!

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 American artists and artisans. Free reservation required.