By Carol Timblin
Several months ago, Queen Elizabeth II and President Bush made separate appearances in Jamestown, Virginia, for the 400th anniversary celebration of its founding in 1607. Still in full swing, the celebration continues through next spring.
In nearby Willliamsburg, re-enactors portraying British soldiers are having a wonderful time occupying the city for an ongoing program entitled, “A Revolutionary City.”
Visitors watch the Redcoats take over the Capitol and hoist the Union Jack. Oftentimes, there are heated verbal exchanges between visitors and the re-enactors. “Why don’t you go back home?” a voice in the crowd yells. “It’s not fair to tax us without representation!” another one cries. “We’re here to protect you and take care of you,” replies the uniformed British Redcoat in the King’s service.
Now all eyes are on Yorktown, where special events marking the 226th anniversary of the American and French victory over the British, are planned for the weekend of Oct. 17-19.
A parade and military demonstrations at the Yorktown Battlefield Victory Center will take place, as well as lunch featuring Brunswick stew, Virginia ham biscuits, and homemade pies at Grace Episcopal Church at noon on Saturday, Oct. 20. Prior to the weekend, a re-enactor portraying General George Washington, preparing for the big battle, may be seen in Williamsburg.
Other activities and events to enjoy in the Historic Triangle this fall include a celebration of Virginia wines Oct. 19-20 at Riverwalk Landing on the York River. Participants can sample wines from all over the state at The Yorktown Wine Festival, a ticketed event.
On November 4, a re-enactment of the York Town Tea Party will occur, commemorating the tea party staged in defiance of the King by American patriots living in Williamsburg, almost a year after the famous Boston Tea Party of 1773. The incident occurred when Williamsburg merchants boarded a ship that had just arrived from the motherland and hoisted two containers of tea in the river.
There will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, and a “Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia” at the Yorktown Victory Center the weekend of Nov. 22-24. During the food festival, visitors will have a chance to learn about 18th-century Virginia food, from field to kitchen, including typical fare soldiers ate during that time in history.
Action in Jamestown
This fall is a wonderful time to see what’s new in the Jamestown Settlement (a recreated village as it looked in the early 1600s) and nearby Historic Jamestown (the actual site where the English built a fort in 1607). The new visitor center at Jamestown Settlement offers a whole new interpretation of what happened at Jamestown, following the location and excavation of James Fort a few years ago.
Many of the artifacts from recent archaeological digs, under the direction of Dr. William Kelso, are on display at the Archaearium at Historic Jamestown. One of the skeletons on exhibit is believed to be that of Captain Batholomew Gosnold, who charted the Godspeed from England to the Virginia shores in 1607. Sea-worthy replicas of his ship and the Discovery were rebuilt for the 400th anniversary and may be toured, along with the Susan Constant, also a replica, at the Jamestown Settlement.
On Sept. 8, Dr. Jack Rakove professor of history and American studies at Stanford University, will give a Heritage Lecture on “Creating the American Mirror Representation: From Jamestown (1619) to Philadelphia (1787).” The free program, one of several Heritage Lectures given during the 400th celebration, will be held at the Robins Foundation Theater at the Jamestown Settlement. (For reservations, call 757-253-4415 or e-mail rsvp.lecture@jyf.virginia.gov).
Williamsburg Storytelling
There’s no greater setting for storytelling than Colonial Williamsburg, where the seeds of American democracy took root in the 18th century. The third annual storytelling festival, “Spinning Stories/Spanning Time,” from the 18th to the 21st centuries, is planned for Sept. 14-16 in the historic village. Headliners for the event include Len Cabral, Donald Davis, Carmen Deedy, Eth-Noh-Tec (theater duo Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo and Nancy Wang), Bill Lepp, Onawumi Jean Moss, and Tim Tingle. A variety of ticket options are available.
On Sept. 30, Colonial Williamsburg will host the second annual Merchants Square Autumn Festival. The Square is located at the end of Gloucester Street, not far from the Governor’s Place and Bruton Parish Church.
Autumn is also an ideal time to visit the Williamsburg Winery on Lake Powell Road. Virginia’s largest winery produces over 60,000 cases of wine each year and has more than 250 awards to its credit. The winery is open daily for tours and tastings.
Want to do something different to celebrate Halloween? “Howl-O-Scream,” a Halloween-themed festival is set for Sept. 14-Oct. 28 weekends at Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg.
For assistance in planning your trip to Virginia’s Historic Triangle this fall, visit or call your nearest AAA office. More information is also available at the Williamsburg Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-368-6511, www.VisitWilliamsburg.com or www.history.org |
