If you’re visiting in October, be sure to celebrate Yorktown’s history on Yorktown Day.
Image from Visit Yorktown
Commemorate Yorktown’s History on Yorktown Day
The Greater Williamsburg area is filled with history. There are countless attractions in Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown that have a historical significance. If you’re visiting in October, be sure to celebrate Yorktown’s history on Yorktown Day.
About Yorktown Day
Yorktown Day commemorates the 1781 Siege at Yorktown. This was a victory during the Revolutionary War that helped pave the way for American freedom. Yorktown Day will have several fun and educational events within Yorktown, at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Yorktown Battlefield and more on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Yorktown Day Events
Yorktown Day will be celebrated at several local attractions with a variety of events.
Events in Yorktown
York County and its local attractions will host a majority of the Yorktown Day events.
On Friday, Oct. 18, visit Riverwalk Landing for pre-Yorktown Day festivities. A new statue for General Lafayette will be unveiled in front of the Freight Shed. The statue will be placed next to General Washington and Admiral de Grasse.
Click here to read more about Riverwalk Landing.
At 10:30 a.m., a parade will march down Yorktown’s Main Street. After the parade, there will be patriotic exercises and a wreath laying ceremony at the monument to Alliance and Victory (also known as the Yorktown Victory Monument). After the parade, hang around Main Street and enjoy food provided by the local vendors.
The Gallery at York Hall will host book signings from two published historians. Authors of “The Voice, the Revolution & the Key” and “Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825: Journal of a Voyage to the United States” will discuss their research and other aspects of this time in American history.
Click here to read more about visiting Yorktown.
Yorktown Battlefield Events
Head to Yorktown Battlefield, a Colonial National Historical Park, to celebrate Yorktown Day. There will be a commemorative ceremony at the French Cemetery followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the French Memorial, in honor of French war veterans.
In the afternoon, the 3rd Infantry Old Guard Fife and Drum will perform at the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center. Then, take a tour through Yorktown Battlefield’s living history exhibit, led by a guide dressed in an 18th-century military uniform.
Click here to read more about Yorktown Battlefield.
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Be sure to visit the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown all weekend long for the Yorktown Victory Celebration. Visit the museum’s Continental Army encampment where visitors can learn about several aspects of military life and even take part in an artillery demonstration.
Inside the museum, watch the introductory film “Liberty Fever” and get an experiential theater experience while watching “The Siege of Yorktown,” boasting plenty of special effects. Guests can also tour the immersive exhibition galleries and more within the museum.
Click here to read more about the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Here are highlights from last year’s Yorktown Day celebration: