NOVEMBER 2024 EVENTS NEWSLETTER

The Revolutionary Rumble

Your monthly guide to events commemorating Virginia’s key role in the founding of our nation as we approach America’s 250th birthday.

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Through November 30

Williamsburg: Colonial Williamsburg – American Indian Heritage Month
American Indians, Native Americans, and/or Indigenous peoples were a regular and frequent presence in 18th-century Williamsburg. There were local “tributary” tribes, who were considered subjects of Great Britain by the 18th century, such as the Pamunkey, Mattoponi, and Chickahominy. And there were “foreign” Indian tribes who had a nation to nation relationship with Great Britain, such as the Shawnee and Cherokee, who would come to Williamsburg to discuss treaties with the Royal government of Virginia. These diverse native nations had an influence on American culture, democracy, and its struggle for independence. The explorations of these American Indian nations and their role in our collective story then and now is essential in understanding modern American life. See special programming throughout the month at Colonial Williamsburg.

November 2

Clarke County: Heritage Day – Clarke Through the Ages
Bring the family for a full day of hands-on Colonial history. Over a dozen local historical organizations will be on hand to lead activities that include cider pressing, grain grinding, blacksmithing, seamstressing, basket weaving, doll making, and more.

Fairfax County: Revolutionary War Day
The Revolutionary War touched everyone in the American colonies, not just soldiers and politicians. Join Gunston Hall to explore life at home and learn how Colonel Mason and his fellow Virginians supported the war effort. Families and participants of all ages are invited to engage with activities and demonstrations throughout the day.

Fredericksburg: Night in Washington’s Day
Experience the 18th century in a whole new light. Explore the concealed history of life after dark under the stars at Historic Kenmore’s reimagined “Night in Washington’s Day.” Marvel at the Great House and its surroundings, beautifully illuminated to evoke the essence of the 18th century. Dive into engaging hands-on crafts and interactive activities that reveal the intricacies of period lighting. Explore the social world of elite nocturnal entertainment and indulgences. Listen and gain a poignant understanding of the nightly lives of the enslaved individuals who labored on the estate. This captivating event offers a multifaceted look at colonial life, blending elegance with the deeper, often untold, stories of the past. Enjoy special musical performances by Colonial Faire.

Loudoun County: Leesburg, Loudoun, and the American Revolution Tour
A leisurely two-hour history exploration of Leesburg and Loudoun County’s past, led by local historian Rich Gillespie. This tour will both introduce you to the American Revolution and how it played locally against the backdrop of the historic landscape that remains from that time.

Prince William County: Road to Victory
Experience a full day colonial living history demonstrations and impressions all focused around the march to Yorktown in 1781. View military encampments of various colonial military regiments, civilian camp followers, African American soldiers and indigenous scouts. Take tours of historic Rippon Lodge, enjoy making crafts, playing colonial games and more.

Richmond County: The Indigenous Northern Neck Academic Symposium
As a five-county regional commemorative effort, NNK250 is offering a two-day Academic Symposium with the 2024 theme, “the Power of Place,” focusing on “The Indigenous Northern Neck.” The Symposium will open with a keynote address by Chief Anne Richardson, Rappahannock Indian Tribe, and Marcie Kapsch, Refuge Manager, Eastern Virginia Rivers National Wildlife Refuge Complex, United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

November 3

Pulaski County: Red, White, and Wagyu Bites – Honoring Local Patriots of Sunnyside Cemetery
Get ready for an open fire, family-style, farm-to-table dinner out on America’s Founding River. This experience showcases the agricultural and historical richness of the Scottsville area, against the backdrop of the golden hour on the James River. Float down river hearing stories of the by-gone days of the James River Batteau. Aboard the most local of boats, guests will learn about the role these watercraft played in the settling of Virginia’s Piedmont and about the brave men that navigated them.

November 4

Albemarle: Home Educator Day at Highland
Families will enjoy a walk-through of the presidential Guesthouse and exhibit spaces, an opportunity to meet James and Elizabeth Monroe, and many more educational activities.

Botetourt County: A Spy Unmasked 250 Years Later
Learn about Col. William Preston’s spy who exposed the Tory underground in western Virginia from Michael Hudson, Executive Director of Historic Smithfield.

November 6-8

York County: Yorktown Tea Festival
The goal of the Yorktown Tea Festival is to instill a sense of admiration for the history and traditions of tea and tea drinking in Virginia. The three-day event will include four lectures each day along with special tours at the participating museum and exclusive tastings of regional teas.

November 7

Loudoun County: Revolutionary War Case Study – Enoch Furr of Loudoun County
This program will be held virtually. During and after the Revolutionary War, many records were created for soldiers. Most researchers are familiar with compiled military service records (not all soldiers have them) and military pensions (not all soldiers have them). But there is more. This lecture is what defines a reasonably exhaustive search for the Revolutionary War soldier, Enoch Furr, a Loudoun County resident.

Botetourt County: Life of a Revolutionary War Continental Soldier

Historic interpreter Jeff Briggs wears recreated period clothing and uses various items from the Revolutionary War period to discuss what life was like from a Patriot’s perspective.

November 7 – 10

York County: 250th Yorktown Tea Party Anniversary
On November 7, 1774, Thomas Nelson, Jr. and his group of fellow patriots marched to the Yorktown waterfront and threw two chests of tea overboard as a show of defiance against the British. This 250th Anniversary celebration will include concerts, ship tours, a Colonial Tea Ball, reenactments, and much more! This event is part of the Yorktown Maritime Heritage and Sea Shanty Festival, which includes tall ships and six stages of live music.

November 8 – 10

York County: Colonial Tea Ball

Bring your dancing shoes and a revolutionary spirit to keep in step with ballroom dances of the 18th century for a Colonial Tea Ball at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. The evening affair is among the Yorktown Tea Festival events November 6-10 that pay tribute to Yorktown’s very own Tea Party in 1774.

November 9

Bedford County: Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival

Eat, drink, shop and explore a gem of American history when the Thomas Jefferson Wine Festival returns to Mr. Jefferson’s south lawn. Join Poplar Forest in celebrating Jefferson’s legacy as the father of Virginia wine with tastings from multiple regional wineries. Enjoy live music performances, graze on foods by local vendors and shop the artisan market for one-of-a-kind finds. Tour the president’s private retreat at a reduced rate throughout the day.

Charlotte County: Red Hill Rediscovered: A Fractured Community – Tracing the Lives of the People Dorothea Henry Winston Enslaved

Join Red Hill’s Historian & Genealogist of African American History, Peighton Young, for a look into the lives of those enslaved at Red Hill after Patrick Henry’s death. This virtual talk will be streamed LIVE on Red Hill’s social media pages.

Fairfax County: Sensory-Friendly Family Morning

Mount Vernon invites neurodivergent individuals and their families to join us for a sensory-friendly morning and tour.

Prince William County: Fall Harvest Tours of the Haislip-Hall House

Fall is the season of harvest, in the 1850s this meant preparing for the long time ahead with no fresh food. Join in on our tour at Brentsville Courthouse where we will be visiting the Haislip-Hall House to learn more about what went into the preparation of keeping people fed and warm during the cold winter months. How did they celebrate the waning days of plenty? Just as important, try out some activities to stave off the boredom of being stuck inside.

York County: Legacies of the Revolution with Hasan Kwame Jeffries

Offering a fresh perspective of the Revolution’s enduring impact on the modern world. In advance of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and onset of the American Revolution, the program will invite participants to consider how the understanding of history shapes modern society.

November 9 – 10

Fairfax County: Veterans Day Weekend Activities

Celebrate military veterans of the United States Armed Forces at the home of George Washington. Join us for 18th-century military drills, visit Washington’s Tomb, write letters to veterans, and more.

November 10

Gloucester County: Celebrating Gloucester’s Veterans – Second Sunday Series

Join us at the Historic Buck’s Store in Guinea for an inspiring community event honoring local veterans and their families. This free, family-friendly program includes a panel discussion featuring local veterans and spouses who will share their personal experiences, reflections, and stories of service. Come together to celebrate and honor the bravery and dedication of Gloucester’s veterans in this heartfelt gathering of remembrance and gratitude.

Henrico County: Lord Dunmore’s War: A Prelude to Revolution

In 1774, Virginia’s Royal Governor, John Murray, Fourth Earl of Dunmore, launched a military campaign against the Shawnee and Miami tribal nations along the colony’s western frontier. Occurring on the eve of the American Revolution, this would prove to be the last time a colonial militia would take the field in service of the king. Join historian, Mark Wilcox, as he discusses this nearly forgotten colonial campaign.

Middlesex County: Freedom in the Air

When captured Africans arrived at Virginia’s Point Comfort in 1619, they had lost their families, their homes, and their freedom. Thus, began the arduous and sorrowful journey of enslavement of Black people in this country that lasted for almost two hundred and fifty years. Join Dr. Randolph Latimore of The Heritage Committee as he articulates the story of African Americans and their quest for freedom against the institutional and societal challenges that have persisted throughout the American experience. He will explore how the Black community’s legacy of resilience, innovation, determination, and courage is woven deeply into the fabric of our nation’s story.

Richmond: Liberty or Death Reenactment in honor of Veterans’ Day

Professional actors portray nine delegates — including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson — who engage in the arguments of the Second Virginia Convention of March 1775, leading to Patrick Henry’s immortal words “Give me liberty or give me death!”

November 11

Albemarle County: Veterans Day at Highland

Honor our veterans at the home of James Monroe, one of only three U.S. presidents to fight in the American Revolution.

Alexandria: “The Gallant Young Carlisle of Alexandria”: Remembering George William Carlyle

On this Veteran’s Day we remembered our own George William Carlyle who was killed at the Battle of Eutaw Spring on September 8, 1781 at the age of 15. Tour the house with our own resident expert on George William and learn more about the teenager that Light Horse Harry Lee will recall in his memoirs as “the gallant young Carlisle of Alexandria.”

Fairfax County: Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans

In honor of our nation’s veterans, George Washington’s Mount Vernon admits FREE all active duty, former, or retired military personnel. Participate in wreath-laying ceremonies at Washington’s Tomb, learn about the music and flags used during the Revolutionary War, and enjoy musical performances by the Harmony Heritage Singers and United States Army Chorus.

Lynchburg: Veterans Day Radcliffe Cemetery Dedication

Join us on this special morning for the dedication of a new flagpole and Pomeroy marker at the Radcliffe Cemetery, honoring Revolutionary Patriot John Wiatt, and War of 1812 Veteran William Norvell. Muster begins with the Patrick Henry and Dan River Color Guards. Guests will learn about the significance of this cemetery and take part in the ceremonial laying of the wreaths, and dedication of these new memorials.

York County: Veterans Day at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Join us as we honor our nation’s veterans at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.

November 12

Albemarle County: Pursuits of Knowledge

Monticello introduces “Pursuits of Knowledge,” a series of dynamic conversations with leading thinkers exploring Jefferson’s world, ideas, and legacy. Working in disciplines and genres ranging from biography to political history to young adult fiction, this fall’s speakers discuss their work and approaches to engaging the past in the present.

York County: If This Be Treason…Dressing the Liberty Pole in 1774

Hear ye! Hear ye! Come to the County Committee of Safety meeting, and join us in a debate over the Articles of Association. In 1774, Virginia was divided between those who wished to stay loyal to the King of England and those who wished to rebel against the taxes on tea and other imported goods. Are you FOR or AGAINST the declared boycott?
Perhaps, you wish to remain NEUTRAL? Will you sign the Articles of Association and join the rebels in dressing the Liberty Pole? Join us for a slice of colonial politics as we explore the origins of the Virginia Bill of Rights and our shared colonial history.

November 14

Orange County: The Road to Yorktown, Lafayette’s 1781 Campaign in Central Virginia

We’ll look at some of the troop movements of Lafayette and Anthony Wayne as they went through Orange County along with the extended campaign leading to the Siege of Yorktown.

November 15

Albemarle County: Gallery Talks

Join our staff to hear stories and discoveries about objects in our collections in these informal talks at the visitor center galleries. Each talk will highlight specific objects and include discussion time with our Curatorial Department staff.

November 16

Charlotte County: Lost Buildings of Patrick Henry’s Red Hill

Join Cody Youngblood, Director of Historic Preservation & Collections at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, on a walking tour of Henry’s historic estate. Using maps, photographs, and the land itself, guests will discover the buildings that once stood throughout Red Hill. Did you know there was once an icehouse, laundry, and distillery at Red Hill? Where did the kitchen and Patrick Henry’s law office once stand? Join us to find out.

Fairfax County: Holiday Entertainments

Try your hand at popular card games of the period, learn about the music of the enslaved, and hear from Washington’s closest friends about how the season was celebrated at his home.

Loudoun County: Historic Encounters Day

Step into the past with Claude Moore Park, Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, and the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association, and engage in immersive, family-friendly activities.

Richmond: Great American Indian Expo

Richmond’s Great American Indian Exposition Pow-Wow will feature American Indian dancers, singers, vendors, artisans, and food.

Prince William County: Potomac People: Indigenous Tribes of Eastern Prince William

Before Europeans came to the area, the Doegs inhabited the local region. For Native American Heritage Month, join us as we rediscover the Algonquian Nation during this boardwalk tour.

Virginia Beach: 249th Anniversary of the Skirmish at Kemps Landing

The 249th anniversary of the Skirmish at Kemps Landing will be commemorated with ceremonial activities. An overview of the engagement, which occurred on November 15, 1775 and witnessed the first Patriot deaths in Virginia during the American Revolution. The Princess Anne County Militia engaged British troops under Lord Dunmore and were quickly dispersed in the brief skirmish. Former enslaved persons participated in the skirmish under Dunmore’s “Ethiopian Regiment.”

November 17

Middlesex County: Middlesex Resolves

Are you ready to step back in time and witness a pivotal moment in American history? Join an enlightening event at the Urbanna Courthouse. Renowned historian Ed Ayres, formerly of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, will transport you to 1774, when brave freeholders gathered at this very location to stand against taxation without representation. Discover how these local resolutions echoed across Virginia, igniting the spark of revolution. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the roots of American democracy in Urbanna.

Williamsburg: Thomas Griffin Peachy Grave Marking

The Williamsburg Chapter, NSDAR is hosting a Patriot Marker Dedication Ceremony for newly proven patriot Thomas Griffin Peachy.

November 23

Henrico County: Henrico 250: Tea at the Tavern

Travel back in time 250 years ago to when tea parties meant more than just tea and cookies. Protests sparked across the 13 original colonies with citizens destroying tea, setting ships ablaze, and creating formal resolutions to demonstrate their beliefs. Meet Loyalist and Patriot citizens as well as British soldiers to get their thoughts on this year of protests. Sample the same types of tea dumped overboard, with patriot tea and some sweets while they last. Join us at historic Walkerton Tavern as we mark the anniversary of the tea parties with family-friendly crafts and activities.

November 29

Fairfax County: Winter Glow

Visit Mount Vernon for an enchanted evening of festive lights and an 18th-century holiday experience. See the estate illuminated with brilliant lights and patterns set to holiday music. Visit an 18th-century winter encampment, and meet holiday guest, Aladdin the Camel. You can also roast s’mores, play an “I Spy” game to search for General Washington hidden among the lights, and chat with people from Washington’s world to learn about 18th-century holiday traditions.

November 29 – 30

James City County & York County: Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia

Long before microwaves, electric stoves and refrigerators, early Virginians prepared meals in clay pots and iron kettles and preserved food by smoking and salt curing. This Thanksgiving holiday, join in a family tradition by digging into the foodways of 18th-century during Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia. At Jamestown Settlement, explore foodways of the 17th century. Explore centuries-old culinary practices and cooking techniques of early Virginia.

November 30

Albemarle County: Wreath Workshops

Monticello’s annual Wreath Workshops are a time-treasured tradition to kickoff the holiday season in Charlottesville. Led by our expert team of floral designers, gardeners, and plant experts, participants will create and bring home a beautiful door decoration to last through the season.