August 2025 Events Newsletter
The Revolutionary Rumble
The celebration of America’s 250th birthday year is officially underway, and Virginia is leading the way with events that engage and inspire every community across the Commonwealth. Watch as James Madison invites the youth of Virginia and all of us to discover the revolutionary spirit and join the celebration of liberty in the year ahead.
Photo: (Left to right) African Landing Day in Fort Monroe | Extracurricular Nights at the Frontier Culture Museum | Liberty or Death Reenactment at St. John’s Church | Purple Heart Commemoration at Mount Vernon
With the start of America’s 250th year, Virginia is seeing more commemorative events than ever across the Commonwealth thanks to all of our partners at local 250 commissions and historic sites. These partners not only offer great content and events, but they also may have great opportunities for you to get involved locally as a volunteer.
We know you’re as proud as we are of Virginia’s leadership in our nation’s founding story. We’re making it easy for you to wear your pride on your sleeve while helping us spread the word about America Made In Virginia and all of the amazing 250th commemorative happenings. Check out the lineup of hats and shirts and more at store.va250.org.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY & CHARLOTTESVILLE
Now through August 2
Albemarle County Fair at James Monroe’s Highland
This fun and festive “Old-Time Country Fair” will be a three-day agricultural celebration, complete with exhibits, home arts, family entertainment, live music, livestock, and grand old-time country fun. Fair goers will also enjoy a number of demonstrations of historic and cultural significance, including wool spinners and a blacksmith, and the opportunity to have photographic silhouettes made.
August 10
Get a sneak peek at Gabriel, a soaring new musical production by Richmonders Jerold Solomon, Foster Solomon and Ron Klipp. Learn about the creation process of Gabriel from performers, production team members, and historical partners, then enjoy a preview performance of songs from the musical.
August 16
Monroe and Lafayette: A Reunion
Join James Monroe’s Highland for a special afternoon of public programming on the Marquis de Lafayette’s friendship with James Monroe as Highland commemorates the final leg of Lafayette’s 1825 return tour to the United States.
Saturday Public Tour at JSAAHC
Join the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center for a one-hour tour where we explore exhibitions in our contemporary gallery or the history of Charlottesville through our permanent exhibition, Pride Overcomes Prejudice.
August 22 & 24
Step aboard a hand-built James River batteau and experience Virginia’s past like never before. At James River Batteau Company, we craft unforgettable evenings that blend the region’s rich, often-forgotten history with the pleasures of local food, live music, and the serene beauty of the James River.
August 28
Join a yoga instructor for an hour long Yoga class on Carlyle’s Magnolia Terrace. Afterwards, enjoy a mocktail with yoga participants and staff. Yoga Happy Hours are a fundraiser for new exhibit cases in the museum and sponsored by the Friends of Carlyle House.
ALEXANDRIA
August 2
Celebrate Friendship Fire Company’s 251st year! Learn about fire safety yesterday and today, plus see Alexandria Fire Department equipment up close. There will be booths by the Alexandria Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, music performances, displays by community organizations, local vendors, and food and beverage sales. Join in water play and please-touch artifact activities. Children will receive free toy Friendship firefighting helmets.
Carlyle House Family Fun Day – Pet Fête
Come join your friends on the Carlyle House Magnolia Terrace for Family Fun Day on the first Saturday of the month from April-November! From 12-3pm, you can sit in on story time that starts at the top of the hour and participate in crafts and other activities that relate to the theme of the month.
August 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
Family Day with Young Historians
Tour through the historic tavern led by students 4th grade and older; includes activity stations about period clothing and chocolate making.
August 8 & 22
Trivia Night at Historic Sites
Staff members at Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum combine their knowledge to create bi-weekly trivia nights throughout the summer in the beautiful gardens of the Lee-Fendall House. Test your knowledge on everything from pop culture to history.
ALLEGHANY COUNTY
August 8 – 10
VA250 Mobile Museum Experience comes to the Alleghany Highlands of VA
The mobile museum will be a vendor at The 47th Annual Street Scene event that will be taking place in downtown Covington, VA on August 9, 2025! Street Scene is the longest running car show in Virginia. Along with cars, trucks and bikes you will find food, vendors, kids activities and more filling the streets of downtown Covington, making this a fun filled family activity.
BEDFORD COUNTY
August 16
Face the Forest Obstacle Course Run
Join Poplar Forest for the 13th annual Face the Forest Obstacle Course Run! Challenge yourself to beat the clock as you take on a 3.1-mile obstacle race through the grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest plantation, encountering obstacles (and some mud) along the way!
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
August 8
Bound to the Fire: How Virginia’s Enslaved Cooks Helped Invent American Cuisine
Hear from Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz as she shares her research that led to her book, Bound to the Fire: How Virginia’s Enslaved Cooks Helped Invent American Cuisine.
August 16
Lantern Tour with Patrick Henry Jolly
Join Patrick Henry Jolly on a pop-up Lantern Tour of Red Hill on Saturday, August 16, at 7:00 pm. Patrick will show visitors around the historic grounds, including Quarter Place, the Henry House, and the Henry family cemetery.
CHESAPEAKE
August 21
Peake Speaks History Lecture Series Featuring Kate Livie
Historian Kate Livie presents “Chesapeake’s Showboat: The James Adams Floating Theater 1914-1941,” an entertaining look at the James Adams Floating Theater, a real-life “magical little showboat” that entertained people along the waterways of the Chesapeake for almost 30 years and was the inspiration for the groundbreaking musical “Show Boat.”
CLARKE COUNTY
August 13
Hungry for History: The Slave Dwelling Project
CCHA is proud to partner with other local historical organizations as we welcome back The Slave Dwelling Project to the Burwell-Morgan Mill as part of the Hungry for History program. Members of the Slave Dwelling Project will be on hand to discuss the everyday life of the enslaved in Clarke County, and the kinds of food they made.
CULPEPER COUNTY
August 18
VA250 Mobile Museum at Heritage Park in Culpeper, VA
Save the Date for the VA250 Mobile Museum visit to Culpeper.
August 23
200th Celebration of Lafayette’s Visit to Greenwood Estate and Downtown Culpeper
On Saturday morning the Military Reception will be held at Greenwood Estate with Gen. Lafayette & suite arriving by carriage escorted by four mounted color guard. Following this reception, Lafayette’s carriage will lead a parade with mounted color guards, drum and fife, marching bands and more to be welcomed at his Civic Reception in downtown Culpeper. Events, scavenger hunts, tours and games will be held throughout the day for visitors to enjoy Lafayette and Culpeper history. That evening a Grand Ball (costumes encouraged) will held in his honor.
Lafayette’s Culpeper Grand Costumed Ball
An evening of elegance and merriment held in honor of the General Lafayette’s historic return to Culpeper, just as it was celebrated 200 years ago. Guests will be welcomed into the world of English Country Dance with guidance from Dance Master Mr. Charles Steplively and Dance Mistress Elaine Sturgeon, accompanied by live period music performed by a traditional quartet led by Mr. Steven Hickman. Members of the Rappahannock Colonial Heritage Society will join in the festivities and help lead the dances.
Culpeper Celebrates Lafayette’s Bicentennial Tour
Spend the weekend in Culpeper celebrating General Lafayette’s triumphant return!
August 24
Colonial Allies Challenge Cup – International Military Polo Tournament
The Colonial Allies Challenge Cup is an international military polo tournament featuring active-duty officers from the United States and France playing together in a friendly competition that commemorates the Franco-American alliance formed during the Revolutionary War.
DINWIDDIE COUNTY
August 23 – 24
World War II 80th Anniversary Weekend
This 80th anniversary living history event brings to life the experiences of fighting abroad and the war on the home front during World War II. Guests will have the chance to learn from living historians portraying soldiers who fought in WWII and about different aspects of a soldier’s life including weapons, signals and communications, and tactical demonstrations. The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience will be open for visitors this weekend.
FAIRFAX COUNTY
August 2
Meet us at the Movies Trivia Night
Join the Friends of Green Spring Gardens (FROGS) and test your knowledge at our Meet us at the Movies Themed Trivia Night! Grab your family and friends and join us at the Gazebo for an evening of fun. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs for your team. This is an outdoor event.
August 3 & 17
Mill in Motion at Colvin Run Mill
Explore Colvin Run Mill to see how it operated in 1811. Hear and feel the Mill grinding grain. Learn about Oliver Evans and his first US patents that revolutionized food production. Try your hands at simple machines
August 5
VIRTUAL
Battle Brief – Anthony Wayne and the Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794
Although virtually unknown today, the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers, fought in what is now northwestern Ohio, was one of the most important battles in American military history up to the Civil War.
August 9
Purple Heart Commemoration at Mount Vernon
Pay tribute to the oldest military decoration in the U.S. at the home of its founder, George Washington.
August 16
Movie at the Mill – White Rabbit Tea Party
Step into a storybook afternoon at Colvin Run Mill! Enjoy tea with delightful sweet and savory treats, make whimsical crafts, play vintage 19th-century games, and cap it all off with a free film screening after tea. Fancy hats encouraged!
FREDERICK COUNTY
August 3
Bought by the Hite family with her two young boys, Judah was the Hites’ enslaved cook at the time of her death in 1836. Rare primary source documents from the Hite family reveal insights into her life.
August 17
When did freedom come to those enslaved at the plantations of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park? Join a National Park Service ranger to explore the park’s connections to the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
August 31
Bought by the Hite family with her two young boys, Judah was the Hites’ enslaved cook at the time of her death in 1836. Rare primary source documents from the Hite family reveal insights into her life.
FREDERICKSBURG
August 6
Twilight in Downtown – A Special Evening at the Apothecary
Step back in time with WHM in partnership with Fredericksburg Main Street’s Twilight in Downtown program! Enjoy a special free open house at the historic Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop and discover more about women and medicine in colonial America.
HAMPTON
August 23
Commemorate the first African Landing at Fort Monroe with a special, meaningful program.
HANOVER COUNTY
August 16
Road to Recovery: An Examination of 18th Century Medicine
Join guest Interpreter Dr. William Hartland on Saturday, August 16th, as he shares the truly scary world of medicine in the 18th century. After the presentation, Scotchtown staff will lead you on a guided tour through the manor house where Henry, his family and enslaved lived and worked in the years leading up to the revolution.
HENRICO COUNTY
August 2 & 30
Do you know your Hamiltruths from your Hamilfictions? Find out in our new trivia game where we will test your knowledge of the hit musical versus the real life of Alexander Hamilton. Be sure to check out the travelling exhibit, Founding Frenemies: Hamilton and the Virginians while you’re here.
August 16
Family Sleuths: Revolutionary Spies
Do you have what it takes to be a spy? Solve secret messages, follow clues, and try to traverse the property without getting lost or captured!
August 31
Gabriel and a Man Named Nat: The Fight for Freedom
Discover the lives of two men that changed Virginia history. Learn about their complex lives and how they both met the challenge of being enslaved in a country that said: “all men are created equal.”
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY
August 3
From the site’s pre-colonial existence to the present day, Windsor Castle tells the fascinating history of the development of Smithfield. Join us for this walking tour through history as we explore the house and several of the outbuildings.
August 6
Summer Series Part III: From Awakening to Secularism
St Luke’s Executive Director, John Ericson examines the religious movement of the 1740s and its counter-movements in the following decades.
August 14
Hessians in Isle of Wight County
The term “Hessian” refers to the approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British to help fight during the American Revolution. Today, on the 250th anniversary of the first landing of German soldiery in America as “auxiliaries” of King George III’s Crown Forces to subdue the rebellious colonials, we will highlight their story to include those who fought here in Isle of Wight County.
August 23
Cemetery Preservation Workshop
The Cemetery Preservation Workshop is a free program designed to educate volunteers on the necessary training needed to safely preserve and protect historic tombstones and markers. This program promotes engagement and preservation of the church cemetery through education and practical experience.
JAMES CITY COUNTY
August 16
Jamestown Settlement honors the legacy of the first recorded Africans brought to Virginia in 1619 with reflections of history and modern perspectives through an African American lens.
August 21
Printmaking has been used all over the world to express many different viewpoints while demonstrating creativity. Share your perspective, too. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore linocut printmaking with a teaching artist. Find your inspiration for a piece and create a 4×6-inch print.
LOUDOUN COUNTY
August 8
Raise a glass to America’s favorite Frenchman on the 200th anniversary of his visit to Leesburg.
August 24
Asia and Asians in the 18th Century Mid-Atlantic
Asia was known for centuries in Europe, and the British were keen to profit off the exotic goods through commerce. This trade was far from a one-sided exchange; it was a dialogue between two very distinct cultures. Goods, ideas and people flowed through trade routes established by the British East India Company and reached as far as the 13 colonies (soon, the nascent United States). Asians arrived as distant foreigners in a strange land but left an indelible mark that has only recently been uncovered through careful research and revisiting overlooked documents.
MARTINSVILLE & HENRY COUNTY
August 3
Martinsville-Henry County 250 Symposium
In our first annual symposium, we will hear from three distinguished speaker on varying topics of the American Revolution. Our speakers are Hunter Haskins, Jeff Briggs, and VA250 Executive Director Cheryl Wilson.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
August 2
This free and day-long event will feature a June 1775 living history event to be held in Urbanna Baptist Church at 121 Watling Street at 11 am: Colonial Williamsburg interpreters, portraying Founding Fathers Thomas Jefferson and George Wythe, will engage in a lively discussion about the actions of the Second Continental Congress, which convened in May 1775.
NEWPORT NEWS
August 2
Coffee with a Historian: The Marquis de Lafayette, Hero of Two Worlds
Two powerful allies will unite on Saturday, August 2, to offer “Coffee with a Historian.” This series presents a history topic for informal conversation, supported by a Virginia War Museum historian and the cafe, books, and community of Paperbacks Ink.
August 9
Enjoy a day at Lee Hall Mansion that is all about balloons! This family-friendly program will include a balloon-themed puppet show and hands-on history and science tables. You will also be able to take a guided tour of the historic house and learn about how observation balloons were used here during the Civil War.
August 16
Bring your little ones to Lee Hall Depot for Tots & Trains! This fun morning outing includes a train-themed story and a craft in our freight room. We will also have a photo opportunity available with a surprise train visitor and will play a game!
August 23
Pawpaw Festival at Historic Endview
Celebrate Virginia’s largest native fruit at Historic Endview’s fifth annual Pawpaw Festival, presented in partnership with the Virginia Peninsula Master Naturalists!
NORFOLK
August 15
Movies at the Museum: Children of the War
August 15, 2025 will represent the 80th anniversary of Victory Over Japan (V-J) Day, a historic moment in the events leading to the end of World War II. In honor of this landmark anniversary in history, the MacArthur Memorial in partnership with the Philippine World War II Memorial Foundation will host a free screening of the recently released film Children of the War.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
August 11
Museum Family Day at Ben Lomond: Make Your Own Cornhusk Doll
Bring your whole family to Ben Lomond Historic Site to learn about cornhusk dolls, a popular children’s toy in the 19th century. Then, make your own cornhusk doll to take home with you.
RICHMOND
August 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30
Give Me Liberty Highlight Tours
Join members of the VMHC education team for thirty-minute highlight tours as they offer you an introduction to our newest exhibition, Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation.
August 3
Join public historian, author and exhibit curator Mark Greenough for a journey through time in search of the contents and consequences of Patrick Henry’s most celebrated speech.
August 3 & 22
Richmond and the Republic: Court End Neighborhood Walking Tour
Explore Richmond’s Federal-era history on this walking tour of the Valentine Museum’s Court End Neighborhood. In the years following the American Revolution, Court End became an affluent area where power players gathered in close proximity to the newly-established Virginia State Capitol.
August 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31
Witness Patrick Henry Convince his Fellow Delegates to Take Up Arms Against the King!
August 10
The wife of second U.S. President John Adams, Abigail Smith Adams is famous for her admonition to her husband to “remember the Ladies,” and was a woman well ahead of her time.
August 14
Defiant Spirits: Exploring the Legacy of Clementina Rind
On August 14th, Virago Spirits and the VMHC will highlight Clementina Rind from the VMHC Give Me Liberty exhibition – the first major exhibition in the US to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. Rind took over her husband’s printing office upon his death, and in 1766 became Virginia’s first female printer and newspaper publisher.
August 15
America’s Founding Story: Church Hill Neighborhood Walking Tour
Join the most experienced guides in Richmond to explore the revolutionary history of the Church Hill neighborhood – from historic St. John’s Church to Benedict Arnold’s raid on Richmond and beyond. Plus, check out the modern renovation efforts, scenic parks and thriving restaurant scene that make Church Hill a vibrant neighborhood today.
August 20
Talk by Historian Brent Tarter | Dunmore’s War of 1774
Join historian and author Brent Tarter, who will discuss Dunmore’s War of 1774.
August 21
Virginians Will Dance or Die! – 18th Century Music and Dancing Demonstration
Music was everywhere in colonial-era Virginia. In taverns and private homes, at formal performances, and casually around the campfire, music and dance filled daily life. Join the VMHC for a hands-on exploration of colonial-era music and dancing.
August 29
Roots of Revolution: Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Walking Tour
Join Richmond’s most experienced guides as we explore this historic neighborhood that was both the center of the domestic slave trade and the birthplace of American religious liberty. We’ll visit Richmond’s canal walk, explore the remnants of Richmond’s industrial origins, and stop by the Henry “Box” Brown monument.
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY & LEXINGTON
August 23
Established in 1976 – the year of the U.S. Bicentennial! – the Rockbridge Community Festival is a one-of-a-kind festival and features local vendors, including arts and crafts, local organizations, family fun, live music, and great vendors!
SMYTH COUNTY
August 17
Dan Kegley & Issaac Freeman – “Salling & Sinclair: Adventurers & Settlers”
On August 17th, Dan Kegley and Isaac Freeman will be doing a joint program on two of their ancestors titled, “Salling and Sinclair – Adventurers and Settlers.” Salling and Sinclair were some of the earliest settlers in the region. This event is free to attend.
STAFFORD COUNTY
August 13
The Kidnapping of Pocahontas, Politics, and Mythmaking in Patawomeck Country
This presentation takes an Indigenous-centered approach to that specific event, understanding it in reference to the larger social, political, and cultural contexts that were at play during the time. The myth that arose from this highly complex event illustrates how Indigenous history has been manipulated over centuries by non-Indigenous people to justify taking land, genocide, and denying identity.
August 21
U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note – MCHF Summer Concert Series
The free Summer Concerts are held outdoors on the National Museum of the Marine Corps’ entry plaza, weather permitting.
STAUNTON
August 1 & 15
Extracurricular Nights: An Evening With Crockett’s Battalion
Join the Frontier Culture Museum for special after-hours programming for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Test yourself- would you have been a patriot or a loyalist? Join in the defense of Virginia and enlist in Lt. Colonel Joseph Crockett’s Western Battalion. Sign the roll, draw your pay, and learn how these men fought to defend the Shenandoah Valley. Experience the American Revolution on the frontier and how Virginia’s unique frontier culture helped win American independence.
SUFFOLK
August 16 – 17
37th Annual Nansemond Indian Pow Wow
Two-day Native American cultural celebration, including music, dance, food, educational exhibits, displays and crafts.
VIRGINIA BEACH
August 7
National Lighthouse Day at Cape Henry Lighthouse
Celebrate National Lighthouse Day with Cape Henry Lighthouse! This family friendly event is free and open to the public using our shuttle system.
August 16
Virginia Legends Live-Featuring The Marquis de Lafayette Performed by Charles Wissinger
Living Historian Charles Wissinger presents the Marquis de Lafayette, the marvelously fascinating gentleman from France, in this informative and entertaining program.
August 21
Pirates and Piracy at the Thoroughgood House
Join the Virginia Beach History Museums for a swashbuckling adventure through the history of pirates and piracy! Tours will highlight the history of Dutch, English, Spanish and French pirates, and their involvement with the Virginia Colony and early America, during the “golden age” of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
August 2
Abingdon prides itself on its well-preserved downtown historic district and its commitment to historic preservation. Tour the interiors of a variety of the best-preserved Federal, Victorian, and early 20th-century houses and buildings in Virginia, all within walking distance downtown.
YORK COUNTY
August 2
Relive the day the British arrived. On August 2, 1781, British forces marched into Yorktown and changed the course of American history. Now, over 240 years later, you’re invited to step into the past and explore the sights, sounds, and stories of that pivotal moment.
Talking History: Alphonso F. Saville IV
Join Dr. Travis Harris as he sits down with Alphonso Saville to discuss Saville’s new book, “The Gospel of John Marrant: Conjuring Christianity in the Black Atlantic.”
