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Huzzah! Join in the festivities to commemorate the Siege of Yorktown in 1781 and the Revolutionary War victory that paved the way for America and her freedom.

In the wake of the federal government shutdown, the annual Yorktown Day Parade on Main Street and Patriotic Exercises, traditionally held at the Yorktown Victory Monument, administered by Colonial National Historical Park Yorktown Battlefield, have been cancelled. The Yorktown Day Association will hold a private ceremony on October 19 honoring Yorktown Day at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Wreath-laying ceremonies honoring American and French soldiers, as well as British and Loyalist soldiers, will be held on October 18-19 at various locations in Historic Yorktown.

Activities open to the public include:

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
• On October 18-19, Yorktown Victory Celebration interpretive programs will feature artillery demonstrations, military drills and hands-on experiences for visitors to examine cloth dyeing, 18th-century cooking and gardening, surveying and military tactics on land and sea during the Siege at Yorktown. Visitors can enjoy performances by the Fifes and Drums of York Town, encounter a first-person portrayal by Michael Halbert as the Comte de Rochambeau, a French nobleman and general who led the French forces during the Siege of Yorktown, and a talk by Sean Heuvel, Ph.D., author of “Virginia Militia Commanders at Yorktown,” followed by a book signing.

• “Fresh Views of the American Revolution” Special Exhibition, debuting October 18, commemorates America’s 250th anniversary through new perspectives on the ideals and legacies of the Revolution through the folk art of Oscar de Mejo created during the 1976 Bicentennial and engaging community art programs. A special exhibition tour will take place at 12 p.m. October 18.

Historic Yorktown
• Red, white, and blue will be on full display at Riverwalk Landing during a morning of shopping, entertainment, and family fun at Yorktown Market Days’ Victory Market on October 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Browse handcrafted works from local artisans—including glassware, paintings, woodwork, and more—and enjoy an all-American lineup of market favorites such as apples, cookies, meats, oysters, and other local delicacies. Event highlights include live music by Corey Pavlovsky, a quilt-making activity for Visit Williamsburg’s Great American Birthday Quilt Project, Continental Army photo opportunities, a story time with George Washington’s dog, and spy games.

• On Saturday, October 18, the U.S. Coast Guard Tracen Ceremonial Band will perform at 2 p.m. at Yorktown & Co. Stage, offering an afternoon of patriotic sounds and powerful performances. Visitors are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs, relax in the scenic yard along Main Street, soak in the charm of Historic Yorktown and enjoy gourmet coffee, wine, beer and mouthwatering sweets next door from Mobjack Coffee Roasters and Little York Confectionery. Free and open to the public.