About

Kick off the iconic James River Batteau Festival on Friday night with live music and libations at Riverfront Park, then come back Saturday morning for the launching of the historic batteaux, historical reenactments, artisan vendors, food trucks and more. This year, to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, the City of Lynchburg is partnering with LYH250 to create an immersive historical experience along the 18th century waterfront.

The James River Batteau Festival is an eight-day event featuring authentic replicas of the sleek, shallow-draft merchant boats upon which the Old Dominion rode to its first era of economic prosperity in the late 1700s, just before the start of the American Revolution. These boats became essential to Virginia's war effort, transporting men and supplies along the James. Beginning on the waterfront of Lynchburg the festival moves along a 200-year-old route, stopping each day in the historic towns and communities along the way. Each evening is a celebration of the cultural heritage of this legendary river basin in music, song, dance and storytelling, plus lots of plain old-time Virginia socializing.