YORKTOWN — Several events taking place at Colonial National Historical Park Yorktown Battlefield, Historic Yorktown and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown this weekend will celebrate Yorktown Day, marking America’s Revolutionary War victory in 1781.
The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation notes this year’s celebration also features festivities to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Maj. Gen. Marquis de Lafayette’s return to Yorktown on the 200th anniversary of his Grand Tour of America in 1824 as “Guest of the Nation.”
Historian Mark Schneider, a Colonial Williamsburg Nation Builder, will appear as Lafayette.
The tour, presented by the American Friends of Lafayette, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, and America 250, retraces Lafayette’s visit to all 24 states.
Among the appearances, Lafayette will arrive in Yorktown on Friday, Oct. 18, sailing into the port on the Luna, a replica of a 1768 Virginia sloop, during a ceremony from 3-5 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, Schneider will participate in the Yorktown Day Parade, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a flyover by the French Air Force, Lafayette Squadron.
After the parade, at the Yorktown Victory Monument, Lafayette will serve as the keynote speaker during the annual Patriotic Exercises at 11:15 a.m.
Honoring Yorktown Day
The annual Yorktown Day commemoration honors the October 19, 1781, victory by allied American and French armies under the command of Gen. George Washington at the Siege of Yorktown.
After a nine-day bombardment, British forces under Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis requested a cease-fire and then surrendered more than 8,000 soldiers and sailors. As the last major military action of the American Revolution, the victory at Yorktown effectively secured independence for the American colonies following a six-and-a-half-year military struggle, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation explains.
The modern-day observance of Yorktown Day traces its roots to 1922, when the Daughters of the American Revolution began an annual wreath-laying ceremony, which set the tradition upon which the current Yorktown Day is based.
Today, Yorktown Day commemorative events are co-sponsored by the Yorktown Day Association, comprised of 13 civic, patriotic and government organizations, and the National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park.
Townwide Events & Ceremonies — Oct. 18
WREATH-LAYING CEREMONIES FOR BRITISH AND LOYALIST SOLDIERS, 10 a.m.-noon , Various Locations
At 10 a.m. at the Nelson House on Main Street, British military representatives will honor the British forces during a garden ceremony near the plaque of Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis, followed by a 10:55 a.m. ceremony with Canadian military representatives honoring the Loyalists at the Queen’s Rangers commemorative plaque along the York River on Water Street. Ceremonies conclude with a public commencement at the Watermen’s Museum Carriage House.
200TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAFAYETTE’S GRAND TOUR, 3-5 p.m. Riverwalk Landing, Water Street
Celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette’s return to America in 1824 with the arrival of Major General Lafayette sailing into the Yorktown harbor on the replica sloop, the Luna.
A ceremony will feature music by the 29th Infantry Band, Virginia Army National Guard, celebratory remarks and presentations, followed by Lafayette departing on a carriage to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Yorktown Day Events — Oct. 19
WREATH-LAYING CEREMONIES HONORING AMERICAN AND FRENCH SOLDIERS, 8:30-9:10 a.m. Various Locations
Morning ceremonies will be held at the French Cemetery, the French Memorial and the grave of Gov. Thomas Nelson Jr.
YORKTOWN DAY PARADE COMMENCES WITH FRENCH AIR FORCE FLYOVER, 10:30 a.m., Main Street
A flyover by the French Air Force, Lafayette Squadron, will commence the annual Yorktown Day Parade, featuring 40 units representing of all branches of the U.S. military, fife and drum corps — including The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps — JROTC and NJROTC units, high school marching bands and patriotic organizations.
PATRIOTIC EXERCISES, 11:15 a.m., Yorktown Victory Monument at Colonial National Historical Park
At 11:15 a.m., Colonial National Historical Park wreath-laying ceremonies at the monument will honor American, French and Spanish forces in memory of those who fought and died during the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
Patriotic Exercises will begin with the annual pageant of flags, a colorful display that includes the American and French national colors, the flags of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, and the flags of the 13 Yorktown Day Association members.
THE U.S. ARMY OLD GUARD FIFE AND DRUM CORPS PERFORMANCE, 1 p.m., Yorktown Victory Monument at Colonial National Historical Park
“YORKTOWN VICTORY CELEBRATION” EVENT
At the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, stories of citizens and soldiers of the American Revolution unfold daily at the expansive history museum through immersive films, exhibition galleries and outdoor re-creations of a Continental Army encampment and Revolution-era farm. During “Yorktown Victory Celebration” on Oct. 19, visitors can enjoy musical performances and take part in interpretive demonstrations, including cooking, drilling and military tactics on land and sea.
Artillery demonstrations, showcasing the varied roles of an artillery crew, will take place in the outdoor amphitheater at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., each followed by the crew firing a salute in honor of the victory at Yorktown.
Visitors can enjoy musical performances by the Field Musick Virginia at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.
At 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., guests can “meet” French general Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, in a first-person portrayal by Michael Halbert.
Yorktown Battlefield Self-Guided Tours
Colonial National Historical Park Yorktown Battlefield, including battlefield tour roads and grounds, the site of the climactic 1781 siege, are open daily from 6 a.m. to sunset.
The Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center, with historic exhibits and the park film, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., along with the Eastern National Park Store.
On Oct. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m., the Nelson House, Dudley Diggs Home, Swan Tavern and Poor Potter sites, located throughout the village of Yorktown, will be open for self-guided tours.
For more information, call 757-890-5900 or visit visityorktown.org.
