YORKTOWN — The 242nd anniversary of America’s decisive Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown will be celebrated Saturday through Thursday, Oct. 14 through 19, with a multi-day salute of events and activities at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Yorktown Battlefield and Historic Yorktown.
The salute will culminate with Yorktown Day commemorative events on Oct. 19.
The celebration kicks off at the American Revolution Museum on Oct. 14. with special Revolutionary War programs, artillery firings and musical performances.
At the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, stories of citizens and soldiers of the American Revolution unfold daily at the history museum through immersive films, exhibition galleries and outdoor re-creations of a Continental Army encampment and Revolution-era farm.
During the “Yorktown Victory Celebration” on Saturday, Oct. 14, visitors will be able to enjoy musical performances and take part in interpretive demonstrations, including cooking, basket-weaving 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 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., each followed by the crew firing a salute in honor of the victory at Yorktown.
Visitors will also be able to enjoy musical performances by the Fifes and Drums of York Town at 11 a.m. in the Continental Army encampment.
Visit the museum webpage for more information and times.
Thursday, Oct. 19, official “Yorktown Day” events will include several wreath-laying ceremonies and a patriotic parade down Main Street at 10:30 a.m.
Vehicular access to the following streets in historic Yorktown will be restricted to residents and their guests on Thursday, Oct. 19, from 8 a.m. to noon.
- Zweybrucken Road (closed to vehicular traffic until 12:30 p.m.)
- Bacon Street (closed to vehicular traffic until 12:30 p.m.)
- Smith Street
- Nelson Street
- Read Street
- Church Street
- Main Street
The Yorktown Trolley will deviate from its normal route to accommodate the patriotic exercises. The trolley will follow this schedule:
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — National Park Service Visitor Center to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown via Ballard Street to Water Street and return via Water Street and Ballard Street.
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. — Returns to normal route: National Park Service Visitor Center to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown via Zweybrucken Road, Comte de Grasse Street and Water Street and return via Water Street and Ballard Street.
Event details and parade route can be found on the Visit Yorktown webpage.
For more information about Historic Yorktown events and programs, call 757-890-5900 or visit visityorktown.org.
