WILLIAMSBURG — For the first time since 2015, Colonial Williamsburg will come alive with the sights and sounds of the 18th century as up to 100 reenactors gather Nov. 1–2 to bring history to life.
The event, titled ‘Williamsburg Dy’d of a Purple Coulour,’ will interpret the 2nd Virginia Regiment and its impact on the community in 1775. The reenactor weekend marks the beginning of programming leading up to the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
According to Sam McGinty, military programs supervisor at Colonial Williamsburg, reviving the event was about more than nostalgia, it’s about accuracy and immersion.
“As we roll into the upcoming 250th anniversary, reenactors are a really valuable resource to help bring the town alive,” McGinty said. “We’re recreating as closely as we can exactly what was happening on Nov. 1 and 2 of 1775.”
The event will feature drills, demonstrations, and scenes that reflect daily military life during the early revolutionary period. Unlike earlier reenactments focused broadly on battles, this year’s program zeroes in on historical precision.
“We’ve done a good bit of research into who these men were, what they were wearing, what they were carrying, what they were doing,” McGinty said.
To ensure authenticity, each reenactor was required to apply and submit photos of their clothing for review. “They worked very hard in adhering to the guidelines that we set,” McGinty said.
A key feature of this year’s event is the involvement of Colonial Williamsburg’s historic trades. Blacksmiths, tailors, wheelwrights and dyers will help equip the regiment, mirroring how tradespeople supported the war effort in the 1770s.
“Soldiers need a whole lot of stuff,” McGinty said. “An army doesn’t march purely on soldiers, it relies on the contributions of society as a whole.”
One unique element being recreated is the order for the regiment’s uniforms to be dyed purple, a detail drawn directly from the 2nd Virginia Regiment’s records.
“There’s no explanation as to why purple,” McGinty said. “But it’s fascinating to imagine hundreds of hunting shirts being dyed that color so quickly. It shows how many people were involved beyond just the soldiers.”
The immersive weekend will feature demonstrations at the Military Encampment, the Courthouse Green and various trade shops throughout the Historic Area. McGinty said the event aims not only to entertain but also to deepen understanding of Williamsburg’s role in the American Revolution.
“The people who take their time to come to a historic site and help educate the public really believe in the importance of public history,” he said. “It’s valuable for Americans to have a tangible connection to the past.”
Beyond drills and demonstrations, the event aims to help visitors understand how Williamsburg’s citizens once lived through uncertain times, and how their choices shaped the nation’s future. McGinty said he hopes visitors leave with a renewed sense of connection and curiosity.
“These men who marched to Williamsburg and stood in defiance of tyranny were people who struggled with many of the same problems we do,” he said. “If we can, through reenacting our founding, spark curiosity and think about what it means to be American, that’s a very good thing.”
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