WILLIAMSBURG — The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation announced a slate of May events and exhibits coming to Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Upcoming events for May include:
May 3: Indigenous Arts Day at Jamestown Settlement
According to the foundation, this event celebrates “the enduring legacies of Indigenous cultures with traditional and contemporary art forms, including special outdoor performances of music and dance.” Native Pride Productions performers will present energetic and rhythmic dances, storyteller Perry Ground will bring traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) legends to life and musician Nathan Elliott will share the sounds of wooden flutes.
May 10: Jamestown Day at Jamestown Settlement
The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation is inviting people to mark the 418th anniversary of the 1607 founding of Jamestown with family-friendly programs, military salutes, maritime and interpretive demonstrations. A mid-morning artillery salute will signal the departure of the Godspeed sailing along the James River, weather permitting. Visitors can join in and drill with a 17th-century artillery crew and watch how the Powhatan people prepared the abundance of fish and seafood available this time of year.
May 17: Farmers & Foragers Family Day at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
A new series of Family Day programs kick off with an exploration of plants in the 18th century. The Foundation said families can discover the important roles of plants in daily life during the American Revolution, learn how to identify native plants and explore the cultural connections among plants used as a food source.
May 21: Director’s Series with Michael Paul Williams at Jamestown Settlement
Richmond native Michael Paul Williams, an American journalist and regular columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, will join Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation Executive Director Christy S. Coleman for a conversation that promises to unpack important stories from today’s headlines. The program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 per person with advance registration.
May 24: World Bee Day at Jamestown Settlement
The first recorded honeybees in North America arrived in 1622 in beehives carried on a ship to Jamestown, according to the foundation. Museum shops, including Virginia’s Official Pollinator Shop, will celebrate with honeybee-related activities featuring vendor demonstrations and tastings by Bodhi Bee Farms, Williamsburg Area Beekeepers Association, St. George Brewing Company, Savannah Bee Company, Silver Hand Meadery, author Virginia Johnson and artist Ron Navroski. The day will also be paired with honey-inspired menu options at the Jamestown Settlement Café.
Through July 27: Patrons & Patriots: The Legacy of Nick & Mary Mathews at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
This 250th-commemorative exhibition celebrates the lives and philanthropy of the late Nick and Mary Mathews, Yorktown restaurateurs who, on the eve of America’s 1976 Bicentennial, donated the land for what is now the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. View artifacts and images reflecting their personal lives and professional successes, along with rare objects that defined their iconic restaurant. Learn about their patrons, from Elizabeth Taylor to John Wayne, and their patriotism, from free meals for servicemen to sponsorship of the U.S.S. Yorktown.
All daytime events and exhibits are included with admission. Individual museum admission is $20 for adults, $10 for those aged 6-12 and free for children ages 5 and under. A combination ticket to both museums is available for $34 for adults and $17 for those aged 6-12. Admission tickets can be purchased online or in person.
Free admission is provided to residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg, including William & Mary students, with proof of residency. In partnership with Museums for All, free admission is available to SNAP benefit recipients, up to four visitors per EBT card. Military are eligible for free admission on May 13, the official Jamestown Day observance. Visit jyfmuseums.org/visit/tickets for details.
