You’ll never guess what’s happening this weekend – and you don’t need to guess, because we’re here to tell you! No matter your bent, we’ve collected some of the best bets for weekend fun right here in WYD, which stands for What You’ll Do.
We pull these ideas off our community calendar, which you can find on the right side of WYDaily.com. Submitting to the calendar is free and easy, so make sure to add upcoming events for your group or organization.
This weekend’s fun includes a few big historical events, harvest festivals, fundraisers and lots more. Read on for details!
Fundraisers
Attend a unique fundraiser on Saturday called Pawsibilities: People and Pets Against Violence that aims to raise awareness of the links between abusive behavior and relationships, animal abuse and mental illness. Planned fun for the day in New Quarter Park includes a dog walk, adoptable pets, dog costume contest, raffle, vendors and more. Prizes include a $50 gift card to Go Ape, $50 gift card to Serenity Spa, a gift card to Williamsburg Wine and Design and more! All proceeds will benefit Avalon, the Center for Sexual Assault Survivors, Pawsitively Precious Adoptions and Ring Dog Rescue. Click here for more information.
Take a one-weekend trip back in time to the Middle Ages at the Harvest Faire at Endview Plantation in Yorktown! Visitors will see knights in combat and on horseback, period craft demonstrations, merchants, food, beer, music, Middle-Eastern dance and more. This is a charity fundraiser donating the income to the local foodbank. Costumes are fun but not required. Look at the calendar for details.
History Galore
This weekend is Military History Weekend at the Holiday Inn Patriot Williamsburg. This annual two-day event, suitable for the whole family, commemorates American warriors who have fought at home and abroad with tomahawk and musket, rifle and sword, machine-gun and bayonet. Come out and learn the way these warriors lived and fought through re-enactment, recreation and study. The calendar has details.
Historic Jamestowne is celebrating Virginia Archaeology Day this Saturday. Along with a day of archaeology-themed activities, guests can visit the Glasshouse of 1608 and Historic Green Spring for a weekend of special activities and programs that include a variety of tours, activities and encounters. Here’s a link to a story that has a list of events, and here’s the calendar link.
Did you know there was an historic Yorktown Tea Party? Sunday, costumed actors will present a dramatic reenactment of the Yorktown Tea Party of 1774. Like the famous Boston Tea Party, the Yorktown event was a similar, thought smaller, protest against Britain’s denial of rights to the American colonists, which led to the American Revolution. At Yorktown, patriots tossed chests of tea brought on a ship from England into the York River, in support of the people of Boston. The event includes performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town. (This event is a historical reenactment. It is not affiliated with any political movement or party.) It will take place Sunday afternoon At Riverwalk Landing stage, on the Yorktown waterfront at Water and Buckner streets. The calendar has details.
Literature and the Arts
Canadian author Afua Cooper will speak at the Williamsburg Library Theatre on Friday evening. The program is free and reservations are not needed. Cooper’s book, “My Name is Phillis Wheatley,” was selected as the 2012 Beacon of Freedom Award, a children’s literature award jointly sponsored by Williamsburg Regional Library and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The book tells the story of the 18th century African-born woman sold into slavery as a child and transported to Boston. Here are details.
Harvest Time
Stop by Yorktown Market Days’ Fall Festival Celebration on Saturday. They’ll have hayrides, a children’s hay maze, face painting, a pumpkin patch, children activities and live music. Also, don’t forget the market’s usual array of fresh produce, meat and seafood, baked goods, specialty cut flowers and quality art at the Riverwalk Landing. This event is free; look on the calendar to get more information.
The 12th Annual Hickory Neck Family Festival is going on Saturday. The event will raise funds for local charities including Grove Christian Outreach, Faith in Action, Angels of Mercy, and others. Enjoy homemade BBQ and other luncheon specials as well as bakery treats and gourmet items, as well as lots of children’s activities, live music, an arts & crafts show, a silent auction and more. Click here for details.
Homes
This weekend is Ford’s Colony’s annual Parade of Homes. You can tour resale homes, new construction homes, and condos throughout the neighborhood. There’s a complimentary lunch for registered guests on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Check out details here.
