Is the summer heat starting to wear you down? Are you getting a little tired of the pool? Well, there are lots of fun things going on around town this weekend to perk you right up! Take a peek at our best bets for fun right here in W.Y.D, which stands for What You’ll Do, and pick your adventure.
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 the Virginia Shakespeare Festival is showing “King Richard III,” but if musicals are more your speed, check out “1776” the historical musical; if you have kids, there are tons of family events going on, and if you’re looking for some grownups-only fun, Colonial Williamsburg’s popular Wine, Wit and Wisdom is going on, too. Read on!
Theater and Film
The Virginia Shakespeare Festival continues its summer season with “King Richard III,” which has multiple show times this weekend. Richard III is a villain to make all other villains (even Dallas’ J. R. Ewing) blush in shame for their limitations. To gain a throne, he kills his brother, half a court of nobles, two small children, and his best friend. It’s Shakespeare at his bloody, thrilling best. Here are details from the calendar.
Old-fashioned, small-town America is the setting for the Williamsburg Regional Library’s Thursday Afternoon Film Series (a free series held Thursdays in the Library Theatre). This week’s film is “Excuse My Dust” (1951). THe flick takes place in 1895 Indiana, where inventor Joe Belden (Red Skelton) is scaring the animals, annoying the townsfolk and generally creating a ruckus with his new-fangled contraption, the gas-powered automobile. This slapstick musical comedy co-stars Sally Forrest, MacDonald Carey, William Demarest and several nifty early-era automobiles. Here’s the calendar link with more details if you need them.
Music (and Musicals)
Celebrate the birth of our country with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy, “1776,” showing at the Kimball Theatre in Merchants Square. The show features the spirited music and lyrics of Sherman Edwards with a wonderfully funny script by Peter Stone. The story is based on actual events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence, focusing mainly on the efforts of John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American independence and sign the document. Through song and witty dialogue you will capture a behind-the -scenes glimpse of the process that resulted in our nation’s freedom. There are several shows, so check the calendar link to find out more.
Thursday evenings are the popular Shagging on the Riverwalk beach music concerts over in Yorktown. Sand, tunes, dancing and fun – need we say more? Bring a blanket and chairs and have some fun! Get details and the calendar.
Fun for the Family
Explore the exciting world of archaeology at Jamestown and come face to face with colonist Captain Brewster during a special kid’s tour Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Folks can meet the archaeologists who rediscovered the 1607 James Fort and see what they are finding this season, and meet Captain Brewster, one of the early English settlers, and learn about the hardships faced by the early settlers. As one of his new “recruits,” he’ll put the kids through their paces as they prepare for a Spanish or Indian attack. Children must be accompanied by an adult chaperone – you can get more information from our calendar.
The Williamsburg Regional Library is hosting free family movies on Sunday afternoons this summer. This week’s film is “Furry Vengeance,” a story about Don (Brendon Fraser), who moves his family to the woods to take a new job with a supposedly eco-friendly housing development. The local animals have their own ideas about the loved forest and they unite to take action. The movie is rated PG. Here’s the calendar listing with details.
Did you ever wonder what happens inside your body when you get the flu? Ever wished you could watch the workings of your immune system? Enter the world of the extraordinarily tiny in a Virginia Living Museum planetarium show called “Microcosm: The Adventure Within,” as it send you deep inside the body of a woman infected with a dangerous virus. Join the crew of the miniaturized medical submarine that must destroy the interior invaders – before it’s too late. The show runs regularly and is suitable for ages 8 and up; check the calendar to get more information.
Take a historic wagon ride through the remains of Taskinas Plantation at York River State Park on Saturday afternoon. The park’s staff archaeologist has discovered forts, slave quarters, workshops, and relics of the colonial past that you’ll get a chance to see. You’ll need reservations, so look at the calendar to find out how to sign up.
Books and talks
The Jane Austen Society book club, sponsored by Barnes and Noble, will meet at the New Town location on the second Sunday of every month. This Sunday afternoon, Bastille Daythe group will host a discussion about the English author Jane Austen and the French Revolution. What did she know about it? How did it influence her personal life, and did it enter into her writings? Check out the calendar link for details.
Food and Drink
Colonial Williamsburg’s popular Wine, Wit and Wisdom, which features tastings of wines paired with products from local farmers and purveyors, continues this Saturday afternoon with “A Sparkling Experience.” You can celebrate American Independence with the sparkle of bubbles on the palate! Colonial Williamsburg Executive Chef Rhys Lewis and his colleagues explore the wines of a particular region at each session, mixing learning with loving the taste of varietals from all over the world. Wine, Wit and Wisdom and Pints and Pairings take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Williamsburg Lodge, 310 S. England St. Tickets are $45.50, including tax and gratuity, and are required. Call 220-7976 for reservations. More information about Wine, Wit and Wisdom and Pints and Pairings can be found at colonialwilliamsburg.com.
Odds and Ends
Iron-Bound Gym is holding a Zumbathon on Saturday! If you’re interested in this exercise craze that gets your body grooving, head out to the gym’s parking lot in New Town. The event is free, but you can share a donation for Child Development Resources. The calendar has more information.
Join local Argentine Tango enthusiasts as they share a dialogue on the dance floor Thursday night at the Peninsula Fine Arts center. Take a free lesson at 6 p.m., or just enjoy the show! Here’s the calendar link with more information.
