The end of summer isn’t that far away – are you getting a little tired of going to the pool and mowing the yard? 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 week, we decided to round up all the museum exhibits and programs and put them here, in case you’re feeling up to some local culture-hopping. There is also a comedy fundraiser going on this weekend, several films, a little bit of street-art fun, and a few outdoor adventures to get the kids (and grownups) outside. Read on!
Museum Exhibits and Programs
Summer is a great time to explore museums! We’ve covered these once before in W.Y.D. over the course of various weekends, but in case you forgot, here are some exhibits and programs going on right now at nearby venues:
This summer, there’s a special exhibition at Jamestown Settlement called “Jamestown’s Legacy to the American Revolution.” This exhibit examines the lives of Revolutionary War-era descendants of people associated with 17th-century Jamestown and features more than 60 artifacts acquired for the future American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (to replace the Yorktown Victory Center), including a 19th-century life-size sculpture of George Washington. Check out the calendar link for details.
The new theme this month at Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center is “Pastimes of Colonial Virginia,” which will feature games and other diversions of 17th- and 18th-century Virginia shown through hands-on activities and interpretive programs. Visitors can play corncob darts, ninepins, quoits, mancala and nine-men’s morris. Visit the calendar to get more information.
Explore the exciting world of archaeology at Jamestown and come face to face with colonist Captain Brewster during a special kid’s tour. 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.
At the Virginia Living Museum, you’ll find the “Bodies Revealed” exhibit, comprised of dissected human bodies that are preserved in various poses and states of dissection to give you a clear view of what we’re all made of. The museum is also hosting a planetarium program called “A. Lincoln: The Case of the Missing Moon,” that looks at a famous case of Abraham Lincoln’s; a second planetarium show called “Microcosm: the Adventure within” looks at the micro-world of viruses in the human body. Visit the VLM website to find out all the various shows and exhibits they’re offering right now.
The Peninsula Fine Arts Center is hosting a series of exhibits called “Aquatic: Expressions of Water in Art.” You can explore artistic expressions of water through four exhibits: “A Day at the the Beach” features paintings both literal and metaphorical; “Floating” is a playful look at boats; “Hiroshige’s Waters” includes prints by the famed Japanese woodblock artist; and “Swimming Holes” showcases photographs of upstate New York by Virginia native Christian Johnston. Check out the calendar to find out information about museum hours and more.
Don’t forget to stop by local museums that we didn’t mention, including the Watermen’s Museum, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum!
Theatre and Film
As part of its “Art After 5 Movie Series” on Thursday evening, the Peninsula Fine Arts Center is showing the film “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child,” a 2010 documentary about the artist, who died of an overdose at the age of 27 in 1988. The event will feature poetry from local writers from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the screening at 7 p.m. Look at the calendar to get more information.
Sunday’s free outdoor movie on Prince George Street it the classic “Mary Poppins!” But that’s not all – Retro’s, an event sponsor, is inviting all would-be artists and chimney sweeps to come out at 6 p.m. to sign up, grab some chalk, and make a street-art masterpiece! (If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll totally get this event). If you have questions, visit the Retro’s website or just show up on Sunday. The movie starts at 8:30 p.m.
August is Bad Vacation month for the Williamsburg Regional Library Thursday Afternoon Film Series, featuring free afternoon movies about disastrous holiday trips. This week’s film is “Are We There Yet? America on Vacation,” (2000). Matthew Broderick narrates this fun and nostalgic documentary that looks at how the average American family vacationed in the 20th century, including summer camp, going to the beach and the traditional family car trip to the national parks. Check out the calendar to find out when and where.
The library is also showing family films for free on selected weekend days this summer. On Saturday, they’ll show “My Dog the Thief,” an oldie from Disney starring Dwayne Hickman, Mary Ann Mobley, and Elsa Lanchester. A helicopter pilot giving traffic updates is considered by his boss as boring. But when Barabbas, a St. Bernard who steals, hides in the helicopter, things change. On Sunday, catch the flick “For the Love of a Dog,” a perfect movie for the Dog Days of Summer. Based on a true story featuring Sherman Hemsley and Phil Vassar, the movie revolves around the need to save a beloved dog from dying of cancer. Visit the calendar to find out when these shows are playing.
Music
Disco and funk legend KC and the Sunshine Band will perform at Busch Gardens on Saturday evening. Come shake, shake, shake your groove-thing along with some of the band’s classic hits! Concerts are held at the Busch Gardens’ Royal Palace Theatre and are included with guest admission to the park. Here are details from the calendar. Also, Christian rock band Third Day will be at the park on Sunday as park of its Glory at the Gardens music series. That show is also at the Royal Palace Theatre, and it starts at 7 p.m.
On the weekends in summer, you can usually catch a live band over at Berret’s Taphouse Grill. This Friday, they’re hosting the Sean Petersen Experiment, and on Saturday you can see the Tony Mata Trio.
Outdoor Adventures
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science will be leading a class on Native American fishing techniques on Friday morning at York River State Park. The class will examine traditional fishing techniques used by local tribes and the species they typically caught. This hands-on program is open to adults and children ages 8 and up (children must be accompanied by an adult), but you’ll need to register. Check out the calendar for more on this program.
Bring your own kayak or canoe to New Quarter Park on Saturday for an out-and-back paddle on beautiful Queen Creek. Participants should arrive at 9 a.m. and expect to launch by 9:20 a.m. The paddle will last about two and a half hours. The program is free and open to the public. Kayaks are available to rent for BYOK from Chesapeake Experience for $30 by calling 259-6859 or emailing [email protected] no later than noon Friday. Bring water and a snack and remember to wear a hat and sunscreen.
Fundraisers
The Williamsburg Comedy Club will be raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters on Friday night. The newly opened Comedy Club, located in the DoubleTree Hotel that was formerly the Williamsburg Hotel and Conference Center, will feature a performance by comedian Andy Pitz at 9 p.m. Half of the ticket price during the “Funny Fundraiser” will go to the nonprofit, which offers mentoring services for at-risk local youth. Tickets for Club shows are normally $26, but for this event, tickets will be $20 with a special promotion code; $10 will be donated to BBBS. Visit the Comedy Club website to buy tickets, and enter promo code BBBS1979.
Friday night is Avalon spirit night at Buffalo Wild Wings in New Town. Visit the restaurant between 4 and 8 p.m. and tell the server you’re there for Avalon, and they’ll donate 10% of your check to the nonprofit that helps abused women and children.
Farmer’s Markets
From 8 a.m. to noon, check out Yorktown Market Day on Saturday. You’ll find fresh produce, meat and seafood, baked goods, coffee, specialty cut flowers, art, entertainment and much more.
Saturday is also the Toano Farmers Market, which features Bob’s Sausage Company, Rainbow Eggs, Heidi’s Home Grown, plus an array of produce vendors. You’ll find this market at the corner of Forge and Richmond Roads in Toano.
The Williamsburg Farmer’s Market is also going on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon on Duke of Gloucester Street. You’ll find all kinds of scrumptious produce as well as other gourmet and fresh-from-the-farm foods.
Odds and Ends
Centerstage Academy in York County is hosting an open house Saturday for young people interested in learning how to act, sing or play an instrument. Find out what the Academy offers and meet its staff — get details from the calendar.
