A regional festival celebrating the arts comes to the Historic Triangle this weekend.
The Virginia Arts Festival spans six weeks and 10 cities every year with the mission of bringing world-class performing arts to Hampton Roads. Established in 1997, it also reaches students through educational programs and commissions new works.
The festival kicked off April 2 with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and has since featured the Tallis Scholars chamber vocal ensemble, Chick Corea on solo piano, violinist Joshua Bell with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Festival Williamsburg starts Thursday and runs through Sunday with the following performances:
Miami String Quartet
The Miami String Quartet will be joined by additional cello and piano for a program starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Williamsburg Winery. The chamber concert is presented by the winery along with the City of Williamsburg and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
Tickets are $30 each.
Coffee Concert
The fourth in a series of “coffee concerts” as part of this year’s festival, this event features chamber music in an intimate, morning setting. The program is hosted by Raymond Jones with Peter Wiley on cello, Benny Kim on violin and André-Michel Schub on piano.
The concert starts at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Williamsburg Winery. Tickets are $20.
Richard Alston Dance Company
Richard Alston, British choreographer, has 45 years of experience setting music to movement. Known for its musicality, Alston’s dance comes to the Phi Beta Kappa Hall stage Friday.
The program starts at 8 p.m., with tickets $25 or $40.
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
Husband and wife musicians Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn have succeeded as separate acts, but come together to perform at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Virginia Room of the Williamsburg Lodge.
Fleck is a banjo player who has explored multiple genres, and Washburn plays the clawhammer banjo in addition to singing and writing songs.
Tickets are $35 or $45.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Started in 1993, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has recorded 10 albums and sold more than 2 million copies. Seven members strong, the band plays a mix of swing, jazz and rock tunes.
The concert starts at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Williamsburg Lodge. General admission standing room tickets are $25, with reserved table seating available for $45.
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Festival Williamsburg is funded in part by the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission, the City of Williamsburg and James City County.
Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 282-2822. Purchase in person with no service fees from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Williamsburg Municipal Building at 401 Lafayette St.
