Sip your way through the arts with multiple events for tasting wine and beer alongside creative visuals included in this week’s Williamsburg Fall Arts. This weekend also welcomes An Occasion for the Arts, the 46th annual tradition of outdoor art and performance.
Previously known as Arts Month, Williamsburg Fall Arts programs run through Columbus Day weekend in October.
This week’s events:
An Occasion for the Arts
In its 46th year, the annual festival comes to the streets of downtown Williamsburg on Saturday and Sunday. An Occasion for the Arts will feature more than 140 juried artists, along with live performances, craft brew tastings and children’s art programs.
Click here to learn what is new with AOFTA this year.
It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days in Merchants Square and down North Boundary Street to Scotland Street.
Gallery Crawl
A shuttle will ferry Gallery Crawl participants between almost 20 venues between Merchants Square, through the Williamsburg Arts District and up to High Street. There will be food, music and wine at the stops on Thursday evening.
In addition to the regular stops from previous years of the annual events, this year’s Gallery Crawl adds Artfully Yours, Colonial Folk Art and The Precious Gem.
The crawl runs from 5 to 10 p.m., with guests meeting at one of three will call tents.
Tickets are $40 each. Click here to learn more and purchase spots online.
Yorktown Wine Festival
Sample a host of Virginia wines at the Yorktown Wine Festival from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. With art and food vendors, plus entertainment, the festival is scheduled at Riverwalk Landing, rain or shine.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the event, which includes sampling and a souvenir wine glass. Non-tasting wristbands can be purchased for $10 at the door.
Following the festival at 7:30 p.m. will be a dinner event with four courses and eight Virginia wines. Admission is $75 for the dinner.
Click here to reserve tickets or for more information.
An Occasion for Taste
As guests visit An Occasion for the Arts, the Blue Talon will present the culinary arts with an all-day buffet and tastings of wine, beer and spirits. An Occasion for Taste will feature more than 100 wines to sample, eight craft breweries and local distillers.
The event starts at 11:30 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. A $45 ticket can be used on either day, with entrance for a second day available for $10 more. Tickets are $50 at the door.
Quirks of Art
The High Street shop will host a meet-and-greet with Atlanta artist Houston Llew on Friday evening. Llew will be presenting his glass on copper art from 6 to 9 p.m. In tandem with the gallery crawl, there will be music by The Hark and food by Le Yaca restaurant.
From 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday night, Quirks of Art will present “Art & Soul II: Vintage Voices,” bringing art, live music and food to Prince George Street.
Timeline Jazz Quartet will perform in a tent in front of the Blue Talon Bistro, and the restaurant will provide hors d’oeuvres, dessert and a signature cocktail for guests. The event will also showcase Leah Suarez & Friends, jazz musicians from Charleston, S.C.
Admission is $40 and tickets are limited. Buy them online, by calling 645-4366 or at the Quirks of Art store.
Free Admission to the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
In conjunction with An Occasion for the Arts, Colonial Williamsburg will offer free entrance to the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, which includes The DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.
Call 855-830-9899 for more information.
Other ongoing arts events continue through the weekend, including:
- Candlelight concerts at Bruton Parish Church, featuring Dr. JanEl Will on Thursday and Agnes French on Saturday, both on organ starting at 8 p.m.
- Rhythms on the Riverwalk, with Boot Rooster playing at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown
For more information about Williamsburg Fall Arts, visit its website.
