2026 Special Event Dates in Colonial Williamsburg
SPECIAL EVENT DATES IN 2026
JANUARY
- Jan. 1 – Winter Season Begins
- Jan. 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- The Historic Area will host special programming in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, inviting visitors to reflect and remember.
- Jan. 22-25 – Annual Working Wood in the 18th Century Conference
- Expert craftspeople, scholars, and special guests at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation invite visitors to explore how taste, status, and budget shaped craftsmanship, celebrating ingenuity and quality at every level. For more information, see here.
FEBRUARY
- Feb. 6 – Charter Day at William & Mary
- William & Mary marks the 333rd anniversary of its Royal Charter, granted by King William III and Queen Mary II of England.
- Feb. 14-16 – Presidents’ Day Weekend
- Spend the long weekend in Williamsburg, where the experiences that shaped the nation’s founders–including Washington, Jefferson, and Madison–came to life.
- Feb. 19-25 – Annual Antiques Forum
- The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation welcomes visitors to its 78th annual Antiques Forum, featuring leading experts and extraordinary collections. In-person registration ends February 6 and virtual-only registration ends Febryary 21. For more information, see here.
- Feb. 28 – Centennial Exhibition Opens at The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
- The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation welcomes visitors to its 78th annual Antiques Forum, featuring leading experts and extraordinary collections. This is a Special Event, part of Colonial Williamsburg’s 100th Anniversary Events.
MARCH
- March 1 – Spring Season begins
- March 13-15 – Spring Burgesses and Associates Donor Society Meetings
APRIL
- April 5 – Easter
- April 16-18 – Annual Garden Symposium
- The 79th Annual Garden Symposium invites visitors to celebrate the art of 18th-century gardens. In-person registration ends March 27, and virtual-only registration ends April 16. For more information, see here.
- April 25-26 – Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell Archaeology Center Weekend
- This special weekend celebration marks the debut of a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to advancing archaeological research and deepening public engagement with Williamsburg’s rich history. This is a Special Event, part of Colonial Williamsburg’s 100th Anniversary Events. For more information, see here.
MAY
- May 1 – Merchants Square Concert Series
- May 2-3 – Military Encampment Weekend
- May 7 – American Mosaic: Williamsburg Symphony on the Palace Green
- American Mosaic is a collaborative work by acclaimed composer Peter Boyer and award-winning photographer Joe Sohm, created to celebrate the United States’ Semiquincentennial in 2026. Blending Sohm’s stunning 4K video imagery with Boyer’s orchestral music and narration of historic American quotes, the piece offers a powerful tribute to the nation’s landscapes, people, and spirit. This event is part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration. For more information, see here.
- May 15-16 – Commemorating the 5th Virginia Convention
- On May 15, 1776, the Fifth Virginia Revolutionary Convention directed its delegates to propose independence, a pivotal moment in America’s founding. This event is a Colonial Williamsburg Special Event and part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration.
- May 16 – William & Mary Commencement
- May 25 – Memorial Day
- May 29-31 – Drummer’s Call
- Visitors can experience the stirring sounds of 18th-century military music as visiting corps join the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums for performances throughout the Historic Area. For more information, see here.
- May 30 – Teacher Institute Kickoff in California
- The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute launches its 37th summer season with educators in California.
JUNE
- June 1 – Summer Season begins
- June 4-6 – Annual Ceramics Conference in Collaboration with MESDA
- From hands-on workshops and pottery demonstrations to expert lectures, this conference is a can’t-miss event for ceramic enthusiasts. For more information, see here.
- June 5 – Merchants Square Concert Series
- June 10 – CW Visit of National Speech and Debate Tournament Participants
- June 12-13 – 250th Anniversary of the First Virginia Declaration of Rights
- Honor this landmark document, which established a framework for protecting individual liberties and limiting government power, setting a precedent for future declarations of rights. This event is a Colonial Williamsburg Special Event and part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration.
- June 12-13 – Sail 250 at Yorktown
- Sail 250 Virginia brings together over 60 ships from 20 countries, welcoming sailors, officers, and dignitaries to the state’s shores for a landmark maritime festival.
- June 19 – Juneteenth Commemoration
- In partnership with the Juneteenth Community Consortium, visitors are invited to honor Juneteenth through special programs and meaningful reflections.
- June 21 – Juneteenth Sunrise Service
- Honor the African American journey with a special sunrise service beneath the majestic Compton Oak, a symbol of life, endurance, and joy.
- June 25-28 – Williamsburg Live
- Visitors are invited to the Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg to enjoy an unforgettable outdoor music festival, presented by the Virginia Arts Festival. For more information, see here.
JULY
- July 2-5 – Independence Day Weekend
- Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding in the place where it all began: Williamsburg. This event is a Colonial Williamsburg Special Event and part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration.
- July 3 – Merchants Square Concert Series
- July 11, 18, 25 – Family Days
- Enjoy a day filled with family-friendly activities throughout the organization, with free admission for children under 12.
AUGUST
- Aug. 7 – Merchants Square Concert Series
- Aug. 1, 8, 15 – Family Days
- Enjoy a day filled with family-friendly activities throughout the organization, with free admission for children under 12.
- Aug. 22 – William & Mary Welcome Day
- William & Mary students return to Williamsburg for the 2026-2027 academic year
SEPTEMBER
- Sep. 1 – Fall Season begins
- Sep. 4 – Merchants Square Concert Series
- Sep. 5-7 – Labor Day Weekend
- Sep. 11-12 – Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Meeting
- Sep. 17 – Naturalization Ceremony & Constitution Day
- Celebrate the adoption of the U.S. Constitution at the annual Naturalization Ceremony.
OCTOBER
- Oct. 2 – Merchants Square Concert Series
- Oct. 3-4 – Goodwin & Raleigh Tavern Donor Society Meetings
- Oct. 3-4 – Military Encampment
- To Heed Washington’s Call: Virginians Prepare to March North.
- Oct. 9-10 – African Baptist Meeting House and Burial Ground Dedication
- The Let Freedom Ring Foundation, the Historic First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, and The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation come together to commemorate the reconstruction of the African Baptist Meeting House at the site of the original permanent home of the First Baptist Church, one of the earliest African American congregations in the United States. This event is a Colonial Williamsburg Special Event and part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration.
- Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30 – Colonial Williamsburg Letters from the Archives
- Visitors can explore 100 years of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation through archival letters and correspondences, brought to life by Nation Builders, historical interpreters, and special guests. This event is part of Colonial Williamsburg’s 100th Anniversary Events.
- Oct. 15 – General Assembly Convening
- This event is part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration.
- Oct. 17 – William & Mary Homecoming
- The William & Mary community will come together on campus to reconnect, cheer on the Tribe, and create new memories.
- Oct. 23-24 – For 2026 Conference
- Colonial Williamsburg, the Omohundro Institute, and William & Mary host the final of five annual conferences, highlighting emerging research, connecting a diverse public with scholars, and fostering meaningful conversations about the relevance of the early American past today.
NOVEMBER
- Nov. 1 – Holiday Season begins
- Nov. 5-7 – Symposium on Historical Dress
- The 2026 Symposium on Historical Dress will showcase new research and discoveries in historical clothing and accessories, exploring the stories of the objects, their makers, the people who wore them, and the processes behind each step of their creation. For more information, see here.
- Nov. 6-8 – Revolutionary Rhetoric Debate Tournament
- High school students take part in lively debates inspired by the discussions of the Founders, keeping the spirit of revolutionary discourse alive for new generations.
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day
- Nov. 14 – 100th Anniversary Celebration of Colonial Williamsburg
- This event is part of Colonial Williamsburg’s 100th Anniversary Events
- Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving
DECEMBER
- Dec. 3 – Community Tree Lighting
- Enjoy Christmas carols, hear the story of Virginia’s first Christmas tree, and witness the lighting of more than 7,500 twinkling lights in Market Square.
- Dec. 5 – 250th Anniversary of Phi Beta Kappa
- Phi Beta Kappa began at the Raleigh Tavern in 1776. Founded by a group of visionary young men, the society grew to recognize America’s most accomplished students and played a role in the creation of The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. This event is part of America’s 250th Anniversary celebration.
- Dec. 7 – 100th Anniversary of the “David’s Father” Telegram
- The December 7, 1926 “David’s Father” telegram from Mr. Rockefeller approved the first property purchase in Williamsburg—the Ludwell-Paradise House—marking the start of the Restoration. To honor Mr. Rockefeller’s wish for anonymity, the telegram used discreet language: the “antique” referred to the house, and “David’s Father” was a coded reference to Mr. Rockefeller himself. This event is part of Colonial Williamsburg’s 100th Anniversary Events
- Dec. 4, 11, 18 – Yule Log Ceremony
- Follow the Yule Log, carried by wagon, from Capitol Circle to Market Square. Enjoy music, festivities, the lighting of the cressets, and the sense of community that links 18th-century Williamsburg with today, as you make a wish and toss a sprig of greenery into the bonfire.
- Dec. 5, 12, 19 – Grand Illumination
- Dec. 24 – Firing of the Christmas Guns
- Dec. 25 – Christmas Day
For more information about these events, check out Colonial Williamsburg’s 2026 Planner.
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