The Virginia Symphony Orchestra FREE Concerts in Yorktown & Williamsburg
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra FREE Concerts 2026
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will continue the family-friendly summer tradition of offering free outdoor concerts. The VSO will perform under the direction of Conductor Adam Turner, in Yorktown at Riverwalk Landing on Saturday, September 5 and in Williamsburg at Lake Matoaka Amphitheater on Wednesday, September 2.
Join us for this FREE family-friendly concert at the Yorktown Riverwalk at 7:30 pm
Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown – Saturday, September 5
The Historic Yorktown waterfront will come alive with the sound of music when the Virginia Symphony Orchestra takes the stage.
The Yorktown Waterfront will come alive with the sound of music, when the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) returns to Historic Yorktown for its 28th annual outdoor concert. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of conductor Adam Turner.
The Fifes & Drums of York Town will take the stage at 6 p.m. for a patriotic performance, and blue ribbons will be awarded for the most creative picnic arrangements before the concert.
This free concert is presented by the Celebrate Yorktown Committee of the Yorktown Foundation with generous support from York County, York County Arts Commission, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, as well as community contributors from organizations, businesses, and individuals. The volunteer-run Celebrate Yorktown Committee works diligently to raise the money needed to cover the costs of this special evening.
Because the annual Virginia Symphony Orchestra performance draws a large crowd, attendees are encouraged to arrive early. Visitors are encouraged to pack a cooler, bring lawn chairs or blankets.
The program that unites timeless composers and favorite hit scores! Soar across the skies with “Flying Theme” from John Williams’ score for E.T., cross the threshold into the “Hall of the Mountain King” with Peer Gynt, or sweep down the plains with tunes from Rodger & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma. From thrilling adventures to unforgettable melodies, every piece reveals another color of the VSO.
Program:
John Philip Sousa – Yorktown Centennial March
John Stafford Smith – Star-Spangled Banner
Giuseppe Verdi – Overture to La forza del destino
Antonio Vivaldi – Allegro from L’Olimpiade: SInfonia, RV 725
Richard Rodgers/Bennett – Oklahoma!: Selections for Orchestra
Johann Strauss Jr. –Tales from the Vienna Woods
John Philip Sousa – The Glory of the Yankee Navy March
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – First Movement from Symphony No.25 in G minor
Edvard Grieg – “Anitra’s Dance” from Peer Gynt
Edvard Grieg – “In the Hall of the Mountain King ” from Peer Gynt
Various/Ford – Suite from Video Games Live
John Williams – The Shark Theme from Jaws
John Williams – Flying Theme from E.T.
*Program subject to change.
Because this performance draws such a large crowd, visitors are encouraged to arrive early and keep in mind the following important traffic reminders:
- Admission is free.
- Parking is available in the Riverwalk Landing Parking Terrace on Water Street, with handicapped parking located on the lower level. Additional parking is available at York Hall, York-Poquoson Courthouse, County Administration Building, Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center, and other designated public parking areas.
- For this evening only, guests may also park at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown beginning at 5 p.m.
- To ease the flow of traffic, loading equipment, chairs, coolers, and other items into vehicles will not be permitted during or immediately following the concert at the corners of Water and Ballard Streets or Water and Buckner Streets.
- The Yorktown Trolley will not operate during or after the concert. Trolley service ends at 5:30 p.m.
- In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be rescheduled for Tuesday, September 8.
Lake Matoaka Amphitheater – Tuesday, September 15
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will return to Williamsburg this September for a free outdoor performance as part of its annual “Symphony Under the Stars” series, bringing an evening of orchestral favorites to William & Mary’s Martha Wren Briggs Amphitheatre at Lake Matoaka.
The gates will open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. concert. Wristbands will be required for guests to enter due to venue capacity limitations.
Wristbands will be distributed by the venue ticket office beginning at 6:00 p.m. If wristbands run out, the concert will be sold out. Entry into the venue prior to the gates opening at 6:30 p.m. will not be permitted.
The program will feature a program that unites timeless composers with favorite scores, like the “Flying Theme” from the score for E.T. and tunes from Rodger & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma.
Beach chairs and blankets are welcome, but nothing that would block the view of other guests. All guests will be required to adhere to any restrictions in place on the day of the performance.
Guests are welcome to bring personal coolers and picnic baskets; however, neither external alcoholic beverages nor glass containers are permitted inside the venue. All bags and coolers will be inspected prior to entry. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase inside the venue.
Drivers are encouraged to park in the garage located at 201 Ukrop Way, arriving after 5 pm to allow exiting day traffic to clear the lots. Handicap spaces will be available in the School of Business parking lot, and golf carts will be available beginning at 6:00 p.m. for those with mobility issues. More information
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