Events for April 18, 2026

Sister Cities French Market

April 18 @ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Yorktown Market Days

Riverwalk Landing 331 Water Street, Yorktown

🇫🇷 A little Parisian charm is coming to the waterfront
🥖Local vendors will serve up classic French fare, fresh-baked bread, and delightful market finds while French music sets the mood. Join the celebration of Yorktown’s sister city connection with Port-Vendres—going strong since 1990. C’est magnifique!
☔Inclement weather? The market moves to the lower level of the Water Street Parking Terrace.
🚌 Free, accessible Yorktown Trolley runs from 11 AM - 5 PM.
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📅April 18, 2026
🕒8 AM - 3 PM
📍Riverwalk Landing

The 79th Annual Garden Symposium: Great American Gardens

April 18 @ 8:30 am - 7:00 pm Annual Garden Symposium

Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg 326 W Francis St, Williamsburg

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation invites you to a garden symposium exploring the legacy and living beauty of America’s most iconic landscapes. Leading historians and horticultural experts examine how people, plants, and place have shaped one another—from Charleston’s historic gardens to the visionary work of Bunny Mellon and beyond. Join us for fresh perspectives on gardens as living works of art, cultural records, and spaces of ongoing stewardship. In-person registration ends March 27, 2026; virtual-only registration ends April 16, 2026.
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📅April 16-18, 2026
🕞Times vary by day
📍Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

Outdoor Fitness Court Orientation

April 18 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Outdoor Fitness Court Orientation

Warhill Sports Complex 4900 Stadium Road, Williamsburg

Fitness Court® Orientations • Ages 14+ FREE!Warhill Sports Complex (near basketball courts)Saturdays, April 4-25, 9-10 a.m. Tuesday, April 7-28, Noon-1 p.m.           A Certified Personal Trainer will conduct open orientations...

Spring Wreath

April 18 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

James City County Recreation Center 5301 Longhill Road, Williamburg

Spring Wreath • Ages 16+Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m.-noon; $30James City County Recreation CenterJoin us for a relaxing and hands-on workshop where you'll create your own beautiful spring wreath to brighten...

Sidewalk Sale Zoom Room

April 18 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Sidewalk Sale Zoom Room

Zoom Room Williamsburg 5129 Main Street, Williamsburg

Sidewalk Sale Zoom Room Dog Training 5129 Main Street, Williamsburg Friday 9 am - 6 pmSaturday 9 am - 2 pmSunday 9:30 pm - 7 pm HUGE sidewalk sale! This...

‘Following the Dragon’ special exhibition

April 18 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ‘Following the Dragon’ special exhibition

Jamestown Settlement 2110 Jamestown Road, Route 31, Williamsburg

‘Following the Dragon’ special exhibition at Jamestown Settlement Museum to explore the journey of Chinese Ming porcelain to 17th-century Jamestown Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation Collaborative Exhibition Opening November...

Bassett Trace Nature Trail Guided Tour

April 18 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Bassett Trace Nature Trail Guided Tour

Bassett Trace Nature Trail 424 Francis St E, Williamsburg

🌿🚶‍♂️ Take a Leisurely Stroll on the Bassett Trace Nature Trail! 🚶‍♀️🌿 Free & Open to the Public at 10 am Love nature and the great outdoors? 🌳🐦 Come explore...

River Raptors Walk

April 18 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm River Raptors Walk

York River State Park 9801 York River Park Road, Williamsburg

Come and discover the majestic aerial hunters and their habitats. Bald eagles, red shouldered and red tailed hawks make their home here year round. Osprey return to the area to feed and...

Family Days

April 18 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Family Days at Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum

Jamestown Settlement 2110 Jamestown Road, Route 31, Williamsburg

Step into the natural world around Jamestown Settlement and see it through the eyes of a citizen scientist. Compare the landscape and environment of today with what early colonists might have encountered in the 1600s, and share what you discover along the way.

2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration -Machicomoco State Park

April 18 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Machicomoco State Park 3601 Timberneck Farm Road, Hayes

Earth Day Celebration Machicomoco State ParkApril 18, 202610:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Join us for the 2nd Annual Earth Day Celebration! From 10am-3pm on April 18th, wander through Machicomoco's meadows and...

Tour The Rockefellers’ Bassett Hall

April 18 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Tour The Rockefellers’ Bassett Hall

The Rockefellers' Bassett Hall 522 Francis St E, Williamsburg

Tour The Rockefellers' Bassett Hall Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm Tour the place that John D. Rockefeller Jr. and wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller called their...

Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time

April 18 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown 200 Water Street, Route 1020, Yorktown

Step behind the scenes of the hit series Outlander with the special exhibition Outlander: Costumes Woven in Time at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Featuring stunning costumes from Seasons 1-4 designed by Terry Dresbach, this immersive experience explores how clothing brings history, character, and storytelling to life—from the Scottish Highlands to Paris and early America.
See iconic looks worn by Claire Fraser, Jamie Fraser, and their family, and discover the craftsmanship behind every detail. Paid museum admission is required in addition to the special exhibition ticket. 🧵
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📅March 6 - May 18, 2026
🕞10 AM - 5 PM
📍American Revolution Museum at Yorktown

Free Admission Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg

April 18 @ 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Free Admission Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg

Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg 326 W Francis St, Williamsburg

Free Admission Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg Daily That is right, folks, the Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg now has FREE daily admission! This often include events in the Hennage...

Exercise and Evolutions

April 18 @ 10:30 am - 11:00 am Exercise and Evolutions

Market Square CW 102 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg

In the fall of 1775, Williamsburg turned its attention to war. Watch the 2nd Virginia Regiment train in the shadow of the Public Magazine, the building that helped spark Virginia’s revolution. Experience the sights, sounds, and even the smells of the march toward independence as soldiers demonstrate the 1764 Manual of Arms and the flash of their muskets brings history to life.
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📅Daily (March - May)
🕞10:30 AM - 11 AM
📍Military Encampment

Under Arms: Join the 2nd Virginia Regiment

April 18 @ 11:00 am - 11:25 am Under Arms: Join the 2nd Virginia Regiment

Military Encampment 103 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg

Step into the spring of 1776—Williamsburg is at war, and Colonel William Woodford needs your help 🇺🇸
Answer the call and join the 2nd Virginia Regiment! Report to the Magazine to learn the state of the war, practice marching and drills, and prepare to defend American liberty under the inspection of Captain William Taliaferro.
This interactive experience is open to recruits ages 6–80. Are you ready to fall in?
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📅Daily (March - May)
🕞11 AM - 11:25 AM
📍Military Encampment

Order in the Court

April 18 @ 11:00 am - 11:30 am Order in the Court

Historic Site: Courthouse 101 Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg

Courthouses were the center of community life, where business was conducted, justice was debated, and rights were upheld. Step inside the Courthouse to explore its role in 18th-century Virginia, then take part in a local court session by assuming the role of justice, attorney, litigant, petitioner, or defendant. Please note: adult subject matter. Colonial Williamsburg admission required.
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📅Dec. 27, 2025 - May 16, 2026
🕝11 AM - 11:30 AM, 2 PM - 2:30 PM
📍Courthouse

Revolutionary Rhythms Family Festival (FREE Admission)

April 18 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Jamestown Beach Event Park 2205 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg

FREE Admission!! Revolutionary Rhythms Family Festival! Jamestown Beach Event Park Saturday, April 18 from 11 am – 3 pm It will be full of patriotic fun for the whole family...

1774: Lady Dunmore’s Dilemma

April 18 @ 11:30 am - 12:00 pm 1774: Lady Dunmore’s Dilemma

Governors Palace Stage 300 Palace Green St, Williamsburg

1774: Lady Dunmore’s Dilemma Governor's Palace Stage In chess as in life, one move can cost the game. Discover how the women of Williamsburg negotiated the growing political tensions during the...

Tune Into the Past

April 18 @ 12:00 pm - 12:20 pm Tune Into the Past

Play House Stage 214 Palace Green St, Williamsburg

🎶 Bring the whole family for a fun sing-along of 18th-century favorites! Discover how these historic tunes became some of today’s beloved songs. Colonial Williamsburg admission required.
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📅Friday - Tue (April - May), Daily (June), July 1 & 5-31, Aug 1 - 20
🕞12 PM - 12:20 PM (April - May), 11 AM - 11:20 AM (June - Aug)
📍Play House Stage

The Weight of Liberty

April 18 @ 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm The Weight of Liberty

Military Encampment 103 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg

The Weight of Liberty Military Encampment The roar of cannon fire dominated the battlefields of the American Revolution. As early as 1775, artillerists trained on the exercise of "Great Guns"...

Saving Our Heritage Seeds

April 18 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saving Our Heritage Seeds

Gardener St. Francis St. E and Bucktrout Lane, Williamsburg

Saving Our Heritage Seeds This program emphasizes the science involved in seed saving. The history will encompass how seeds were kept or purchased in the period. Store inventories, ship manifests,...

Heronious Point of View

April 18 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Heronious Point of View

York River State Park 9801 York River Park Road, Williamsburg

A breeding colony of great blue herons is not a rookery, it is a heronry. Experience the sights and sounds of these iconic birds as they build nests and tend...

Poke Embroidery

April 18 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

James City County Recreation Center 5301 Longhill Road, Williamburg

Poke Embroidery • Ages 7-13Saturday, April 18, 1-3 p.m.; $25James City County Recreation CenterMake a splash with stitches! In this fun and beginner-friendly embroidery class, students learn the basics of poke-style...

Super Smash Bros. Tournament

April 18 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Super Smash Bros. Tournament

James City County Library 7770 Croaker Road, Williamsburg

Go head to head in a Super Smash Bros. tournament. 1st place wins a prize! For ages 9-18. No registration required.https://libcal.wrl.org/event/16452864

1776: The Trial for Independence

April 18 @ 3:30 pm - 3:50 pm 1776: The Trial for Independence

Outside of Charlton Coffee House 429 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg

A fair trial was considered one of the most cherished rights of the British world—but what happens when Independence itself is put on trial? ⚖️
Guests are invited to step into the courtroom as witnesses to this pivotal moment, where Virginia holds the power with a single vote to decide the fate of a nation.
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📅Daily (March - May) & July 2 - 5
🕞3:30 PM - 3:50 PM (March - May), 1 PM - 1:20 PM (July 2-3 & 5), 4:30 PM - 4:50 PM (July 4)
📍Outside of Charlton’s Coffeehouse

Beat the Retreat

April 18 @ 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm Beat the Retreat

Guardhouse 102 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg

As evening falls, the soldiers of the 2nd Virginia Regiment close out their day with Regimental Retreat. Watch as officers inspect the men, rolls are called, and the day’s orders are read aloud—then listen closely for the parole before the regiment marches back to camp, just as it did in 1775.
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📅Jan. 9 - May 31, 2026
🕞4:30 PM - 5 PM (Jan. 9 - March 1) | 4 PM - 4:45 PM (March 2 - May 31)
📍Guardhouse

Kool & the Gang LIVE: Revolutionary Rhythms Weekend

April 18 @ 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Jamestown Beach Event Park 2205 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg

Revolutionary Rhythms Weekend Presented by James City County in partnership with CultureFix to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America! April 17 - 18 at Jamestown Beach Event ParkGet Your Tickets...

Festival Guitar Orchestra Concert

April 18 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm William & Mary Theatre Presents

Concert Hall, Music Arts Center, The College of William & Mary 551 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA

More than 100 guitarists from across Virginia and North Carolina will come together at William & Mary for a full day of collaboration, rehearsals, and music-making at the Tidewater Classical Guitar Festival. Guitar orchestras, studios, and individual players will unite for a unique mass guitar orchestra experience. 🎸
The day concludes with a special public evening concert in the Concert Hall at the Music Arts Center at William & Mary, located next to Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall. These tickets are for the final festival performance, where audiences can experience the power of a guitar orchestra live. ✨
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📅Saturday, Apr 18, 2026
🕞7:30 PM
📍Music Arts Center Concert Hall

Trial of a Patriot – New Evening Program

April 18 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm Trial of a Patriot – New Evening Program

Capitol Building Colonial Williamsburg E Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg

Trial of a Patriot – New Evening Program!! Thursday and Saturday Nights at 7:30 PM & 9 PM Capitol General Court beginning March 19 – Sept 5, 2026 (except July 4)See...

Lighting of the Cressets

April 18 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Lighting of the Cressets

East End of Duke of Gloucester 416 E Duke of Gloucester Street, Williamsburg

Head to Colonial Williamsburg at night for another reason – on the historic Duke of Gloucester Street they will be Lighting of the Cressets. This brings their 18th-century streets to...