Sail Yorktown Festival
June 12 @ 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sail Yorktown Festival
📅June 12 – 14, 2026
🕞9 AM – 9 PM (5 PM on 6/14)
📍Townwide (Historic Main Street and Water Street)
Set sail for an unforgettable waterfront weekend at the Sail Yorktown Festival, an official SailVirginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbor event!
Set Sail for the Sail Yorktown Festival 2026: Ultimate Family Guide!
Get ready to cue the Styx (“Come sail away…”) because one of the most anticipated maritime events of the decade is heading to our waterfront!
From June 12–14, 2026, Historic Yorktown will transform into an official SailVirginia℠ 2026 Affiliate Harbor for the Sail Yorktown Festival. Colonial National Historical Park has proudly partnered with York County to bring you a massive, FREE three-day celebration to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary!
Whether you are packing up the stroller or planning a weekend getaway, we have charted the full schedule, fleet lineup, and details to help your family plan a weekend worth sail-ebrating.
📅 Event At-A-Glance
- Dates: Friday, June 12 – Sunday, June 14, 2026
- Cost: FREE! (Includes ship deck tours, exhibits, and entertainment)
- Locations: Throughout Historic Yorktown, Riverwalk Landing, Main Street, Victory Monument, and on the Yorktown Battlefield.
⚓ The Main Attractions: Meet the Fleet!
Your family can step aboard incredible historic vessels for complimentary deck tours at the Riverwalk Landing Piers. Here is the featured fleet arriving on the York River:
- Elissa – a three-masted 1877 barque based in Galveston and the official Tall Ship of Texas
- Jamestown Settlement’s Godspeed – a re-creation of the square-rigged merchant ship that made the historic 1606-1607 voyage from England to North America, carrying 105 passengers and 39 crew.
- Luna – a replica of an 18th-century colonial sloop built and operated by the Colonial Seaport Foundation.
- Alliance II – Historic Yorktown’s homeported schooner, offering patrons the chance to explore history and scenic beauty on the York River.
- Serenity – a 60-foot, two-masted gaff-rigged schooner currently based at Riverwalk Landing Piers.
🕒 The Official Festival Schedule
Friday, June 12
- 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Opening Ceremony & Parade of Sail: Arrive early! This is the ultimate, camera-worthy moment as giant tall ships, military vessels, and private boats glide along the York River waterfront and Riverwalk Landing.
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Daytime Activities: Living history exhibits, hourly military drills and firing demonstrations, Vendor Village, kids’ crafts and activities, and live entertainment.
- 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Free Ship Tours: Ship decks open to the public for complimentary tours.
- 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Friday Evening Concert: Relax at the Riverwalk Landing Stage with island vibes from The Tiki Bar Band.
More Info
Saturday, June 13
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Ship Tours & Festivities: Free tall ship and military deck tours, living history exhibits, military demonstrations, Vendor Village, kids’ activities, and live entertainment.
- 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM | Saturday Evening Concert: Kick up your boots to rising country star Karissa Ella performing at Riverwalk Landing.
- 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM | WSO Patriotic Performance: Head up to the Yorktown Victory Monument for a powerful concert by the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra. The night culminates at 8:30 PM with American Mosaic by Peter Boyer—a breathtaking multimedia presentation combining sweeping orchestral music, photography, and live narration into a moving tribute to America’s story. (Sponsored by Visit Williamsburg and Virginia Humanities).
- More Info
Sunday, June 14
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Final Day Fun: Free tall ship and military deck tours, living history exhibits, military demonstrations, Vendor Village, kids’ activities, and live entertainment.
- More Info
👶 Just for Kids & Families: What Not to Miss
The festival is packed with high-energy entertainment, interactive history, and hands-on activities that will keep little hands and minds busy all weekend:
- Kids’ Crafts & Games: Head down to the waterfront daily for dedicated kids’ activities, maritime games, and crafts they can take home.
- Clay Medallion Making: Walk up to the historic Poor Potter House on Saturday or Sunday. Kids can stamp a piece of raw clay with a historic Swan image to create their own souvenir medallion, inspired by the neighboring Swan Tavern.
- VA250 Mobile Museum: Parked right at the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center, this immersive traveling exhibit is a fantastic, interactive way for kids to discover Virginia’s pivotal role in the nation’s 250th story.
- Booming Demonstrations: Feel the history! Keep an eye and ear out for hourly military drills, musket demonstrations near the Nelson House, and cannon demonstrations near the Visitor Center. (Parents of toddlers or children sensitive to loud noises: be aware that these firing demonstrations will happen throughout the day!)
💥 America’s 250th & Living History Highlights
Step off the docks and immerse yourselves in history across Main Street and the Yorktown Battlefield:
- Revolution on Main: Enjoy ranger-led, hands-on activities perfect for all ages, featuring booths from various historical societies, museums, and reenactment groups.
- Living History Encampments: Meet passionate living historians and explore what daily life was really like for a Revolutionary War soldier.
- Historic Houses & Special Exhibits: Step inside historic buildings including the Nelson House, Swan Tavern, Moore House, and Cemetery Lodge (schedules subject to change). Catch fascinating live demonstrations in historic pottery-making, colonial tea-making, and more.
⚓ Anchor Your Stay: Turn it Into a Getaway!
Want to skip the traffic and stay just minutes from the action? Booking a hotel early makes it easy to enjoy a weekend full of nautical adventure and coastal charm.
- Waterfront Views: Check out the Yorktown Beach Hotel.
- Charming Local Inns: Look into The Hornsby House Inn, Marl Inn Bed & Breakfast, or the Yorktown Cottages.
Craving even more history? While you’re in town, catch a visit to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily) to watch their dramatic film, “The Siege of Yorktown,” and explore their indoor galleries.
For more information, see here.
