July 4, 2022 in Yorktown – Fun Events All Day Long!

4^th of July in Yorktown Schedule of Events 2022

·       8 a.m.           The Yorktown Independence Day 8K Run/Walk – (Virtual & In person)
Location for Walk & Run: Tour Road near York High School Race Day registration/t-shirt distribution begins at 7 a.m. Medals will be distributed at the finish line for first 600 registered runners. Please see additional race info below

·       9 a.m.           Patriotic Parade Locations: Water & Main Streets – Patriotic Parade
Coordinated by VFW 824 – Festive Music provided by DJ Ben Herrick. Enjoy the annual parade along Water and Main Street in Historic Yorktown at 9 am as musicians, performers and local groups pass by and pass out flags. The route starts at the Beach Picnic Area on Water Street (by the fishing pier), and makes its way down Water Street up Ballard Street, and then takes a left onto Main Street, ending at the Victory Monument. 

·       1 p.m – 9:45 pm.           Family Activities – Make a whole day of it and stay in Riverwalk Landing There will be fun events for all ages and children’s activities that kick off at 1 p.m. at Riverwalk Landing. Enjoy corn hole, hula hoops, and other outdoor games…even a Hot Dog Eating Contest presented by Carrot Tree Kitchens. They’re still looking for contestants! If you’re interested, call 757.988.1999. You’ll have five minutes to eat as many dogs as you can. Prizes include gift certificates to Carrot Tree, t-shirts, and dog toys from one of Riverwalk Landing’s newest businesses, Gangsta Dog. For the kiddos, there will be something new this year: cake testing! Have your children sample some sweet treats and vote on which they like best.

·       4 p.m.           Evening Event Parking Opens – Beginning at 4 p.m., unless you are a Historic Yorktown resident, Riverwalk Landing business employee, or have an official pass—the only way to get into Historic Yorktown will be via Cook Road and the Colonial Parkway. Visitors attending the evening activities must park on the Yorktown Battlefield at the corner of Cook Road and Ballard Street. The Battlefield will remain open to the public until it reaches capacity – it will close once it reaches capacity. This includes visitors attempting to access town via Goosley Road, Old Williamsburg Road, the Colonial Parkway, and Mathews Street (by way of George Washington Memorial Highway).

Guests are encouraged to arrive early. It is important to note that the walk from the Yorktown Battlefield to the waterfront is approximately one mile and includes hills and uneven terrain. At the conclusion of the fireworks, Yorktown will be temporarily closed to incoming traffic, including any pick-up services, so that Sheriff’s Deputies may safely exit all vehicles. Depending on the crowd, the process should take roughly an hour.

Those requiring handicapped parking and special assistance are asked to report to Yorktown Middle School from 4 to 7 p.m. and must be checked in by 7 p.m. to take advantage of this service. Transportation will be provided for the disabled or special needs individual and one escort. Drop-off will be at Riverwalk Landing, approximately 200 yards from the performance area. Due to limited shuttle capacity, we politely request all other individuals in the party take a separate vehicle to park at the Yorktown Battlefield.

It’s important to note that once the shuttle is parked at the waterfront at 7:30 p.m., it will remain there until after the fireworks—with the first trip back to York Middle School beginning at 9:45 p.m. Return trips will take place until 10:30 p.m. Each person must possess his or her pass to board the shuttle.

·       4 p.m.           Patriotic Food Pavilion Opens – Location: Riverwalk Landing – Historic Yorktown’s restaurants will be open for business so you can grab lunch or dinner, and there will also be several to-go options at the Patriotic Food Pavilion, open by 4 p.m., until the fireworks are over. This year’s list of food trucks and vendors includes local favorites like Kona Ice, Chef Joseph’s (fried fish and shrimp), SMOKE BBQ (BBQ & brisket), Boyd’s Tasty Dogs (hamburgers), Snack Attack, Pop’s Kettle Corn, and Coastal Thirst (tacos, quesadillas, watermelon lemonade). The D.A.R.E. tent will be scooping Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and serving freshly squeezed lemonade. They will also have goodies for the pint-sized patriots including glow bracelets, necklaces, and pinwheels. All Pavilion proceeds will go to support the York-Poquoson Sheriff Office’s D.A.R.E. Program. 

·       7 p.m.            Sounds of Liberty Bell Ringing Ceremony, Riverwalk Landing Stage – Every Independence Day, after the reading of the Declaration of Independence, each of the 13 colonies is acknowledged along with the original signers from the Second Continental Congress who together formed the United States of America. The ceremony begins a 7pm at the Riverwalk Landing Stage. The Fifes and Drums of York Town kick off the event at the Riverwalk Landing Performance Stage and each year a different child from the audience is bestowed the very special honor of ringing the bell. Following the historic program, the Super Jazz Band concert featuring Conni Ironmonger will take place, all leading up to the big fireworks finale!

·       8 p.m.            Super Jazz Band Concert featuring Conni Ironmonger Riverwalk Landing Stage – Come & get your swing on with the Super Jazz Band performing on the Riverwalk Landing Stage. Concert begins directly after the Liberty Bell-Ringing Ceremony.

Fireworks Over the York River

·       9:15 p.m.      Spectacular Fireworks Display – Fireworks are set over the York River and they are magnificent! The show starts at 9:15 and lasts about 15-18 minutes. Location: Over York River –  Visible from Yorktown Waterfront & Victory Monument. You should be able to see the fireworks anywhere at the waterfront or up on Main Street at the Victory Monument. Some of the fireworks will shoot up to 800 feet into the sky. Just to put that in perspective a little—the Washington Monument in D.C. is 555 feet tall!

FYI – While visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. There will be several Yorktown restaurants open for business, and several to-go options at the Patriotic Food Pavilion, which will be open from 4 to 9:15 p.m. The food trucks and vendors will be set up at Riverwalk Landing and include local favorites like SMOKE BBQ, Kona Ice, Chef Joseph, D.A.R.E. tent, Ben & Jerry’s, Boyd’s Tasty Dogs, Pop’s Kettle Corn, Snack Attack, and Coastal Thirst. Pavilion proceeds support the York-Poquoson Sheriff Office’s D.A.R.E. program.