Set Sail for the Sail Yorktown Festival 2026: The Ultimate Guide!
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. More Info
📅 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 Official Festival Schedule
Friday, June 12 – Schedule of Events
- 9 to 11 a.m.
- Parade of Sail
- Yorktown Waterfront
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Vendor Village featuring a Wine & Beer Garden
- Riverwalk Landing
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Living History Exhibits, Live Entertainment
- Riverwalk Landing
- Artillery Firings, Living History Activities, Kids’ Crafts and Activities, Maritime Throwdown, Live Entertainment, Paleontology Exhibit, Civil War Exhibit
- Beach Picnic Area
- 11 a.m.
- Opening Ceremony
- Riverwalk Landing Stage
- 12 to 2 p.m.
- Roving Entertainment
- Historic Main Street
- 12 to 5 p.m.
- Free Tall Ship & Military Deck Tours
- Riverwalk Landing Piers
- Workboat Exhibit & Activities, Blacksmith Demonstration
- Riverwalk Landing
- Revolution on Main – Musket Firing Demonstrations, Hands-on Activity Stations, Living History Encampments
- Historic Main Street
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Historic Tea Demonstrations
- Nelson House
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, Pottery Making Demonstrations
- Poor Potter
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, Cannon Selfie Station
- Swan Tavern
- Washington’s Last Shot Activity, 250 Selfie Station, Hands-on Activities, Ranger-Led Programs
- Victory Monument
- Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Civilian Conservation Corps Exhibit
- Yorktown Battlefield Redoubts 9 &10
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, United States Coast Guard Exhibit
- Moore House
- Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Slabtown/Union Town Exhibit, Civil War in Yorktown Exhibit
- Yorktown National Cemetery
- VA250 Mobile Museum, Cannon Firing Demonstrations, Bookstore, Exhibits
- Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center
- 1 to 3 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Corey Pavlosky
- Riverwalk Landing Stage
- Musical Performance by John Spence
- Beach Picnic Area
- 2 to 3 p.m.
- “Common Sense: The Virginia Declaration of Rights”
- Victory Monument
- 6:30 to 9 p.m.
- Musical Performance by The Tiki Bar Band
- Riverwalk Landing Stage
Food Trucks
9 a.m. – 9 p.m. - Amma’s Curry in a Hurry – Victory Monument
- Capt. Harrell Seafood House – Riverwalk Landing
- Casa de Proa – Riverwalk Landing
- Dong’s Foodtruck – Riverwalk Landing
- Island Time Delights – Riverwalk Landing
- Midnite Express – Victory Monument
- Parallel Stix – Beach Picnic Area
- Sno2Go – Beach Picnic Area
- Wild Bill’s Soda – Beach Picnic Area
- Wine Down While You’re Around
- Get a taste of a few of Virginia’s finest vineyards at the Sail Yorktown Festival. Purchase wine by the glass or bottle from:
- Gauthier Vineyard
- Saudé Creek Vineyards
- Zoll Vineyards
Saturday, June 13 – Schedule of Events
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Vendor Village featuring a Wine & Beer Garden
- Riverwalk Landing
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Free Tall Ship & Military Deck Tours
- Riverwalk Landing Piers
- Artillery Firings, Living History Activities, Kids’ Crafts and Activities, Maritime Throwdown, Live Entertainment, Paleontology Exhibit, Civil War Exhibit
- Beach Picnic Area
- Workboat Exhibit & Activities, Blacksmith Demonstration, Live Entertainment
- Riverwalk Landing
- Revolution on Main – Musket Firing Demonstrations, Hands-on Activity Stations, Living History Encampments
- Historic Main Street
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Historic Tea Demonstrations
- Nelson House
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, Pottery Making Demonstrations
- Poor Potter
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, Cannon Selfie Station
- Swan Tavern
- Washington’s Last Shot Activity, 250 Selfie Station, Hands-on Activities, Ranger-Led Programs
- Victory Monument
- Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Civilian Conservation Corps Exhibit
- Yorktown Battlefield Redoubts 9 &10
- Open House, Hands-on Activities, United States Coast Guard Exhibit
- Moore House
- Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Slabtown/Union Town Exhibit, Civil War in Yorktown Exhibit
- Yorktown National Cemetery
- VA250 Mobile Museum, Cannon Firing Demonstrations, Bookstore, Exhibits
- Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center
- 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Musical Performance by The Liberty Dolls
- Riverwalk Landing Stage
- Musical Performance by the Colonial Singers of Williamsburg
- Historic Main Street
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Phil Poteat
- Beach Picnic Area
- 12 to 1 p.m.
- Libre Dance USA
- Riverwalk Landing Stage
- 12 to 2 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Tomcats Dixieland Trio
- Historic Main Street
- 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Nature’s Child
- Riverwalk Landing Stage
- 2 to 3:30 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Lane Rice
- Beach Picnic Area
- 2 to 4 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Second Ending Brass Quintet
- Historic Main Street
- 6:30 to 9 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Country Artist Karissa Ella
- Riverwalk Landing Stage
- 7 p.m.
- Hamilton Performance by Broadway Star Lexi Lawson
- Victory Monument
- 7:30 to 9 p.m.
- Musical Performance by Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra
- Victory Monument
Grub & Libations:
Food Trucks - 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Amma’s Curry in a Hurry – Victory Monument
- Boyd’s Tasty Dogs – Riverwalk Landing
- Capt. Harrell Seafood House – Riverwalk Landing
- Casa de Proa – Riverwalk Landing
- Dong’s Foodtruck – Riverwalk Landing
- Midnite Express – Victory Monument
- Parallel Stix – Beach Picnic Area
- Sno2Go – Beach Picnic Area
- Wild Bill’s Soda – Beach Picnic Area
- Wine Down While You’re Around
- Get a taste of a few of Virginia’s finest vineyards at the Sail Yorktown Festival. Purchase wine by the glass or bottle from:
- Gauthier Vineyard
- Saudé Creek Vineyards
- Zoll Vineyards
Sunday, June 14
- 9 to 11 a.m.
Parade of Sail
Yorktown Waterfront - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendor Village featuring a Wine & Beer Garden
Riverwalk Landing - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Living History Exhibits, Live Entertainment
Riverwalk Landing
Artillery Firings, Living History Activities, Kids’ Crafts and Activities, Maritime Throwdown, Live Entertainment, Paleontology Exhibit, Civil War Exhibit
Beach Picnic Area - 11 a.m.
Opening Ceremony
Riverwalk Landing Stage - 12 to 2 p.m.
Roving Entertainment
Historic Main Street - 12 to 5 p.m.
Free Tall Ship & Military Deck Tours
Riverwalk Landing Piers
Workboat Exhibit & Activities, Blacksmith Demonstration
Riverwalk Landing
Revolution on Main – Musket Firing Demonstrations, Hands-on Activity Stations, Living History Encampments
Historic Main Street
Open House, Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Historic Tea Demonstrations
Nelson House
Open House, Hands-on Activities, Pottery Making Demonstrations
Poor Potter
Open House, Hands-on Activities, Cannon Selfie Station
Swan Tavern
Washington’s Last Shot Activity, 250 Selfie Station, Hands-on Activities, Ranger-Led Programs
Victory Monument
Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Civilian Conservation Corps Exhibit
Yorktown Battlefield Redoubts 9 &10
Open House, Hands-on Activities, United States Coast Guard Exhibit
Moore House
Hands-on Activities, Revolutionary War Living History Programs, Slabtown/Union Town Exhibit, Civil War in Yorktown Exhibit
Yorktown National Cemetery
VA250 Mobile Museum, Cannon Firing Demonstrations, Bookstore Exhibits
Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center - 1 to 3 p.m.
Musical Performance by Corey Pavlosky
Riverwalk Landing Stage
Musical Performance by John Spence
Beach Picnic Area - 2 to 3 p.m.
“Common Sense: The Virginia Declaration of Rights”
Victory Monument - 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Musical Performance by The Tiki Bar Band
Riverwalk Landing Stage
Grub & Libations: - Food Trucks
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Amma’s Curry in a Hurry – Victory Monument
- Boyd’s Tasty Dogs – Riverwalk Landing
- Burger Mania – Riverwalk Landing
- Capt. Harrell Seafood House – Riverwalk Landing
- Midnite Express – Victory Monument
- Parallel Stix – Beach Picnic Area
- Sno2Go – Beach Picnic Area
- Wild Bill’s Soda – Beach Picnic Area
- Wine & Beer Garden
- Get a taste of a few of Virginia’s finest vineyards at the Sail Yorktown Festival. Purchase wine by the glass or bottle from:
- Gauthier Vineyard
- Saudé Creek Vineyards
- Zoll Vineyards
- The Virginia Beer Company will also selling cans of Cold Drinking Beer and Gorgeous Citra IPA.
⚓ 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.
👶 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.
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.
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