You know what is great about February? There are always lots of interesting events because it is Black History Month, and it includes Presidents Day (long weekend) and Valentines Day! This year (2020) we luck out because Valentine’s Day is on a Friday and it is the start to the President’s Day long weekend! So, if you are looking for fun free, or not too expensive things to do this January in the Williamsburg, James City County and Yorktown area (and a little further down the Peninsula) below is the list for you! Make sure to check out the posts we have listed below that lead you to dedicated pages on Black History Month events, President’s Day Weekend Events and Valentine’s Weekend event. They have great events listed there too!
Ice Skating in warm weather in Williamsburg!
How lucky are we in the Williamsburg VA area that with a population of around 101,780 people (Historic Triangle), we have 2 theme parks, 3 world class museums and more just minutes outside the Historic Triangle…and an outdoor ice skating rink where you can ice skate without a coat on most days! You can still enjoy the rink in February, but ice skating in Colonial Williamsburg ends Presidents Day weekend, so get there quick.
If you want to snag a discount make sure you have a Colonial Williamsburg Good Neighbors card (skating discounts are on certain days so check before you go) otherwise ice skating hours and prices are listed here.
Cabin Fever Free Concert Series
If you are getting cabin fever and need some live music that is in a really cool venue – check out these free concerts on Thursday evening in Yorktonw at the Freight Shed on the riverfront. For the full line up, dates, time and details on free refreshments from the Carrot Tree visit our post on Cabin Fever Free Concert Series for 2020
FREE Craft Classes for Kids at School Crossing
We all love School Crossing Toy Store and we are so happy that our community supports the neighborhood toy store! They are too, and so to enjoy your company even more they are hosting free kids craft classes. Craft Classes are FREE, but space is limited so make sure to call to register for the class (or classes!) of your choice. 757-220-8772
Here are February’s classes:
Stablemates Horse Painting – Saturday, February 8th, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Aquarellum Watercolor Painting – Saturday, February 22nd, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Klutz Stencil Art – Saturday, March 7th, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Hermitage Museum – FREE Admission in February
Now this one is a little out of the Williamsburg area but definitely worth the drive. How do I know…heck, I was married at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk under the huge magnolia tree in the back overlooking the water.
This museum is a turn of the century (1900s) family home to the Sloan Family and Mrs Sloan was an incredible art collector. The house itself is a piece of history and during February all enjoy free admission to the museum and gardens (February 1–29, 2020) While you are there you can take a tour to explore the 42 room mansion that has over 5,000 years of art paintings and object from around the globe. And they are hosting a new costume exhibit called Style & Flair from Feb 22 – 29 and visitors will get in free to that as well! February is a great time to visit the Hermitage Museum because they also have a couple of evening events this month and art classes – definitely check them out online at Hermitage Museum. And their Facebook page mentions the Feb Free Admission.
Colonial Fashion Days – Feb 7th – 9th
Here is another great opportunity to use your CW Good Neighbors Pass, Colonial Williamsburg is hosting a fashion event to show guests the beauty, artistry, and secrets of 18th-century fashion during this three-day celebration, February 7-9, 2020. The Historic Area’s Tarpley, Thomas & Company will serve as the Fashion Headquarters for all 18th-century wardrobe desires. Learn more about this event.
Cure your cabin fever with a trip to the Virginia Zoo – for free! This February the Zoo will be offering free admission on Fridays. And some of the animals like the red pandas and cheetas are more active in the cooler weather… Learn more
All the Presidents Homes Trip
Perfect for February’s President’s Day long weekend
This local adventure article was written for us by Brandy Centolanza and she details the local (right in our backyard) and regional former President’s homes. Many are a day trip and several are just around the corner. The article gives you tips to know before you go so make sure to read it here.
Nauticus & Battelship Wisconsin Admission $7.57 for locals
Now I know this is not Williamsburg, Yorktown, Historic Triangle… but it is our area code: 757! So this awesome discount applies to us too and it means entrance to the Nauticus & Battle Ship Wisconsin for only $7.57. Learn more about this deal and the museums.
Black History Month Events in Williamsburg and beyond
Because we just did a post with tons of Black History Month events in this area we wanted to include it on this post about things to do in February. Many of the events on this list are free or very low fee and there are events for preschoolers thru adults, so make sure to visit our Black History Month events page.
Presidents Day Weekend Events
Again, we did a great post of things to do on President’s Day weekend that are not to be missed. Some are right in our backyard and others are down the peninsula but take a second and check them out on our President’s Day Weekend Events post.
Valentine’s Day Weekend Events in the Williamsburg Area
This year Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday so it is part of the long President’s Day weekend. That makes it a double fun weekend of events. So much like our Black History Month, and President’s Weekend post this Valentines Weekend post will give you a nice run down on events for your kids, yourself and even date night! Visit our Valentines Day Weekend Event post here.
Bassett Trace Nature Trail
If the weather holds..enjoy the Basset Trace Trail in Colonial Williamsburg. This is a free access trail to visitors and locals a like. Recently re-opened in the fall of 2019 this trail is beautiful. It has markers along the way to let you know about the different types of trees, shrubs and plants along the trail . Take a snap shot of the Bird Guide poster at the trail head so you can identify what you spot along your walk. Trail is 1.4 miles (2.8 mile round trip). Here is our post about the Basset Trace Nature Trail
American Revolutionary Museum Yorktown – Free Admission for locals*
I had the good fortune of getting to spend a day with 4th graders on their field trip to the American Revolutionary Museum in Yorktown this month and it made me remember why I love this museum. It was recently refreshed and what an amazing museum we now have…holographic projections telling history to us in the first person. A movie theater in the round that tells the epic story of the last days of the decisive Battle of Yorktown. Your seats shudder when the bombs blast and smokey fog rises from the floor as the guns fire. But this is just on the inside of the museum. Outside museum interpreters are there in a rebuilt Revolutionary period town with a farm and roaming chickens. And that is just what we saw during a two hour field trip. Spend a day there and you will be amazed! *Best part? Residents of Williamsburg, James City County and Yorktown get in free with proof of residency.
Mariners Museum – $1 Admission and Black History Month events
The Mariners Museum is a great place to go any month but they have great programming in February to celebrate Black History Month including themed Monday Mariners Story Times. This permanent exhibits in this museum will delight young and old and there is so much there – you can keep visiting over and over. They do have a restaurant but it is limited hours so check before you go. Their gift shop is worth a visit too! Learn more about their Black History Month events by visiting our Black History Month post – they are all listed there.
Virginia Living Museum
The absolute best way to do the Virginia Living Museum is to get a family membership because it pays for itself – because once you go once with little kids you realize how family friendly this place is and you will want to keep going back…and so will your kids! The whole museum is stroller friendly and geared towards families. The outside section is awesome with wide stroller and kid save pathways (fencing all around so no one falls into the pond) and it leads to the outdoor Dinosaur Discovery Zone. They are opening a new exhibit on Jan 18th called Tiny Titans (Dino Eggs!) – you just don’t want to miss any of the exhibits they put on. Learn more about Tiny Titans exhibit here.
Chrysler Museum of Art
Chrysler Museum of Art offers free admission. Did we mention…free.
The Chrysler Museum has free parking. Our main entrance is stroller accessible. Our restaurant, Wisteria, has a variety of kid friendly menu items. The Chrysler Museum has a mothering room available in our Theater lobby. And their website has a whole “family visit” section! The museum is in Norfolk so not in Williamsburg but definitely worth a drive down the peninsula! Learn more about Chrysler Museum of Art here
