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 (2021) we luck out because Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday and it is the during the President’s Day long weekend!
So, if you are looking for fun free, or not too expensive things to do this February 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. Skating is open daily thru Feb 15, 2021
If you want to snag a discount make sure you have a Colonial Williamsburg Good Neighbors card (skating discounts are on weekdays ) otherwise ice skating hours and prices are listed here.
Winter Markets in Yorktown
***Rain or Shine Market – if weather is bad it will move to the lower level of the Parking Terrace…if it is snowy weather and they have to cancel they will try to have it this Sunday Feb 14th. For the most updated info follow Yorktown Market Day’s Facebook Page
Winter Markets! This is a new thing that is happening in 2021 because Yorktown cannot run it’s usual Cabin Fever Free Concert Series due to COVID. But “Hey”! If life gives you lemons, make lemonade! So that is what Yorktown did! They are hosting a series of Winter Markets full of farm and artisan vendors. Dates are Jan 30th, Feb 13th and March 6th from 10 am – 2 pm and these markets are weather proof. If it rains they move to the bottom level of the Water Street Parking Terrace – learn more!
Exploration Ice Age at the Virginia Living Museum opens February 13, 2021
The sixth mass extinction is happening right now! Called the Holocene Extinction, it includes the loss of the animals found in North America at the end of the ice age, such as saber-tooth cats, mammoths, and mastodons. Many of their relatives are still around today – some even live in a habitat along the Virginia Living Museum’s outdoor trail.
It is predicted around one million animal and plant species are currently threatened with extinction. Discover how you can help the outlook of our future biodiversity by unearthing extinctions of the past in this temporary exhibit. Learn more here
And if you are a homeschool family they have a homeschool program on February 3 : Animal Mythbusters
Live Programming at the Hennage Auditorium – TALKS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
A New York City Potter and the Back to Africa Movement, Uncovering America’s Oldest Black Baptist Church, Artists and Abolitionists, David Jarbour: The Unfinished Story of an Alexandria Potter and By His Hand: The Story of a Free Black Cabinetmaker in Virginia are all programs to be found at the Hennage during February. Learn more here.
Free Admission to the Hermitage Museum for 2021
Admission will remain free through 2021! You’re invited to enjoy everything you love about the Hermitage Museum throughout the year during their daily hours of 10 to 5, excluding Mondays. Admission includes entry into our new exhibition, Whistler & Company, through April 11. *No pre-registration is required. All museum visitors are required to wear masks and social distance. The museum is operating at limited capacity in accordance with the governor’s guidance. Learn more about the Hermitage Museum
Busch Gardens’ Mardi Gras
Something new this year! Busch Gardens is open for Limited-Capacity Special Event celebrating Mardi Gras! This event is open on select dates from Jan 29 – Feb 28th and you have to make a reservation before you go. Learn more about this festive, first time event at Busch Gardens!
Wash and Talk & “A Habitat is a Wonderful Place!” are two programs you can sign up for at New Quarter Park in Yorktown. Walk and Talk is a monthly program that is returning but you must pre-register and “A Habitat is a Wonderful Place!” is a new program. Learn more
‘After Angelo’ February 27 at Jamestown Settlement
“After Angelo” festivities on February 27 feature a full day of events during this special one-day event honoring the legacy of the first African woman mentioned by name in the historical record at Jamestown. The day will feature a lively celebration of African-American culture and heritage with art, music, storytelling and a community conversation. 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.
Black History Month Feb 2021 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 2021
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 2021 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.
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.
