Special Events 2013

January 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield). Free admission to National Parks and other Federal sites throughout the country. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] and Yorktown, VA [phone].

April 7 Lamb's Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel John Lamb, which saw action at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. The unit presents artillery programs which features firing demonstrations of a replica 18-pounder siege gun, the largest siege cannon used by the Americans at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

April 20 National Park Service Junior Ranger Day(Jamestown) Special activities for children will enable them to earn a "National" Junior Ranger Patch. Activities have been designed and are presented by high school students from Jamestown High School. Activities include a guided bike ride; living history tours; a "dig box," where children can explore archeology "hands on," and arts and crafts activities. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA [phone]. Adults accompanying their children for the activities will receive an educational entrance fee waiver.

April 21 Royal Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the British Royal Artillery at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. Programs include live firings of a replica, British cannon, similar to some of the field cannon the British used at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

April 22-26 National Park Week (Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield). Free admission to National Parks and other Federal sites throughout the country. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] and Yorktown, VA [phone].

April 27 National Park Service Junior Ranger Day (Yorktown) Special activities for children will enable them to earn a "National" Junior Ranger Patch. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA [phone]; Entrance Fee

May 11-12 Jamestown Landing Weekend (Historic Jamestowne). Special programs and tours commemorate the landing of the first settlers at Jamestown in 1607. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] or [phone], Entrance Fee. Jointly sponsored by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia.

May 19 Lamb's Artillery and Royal Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). Differences between the British field cannon and the American and French siege cannon contributed to the American and French victory at Yorktown. Discover what some of these differences were, as two volunteer units, representing the British Royal Artillery and the 2nd Continental Regiment of Artillery (American), live fire replica cannons similar to the ones their respective units fired at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. Firing will take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

May 25-26 Civil War Weekend (Yorktown Battlefield). Tactical demonstrations, encampments and a Confederate field hospital interpret the role Yorktown played during the Peninsula Campaign. On Sunday special Memorial ceremonies will take place at the Yorktown National Cemetery and Confederate Cemetery. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

June 9 Lamb's Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel John Lamb, which saw action at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. The unit presents artillery programs which features firing demonstrations of a replica 18-pounder siege gun, the largest siege cannon used by the Americans at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

June 23 Royal Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the British Royal Artillery at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. Programs include live firings of a replica, British cannon, similar to some of the field cannon the British used at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

July 7 Royal Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the British Royal Artillery at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. Programs include live firings of a replica, British cannon, similar to some of the field cannon the British used at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

July 20 Symposium - Contraband, Freedmen and Community - The African American Experience in the Union occupied South during the Civil War (Yorktown Battlefield). President Abraham Lincoln excluded York County from the provisions of the Emancipation Proclamation; yet thousands of enslaved Americans fled to the protection of the Union garrison at Yorktown. Their experiences there, during and immediately after the Civil War reflect the difficulties and challenges of the newly freed throughout the country. Speakers include historians and authors Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, Glenn David Brasher, Dr. Edward Longacre; Dr. Ronald E. Butchart; Living History Historian Jerome Bridges; and National Park Historians, Emmanuel Dabney and Diane Depew. Additional information and the symposium brochure click here, or by calling 757-898-2410. Registration fee - $15.

July 28 Lamb's Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel John Lamb, which saw action at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. The unit presents artillery programs which features firing demonstrations of a replica 18-pounder siege gun, the largest siege cannon used by the Americans at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

July 30 First Assembly Day Commemoration (Historic Jamestowne). Living history interpreters will reflect on the significance of the first Assembly in 1619 and its impact on the residents of the Virginia Colony. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] or [phone], Entrance Fee.

August 11 Lamb's Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel John Lamb, which saw action at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. The unit presents artillery programs which features firing demonstrations of a replica 18-pounder siege gun, the largest siege cannon used by the Americans at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

August 25 National Park Service Birthday (Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield). Free admission to National Parks and other Federal sites throughout the country. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] and Yorktown, VA [phone].

August 25 Royal Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the British Royal Artillery at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. Programs include live firings of a replica, British cannon, similar to some of the field cannon the British used at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

September 21 Bacon's Rebellion (Historic Jamestowne). An evening walking tour will relate the details of Bacon's Rebellion as they occurred at Jamestown, including a symbolic burning of the town site. Living history programs during the weekend will highlight the actions of key events of the rebellion. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] or [phone], Entrance Fee. Jointly sponsored by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia.

September 28 Public Lands Day (Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield). Free admission to National Parks and other Federal sites throughout the country. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] and Yorktown, VA [phone].

September 28 Royal Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the British Royal Artillery at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. Programs include live firings of a replica, British cannon, similar to some of the field cannon the British used at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

September 29 Lamb's Artillery (Yorktown Battlefield). A volunteer unit depicts the 2nd Continental Artillery Regiment commanded by Colonel John Lamb, which saw action at the 1781 Siege of Yorktown. The unit presents artillery programs which features firing demonstrations of a replica 18-pounder siege gun, the largest siege cannon used by the Americans at Yorktown. Firings take place at 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], Entrance Fee.

October 12-13 Commemoration of Virginia Archeology Month and Glassmaking at Jamestown (Historic Jamestowne). Hands-on activities give children an opportunity to participate in the process of archeology in a simulated dig box. Watch archeologist at work. Special exhibits, tours, and programs let visitors of all ages explore archeology at James Fort. Special programs and glassmaking demonstrations will highlight the importance of this industry and its impact on Jamestown. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] or [phone], Entrance Fee. Jointly sponsored by the National Park Service and Preservation Virginia.

October 19 Yorktown Day (Yorktown Battlefield). Ceremonies, a parade and special programs commemorate the 232nd anniversary of America's climactic Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone], no entrance fee. Jointly sponsored by the National Park Service and the Yorktown Day Association.

October 19-20Yorktown Victory Weekend(Yorktown Battlefield). Artillery programs by British and American reenactment units and park ranger guided tours help mark the 232nd anniversary of the American and French victory at Yorktown. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone]. Fee Free on Saturday only; Entrance Fee on Sunday. Nearby, complementary events are also held at the Yorktown Victory Center, administered by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (Separate Entrance Fee).

November 9-11Veterans Day (Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown Battlefield). Free admission to National Parks and other Federal sites throughout the country. Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown, VA, [phone] and Yorktown, VA [phone].

November 9-10 Fort Yorktown Sesquicentennial Weekend (Yorktown Battlefield). Tactical demonstrations, encampments, military hospital depiction, living history demonstrations and 19th century army sutlers interpret the role Yorktown played during the Civil War (1862-1864) when it was an active, Federal military garrison. Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, VA, [phone] (free)

For further information, contact Colonial National Historical Park, P.O. Box 210, Yorktown, Virginia 23690, [phone] or check for updated information on special events at www.nps.gov/colo.