Special Events & Exhibitions
Patriots Path: A Revolutionary War Encampment at Mt. Vernon – 2026
Immerse yourself in the daily life of soldiers, military officers, and the women and children who traveled with the army as you explore the 18th-century Continental Army encampment.
Reenactments of Patrick Henry’s Liberty of Death Speech at the 2nd Virginia Convention
St. John’s Church, Richmond - Professional actors in 1770s attire portray nine delegates, including prominent Virginians Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Witness the democratic process at work through the animated reenactment of the Second Virginia Convention, which culminates in Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech. Select holiday(s) and summer Sunday public reenactments or groups can book a private reenactment.
Call to Arms: The Solder and the Revolutionary War – through June 14, 2027
National Museum of the United States Army – Exhibit examines the evolution of the soldier and Army during the Revolutionary War. This exhibit uncovers and shares compelling stories through diverse people who served during complex events which sparked America’s ongoing efforts in liberty, equality and self-government.
Fresh Views of the American Revolution - October 18, 2025 - May 3, 2026
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – This exhibition will invite 21st-century visitors to explore the ideals and values of the Revolution and what they mean to us today through the re-emergence of 18 original images in the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation collection from artist Oscar De Mejo, created to commemorate the 1976 Bicentennial.
We The People – March 14, 2026 – January 3, 2027
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond - This exhibition will explore the many people who, over centuries, have made Virginia the unique place it is in America and in the world, and the dramatic impact of the immigrant experience throughout Virginia’s history as people arrived from the four corners of the globe.
Virginia International Tattoo - April 16-19, 2026
Norfolk - In tribute to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Virginia International Tattoo will bring an international cast of more than 800 performers, including civilian and military bands and drill from seven nations, in a rousing and emotion-filled celebration of freedom. https://www.vafest.org/tattoo/
George Washington: A Revolutionary Life Exhibition at Mt. Vernon – opening in spring 2026
Sail250® Virginia – June 12-15 and June 19-23, 2026
Norfolk/Hampton Roads/Chesapeake Bay - A fleet of the world’s most magnificent international tall ships and military ships, in an epic peacetime gathering, will sail into the port of Virginia as part of Sail250® America. 4,000 officers, cadets, and crews of more than 60 ships from 20 nations will engage with residents and visitors across the Chesapeake Bay region in events and programs symbolic of the bonds of international goodwill. On June 12-15, 2026, ships will be on display in Alexandria, Hampton, Onancock, Richmond, Yorktown and Smithfield/Isle of Wight. On the afternoon of June 18 and the morning of June 19, 2026, the ships will be visible at anchor off the Chesapeake Bay beaches of Virginia Beach. The Parade of Sail will depart the anchorage off the Lesner Bridge on Shore Drive at approximately 7AM, on its way to downtown Norfolk. June 19-23, 2026, ships will be on display in Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and Norfolk.
Give Me Liberty: Virginia and the Forging of a Nation July 1, 2026 - January 31, 2027
American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – Exhibition will explore the unique and essential Virginia people, events, and sites that helped bring liberty and democracy to a nation. This exhibition will provide context for the coming of the Revolution in Virginia and will bring visitors into the core of the action from 1774 through 1776, highlighting how the American Revolution was a war, and more than a war.
America. Made in Virginia. 250 Years of Forming a More Perfect Union – July 4, 2026
VA250 Grand Ceremony at Colonial Williamsburg. Enjoy patriotic festivities, including public readings of the Declaration of Independence, musical performances, and a dazzling fireworks display to cap the evening.
Independence Day in Colonial Williamsburg: America’s 250th Birthday - July 4, 2026
Statewide - “A Celebration of Citizenship” Naturalization ceremonies will occur throughout the Commonwealth. Citizens will join in taking the oath of citizenship and recommit to the values of being an American. Statewide naturalization ceremony at key locations with nationally recognized speakers simulcast at prominent venues throughout the state.
Un/Bound: Free Black Virginians – through July 5, 2026
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond - This exhibition explores the lives of free Black Virginians from the arrival of the first captive Africans in 1619 to the abolition of slavery in 1865. Through powerful objects and first-person accounts, visitors will discover how Virginia’s people of color achieved their freedom, fought for their civil rights, and persevered within a legal system that recognized them as free but not equal.
The Turn of the Tide of Success: Kings Mountain at Barter Theater – September 17 - October 31, 2026
Theatrical performance about the battle that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War and the role that men, women, kings, soldiers and enslaved played.
Yorktown Victory Celebration– October 17-18, 2026
America’s momentous 1781 Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown will be celebrated at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown with artillery firings, military programs and music. Visitors can interact with Revolutionary War re-enactors and take part in interpretive demonstrations.
The 250th anniversary of America’s momentous 1781 Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown – October 2031
America’s momentous 1781 Revolutionary War victory at Yorktown will be celebrated at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown with artillery firings, military programs and music. Visitors can interact with Revolutionary War re-enactors and take part in interpretive demonstrations.
Walking Tours of Neabsco Creek Boardwalk – On Demand with prior reservations
Neabsco Creek was reshaped by the colonial era industry dependent on its waters. The Tayloes operated the Neabsco Iron Works here from the 1730s until the early 1800s with mostly enslaved or convict labor. During the Revolution, John Tayloe II supplied iron for muskets made at Fredericksburg, cannonballs, tools for the Prince William County militia, and naval supplies for Virginia’s small fleet.