Colonial Williamsburg to host one of America’s biggest 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4

WILLIAMSBURG – Colonial Williamsburg is gearing up to host a large-scale celebration of America’s 250th anniversary on the very grounds where the Revolution was ignited in 1776.

Four days of patriotic programming and family-friendly activities will culminate on July 4 with “America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together,” a two-hour, televised special that will broadcast on PBS stations across the country from Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area at 8 p.m.

The highly anticipated broadcast is the result of a collaboration between The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and PBS.

Carly Fiorina, CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, said Colonial Williamsburg was an ideal location for a nationwide 250th celebration.

“Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area is the only place in the world where visitors can literally walk in the footsteps of America’s founding generation,” Fiorina said.

The two-hour program will be designed to both celebrate and unify the nation through live performances, music, historic interpretation, narration and a dramatic visual spectacle.

The overarching goal is to create a powerful national event that connects America’s founding to the present day and “inspires a season of civic renewal,” according to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Special guests participating in the celebration include multi-platinum recording artist and “Ambassador of the Great American Songbook,” Michael Feinstein; three-time Grammy Award-winning opera bass-baritone, Ryan Speedo Green; Broadway star Adrienne Warren; Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara; and legendary singer-songwriter Judy Collins.

Richard Thomas, an Emmy Award-winning actor best known for portraying John-Boy on “The Waltons,” will narrate the PBS broadcast, and there will be a greeting by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns.

Performances during the Independence Day celebration will feature Leah Glenn Dance Theatre, the Virginia Chorale and the Fifes & Drums of Colonial Williamsburg.

Another highlight in the schedule of events is a powerful musical performance of Indigenous, West African and English Colonial Drums coming together as one.

A dramatic presentation of excerpts of the Declaration of Independence will showcase Nation Builders Thomas Jefferson, Martha Washington and James Lafayette, alongside an enslaved Virginian who won freedom by serving as a double agent in the Revolutionary War.

Throughout the long weekend, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will offer anniversary-themed programming to provide visitors with essential context behind the decisions that led to the call for independence – from Jefferson’s mindset while penning the Declaration of Independence to an examination of the perspectives of Williamsburg residents who were embroiled in the debate surrounding the war.

In addition to the patriotic programs, Colonial Williamsburg is once again offering free admission on July 4. Visitors are invited to spend the day learning about the events that led up to the signing of America’s founding document. 

Visit Williamsburg CEO Edward Harris hinted earlier this year that the Historic Triangle would be at the forefront of 250th celebrations, but the full extent of Colonial Williamsburg’s planned festivities have only recently been revealed.

“Williamsburg is where America’s story began, and we’re honored to lead the nation’s celebration of our shared story,” Harris said. 

As part of the PBS broadcast, Colonial Williamsburg will also host an evening drone display featuring a patriotic score recorded by the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band.

The night will conclude with what is being hailed as the “largest display of fireworks in The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s history.”

“America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together,” will stream simultaneously with broadcast and be available on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS app.

Those planning to attend the July 4 event in person are encouraged to sign up for text alerts from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which provides direct communication to guests regarding operational updates and weather announcements.

Visitors can text the keyword CWEVENTS to 226787 to receive special event information via text. The opt-in will auto-expire at the end of the night on July 4.

Plans are also in place to help guests deal with the warm weather that is typical on a Virginia summer day. Organizers say cooling stations will be positioned throughout the Historic Area.

While parking capacity is limited at the Visitor Center, additional July 4 parking will be available at William & Mary’s Zable Stadium, located at 100 Stadium Drive off Richmond Road, and at William & Mary’s Law School, located at 613 Henry Street. The walk to Palace Green is about fifteen minutes from those locations.

Free overflow parking will also be provided at the Williamsburg Community Chapel located at 3899 John Tyler Highway. Event attendees can travel to and from the Historic Area via complimentary shuttles from noon to 11 p.m.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation put together a July 4 FAQ with answers to common questions. Additional information about the upcoming patriotic festivities is available colonialwilliamsburg.org.

Fiorina underscored that the monumental 250th celebration is an extension of the efforts The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation undertakes every day.

“The power of [Colonial Williamsburg] can be seen in every program we produce, in each of the 89 original buildings that line our historic streets and in every artifact we unearth to aid in our understanding of the nation’s revolutionary era,” Fiorina said. “Over the July 4 weekend, we invite the world to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with us, here on the very streets where the call for independence took place.”