Newly expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art to reopen to the public on Feb. 8

WILLIAMSBURG – The Muscarelle Museum of Art will reopen to the public this week following an extensive two-year renovation project.

A community grand opening will be held on Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event, which is free and open to everyone, will feature art activities for all ages and tours highlighting the expanded museum and its current exhibitions. 

The museum now features a three-story expansion named the Martha Wren Briggs Center for the Visual Arts. The new building increases the museum’s footprint by more than 42,000 square feet and blends historic traditions with contemporary design. 

“The expanded Muscarelle Museum of Art will have a transformational impact on the cultural landscape of William & Mary,” said David Brashear, director of the Muscarelle.

Exhibition capacity at the museum has nearly tripled, expanding from five galleries to 14.

The facility’s lower level now includes space for educational programs and special events. Also among the additions are a new café, featuring coffee and light fare, and a museum store that features unique merchandise.

In addition to the grand opening event on Feb. 8, the museum is gearing up to unveil a groundbreaking new Michelangelo exhibition next month. 

The exhibition, which offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most famous artists in the world, will open to the public on March 6. 

For more information, visit muscarelle.org.

Additional Highlights

Valentine’s Day events, free concerts and history programs are also among the happenings slated to take place in the Historic Triangle this week.

Historic Yorktown will host a Valentine’s Day Winter Market on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can shop for flowers, desserts, artwork and more. The market will feature a performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town, a craft activity for children and opportunities to decorate the LOVE letters.

Love, Revolutionary Style will be held at the American Revolutionary Museum at Yorktown on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum shop and 1781 Café by Aromas will celebrate the holiday with sweet treats, music, romantic gifts, live music, a book signing and craft activities. Admission is not required to visit the museum store.

In honor of Black History Month, Colonial Williamsburg will present A Lens on History at the Kimball Theatre. The event will showcase never-before-seen photos from Williamsburg first Black city-licensed photographer, Albert Durant.

For those looking to get out of the house and enjoy some live music, Yorktown Library is hosting a free USCG TRACEN Band concert on Feb. 5. Additionally, Bruton Parish Church will present an Organ & Harpsichord Recital on Feb. 8, and a Choral Evensong on Feb. 9.

American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Jamestown Settlement and Colonial Williamsburg have kicked off their Black History Month programming, which will run throughout the month of February.

See this weekend’s full event guide below.

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Local Events this Weekend: Feb. 7 – 9

Friday, Feb. 7

SPECIAL EVENT

• First Friday Phoebus Artwalk | Downtown Phoebus | Explore Phoebus and its historic arts district every first Friday of the month. Downtown merchants will stay open late. There will be pop-up acoustic music performances, exhibits at local galleries and opportunities to discover events at The American Theatre. 5 – 8 pm. 

NATURE 

• Roaming Ranger | York River State Park | Meet with a naturalist/ranger and discover the aquatic, mammal, plant and insect life in the ecosystems of this 2,000-acre park. Included with standard park admission. 11 am – 12 pm. 

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

• ELL Book Group | Williamsburg Library | This discussion group is for advanced English Language Learners and meets on the first Friday of each month from January to May. For ages 16+. Registration is required. See the website for details. Free. 10 am. 

KIDS

• Preschool Music Class with ECMS | James City County Library | Children ages 3-5 are invited to join educators from the Early Childhood Music School for a morning of singing, instrument playing and more. Free. 10 am. 
• Kids’ Valentine’s Day Chocolate Making Workshop | James City County Recreation Center | Kids ages 6-12 will make a variety of Valentine’s Day-themed chocolate treats during this program. $30. 5:30 – 7:30 pm. 

Saturday, Feb. 8

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Yorktown Market Days: Valentine’s Day Winter Market | Riverwalk Landing | Shop for local and unique products during this special Valentine’s Day-themed market. There will be flowers, desserts, sweet treats, artwork and more. The event also features a kids’ craft and the opportunity to decorate the LOVE letters. Free admission. 10 am – 2 pm. 
• Love, Revolutionary Style | American Revolution Museum at Yorktown | The museum shop and the 1781 Café by Aromas will celebrate “Love, Revolutionary Style” with sweet treats, music, romantic gifts and activities. Attendees will craft their own Valentine’s Day cards with paper doilies (11 am) and decorate cookies with Aroma’s pastry chef (1 pm). Musician Timothy Seaman will play live music (1-3 pm), the museum store will sell special gifts and author Libby Cart McNamee will offer a book signing. Museum admission is not required to attend events at the museum store. 10 am – 3 pm. 
• Muscarelle Community Grand Opening | Muscarelle Museum of Art | Celebrate the grand re-opening of the Muscarelle. The museum will host tours highlighting the expansion project and artwork on view as well as art activities for all ages. Open to all; no registration necessary. Free. 10 am. 
• Williamsburg Farmers Market: Winter Market | 345 W Duke of Gloucester St | Williamsburg Farmers Market is launching winter markets this year. The events will be held every Saturday, Jan. 11 through Feb. 22, from 9 am to noon. Guests will discover locally-grown produce, handmade soaps, bakery items and seasonal goods. Free admission.
• A Lens on History: Albert Durant Photos | Kimball Theatre | Attend a special program on Albert Durant, Williamsburg’s first Black city-licensed photographer, and the Albert Durant Photography Collection, featuring a performance by the Bray School Descendant Community Choir. This event features never-before-seen photographs of Williamsburg and the surrounding area during the late 1930s to early 1960s. 4-5:30 pm. Free and open to the public. 
• African Americans and the Railroad | Lee Hall Depot | Celebrate Black History Month with a self-guided tour and interactive activities that focus on Black inventors whose work made railroad history. Included with regular museum admission. 10 am – 4 pm. 
• The Shipyard Experience: A Trolley and Walking Tour | Virginia War Museum | This tour features many sites related to the shipyard. Guests will learn about the shipyard’s founding, its role in 20th-century wars and its current priorities. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance here. 10 am – 12 pm.
• Bacchus Wine & Food Festival | Virginia Living Museum | Enjoy samplings of fine wine, local Hampton Roads restaurant fare, a silent auction and local, live music and entertainment while mingling among the museum galleries and exhibits. Tickets are $85. The main event will be held from 7-9 pm. 
• Piano Superstar Yuja Wang + Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet | Virginia Symphony Orchestra | Enjoy a concert featuring Yuja Wang, one of the most celebrated pianists in the world today. Tickets start at $43. 7:30 pm. 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

• Roots & Rows Hair Braiding Workshop | Stryker Center | This workshop teaches participants how to braid, two-strand twist, and cornrow natural/textured hair. Ages 11+ are welcome. See the website for registration details. 11 am – 2 pm. 

NATURE

• Fossil Frenzy Hike | York River State Park | Williamsburg | Hike to a fossil beach and discover relics of very old marine creatures, such as early whales, porpoises, sharks and clams. Included with standard park admission. 10 am – 12 pm. 

KIDS

• Pop-n-Play | Abram Frink Jr. Community Center | Children are invited drop in for a fun event featuring vintage arcade and board games. Free. 10 am – 1 pm.
• Science Saturday | Tabb Library | Participants will learn the steps of creating their own board game. This program is available for grades K – 2 (10:15 – 11 am) and grades 3 – 5 (11:30 – 12:30 am). Free.

GARDENING

• Starting from Seed | Tabb Library | Learn easy techniques to grow your own flowers and vegetables from seeds at home. Participants will receive their own planted seeds donated by the York/Poquoson Master Gardeners. See the website to sign up. For ages 18 and up. Free. 1 – 3 pm. 
• Seed Swap | Tabb Library | Drop in for a seed swap program. Bring at least one variety of seeds to share. Free. 2 – 4 pm. 

LIVE MUSIC

• Zack Salsberry | Alewerks Taproom | Williamsburg Premium Outlets | Listen to live music by Zack Salsberry while enjoying pizza and beer. 5 – 8. 
• Clayton Perry | Virginia Beer Company | Enjoy live music on the taproom stage every Saturday from 5-8 pm. This week’s featured musician is Clayton Perry. 
• Organ & Harpsichord Recital: Rebecca Davy | Bruton Parish Church | Enjoy a harpsichord and organ recital featuring Rebecca Davy, music director at Bruton Parish Church. Free admission; freewill donations gratefully accepted. 8-9 pm. 

Sunday, Feb. 9

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

• Cultural Heritage Series: The Historic First Baptist Church Concert Choir | Williamsburg Library | Enjoy a repertoire of musical entertainment by the Historic First Baptist church choir under the direction of Maestro Reginald Fox. Free. 3 pm.

KIDS

• Kids Bounce | James City County Recreation Center | This mini trampoline class allows children to burn energy and have fun. $5. 1-1:45 pm
• Beanbag Book Club | James City County Library | This book club is designed for children ages 5-8 and features a story, craft and games. The featured book this week is Megabat by Anna Humphrey.  Includes a copy of the book to keep. Space is limited, reserve a ticket at the Youth Services Desk starting 30 minutes before the beginning of the program. Free. 1:30 pm.
• PAWS to Read | Yorktown Library | Children will improve their reading skills while reading aloud to trained therapy dogs. Register online. Free. 1:30 – 2:30 pm or 3:30 – 4:30 pm.

LIVE MUSIC

• Choral Evensong | Bruton Parish Church | Attend a choral evensong presented by the Bruton Choirs, presented by Rebecca Davy and accompanied by organist JanEl Will. Free and open to the public. 5:30 – 6:30 pm.

Multi-Day

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Black History Month | Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown | Black History Month will be celebrated throughout February with engaging events, permanent, exhibits, interactives, rare artifacts and films at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum. Included with museum admission. Admission is free for residents of Williamsburg, James City County and York County with proof of residency.
• Busch Gardens Mardi Gras | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Celebrate Mardi Gras with food, cocktails, live music and entertainment. Included with park admission. See the website for additional details. Fridays – Sundays, Jan. 24 – Mar. 9.
• Armor of God: The Art of Steve Prince | Torggler Fine Arts Center | This exhibition features linoleum cuts and lithographs by master printmaker Steve Prince, who explores themes of divine protection and social justice pertaining to African American history. Prince is a resident of Williamsburg, where he serves as the Director of Engagement and Distinguished Artist in Residence at the Muscarelle Museum. Free. Daily, Jan. 18 – Feb. 23, 2025. 

THEATRE

• Williamsburg Players Present: Deathtrap | 200 Hubbard Lane | Enjoy a performance of Deathtrap, a 1978 play full of twists, turns and hilariously sudden shocks that keep the audience spellbound until the last moment. See the website for additional details or to purchase tickets. Select dates, Jan. 31 – Feb. 16.
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | The Ella Fitzgerald Theater | Newport News | DG Main Stage presents a community production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, Feb. 2, 8, 14, 15, 21 & 22 at 7 pm. Tickets start at $21.25.
• Measure of a Man’s Worth | Hennage Auditorium | In this performance, an enslaved man named Benjamin learns that the Fifth Virginia Convention has voted to declare independence. The audience will find out what this transformation means for Benjamin and the enslaved people of Virginia. Requires CW admission or a Good Neighbor Pass. Wednesdays, Feb. 5 – 26, 3-3:45 pm.

TAX ASSISTANCE

• Williamsburg AARP Tax-Aide Tax Assistance | Williamsburg & James City County Libraries | Greater Williamsburg Tax-Aide provides free tax counseling, preparation and filing service to taxpayers with low to moderate income, with special attention to those aged 60 and older. The program is operating out of both the downtown Scotland St. library location and the County library on Croaker Road. Appointments can be made online or by phone. Walk-ins are also welcome as schedules allow. Appointments are available at Williamsburg Library (757-354-1260) Monday – Saturday and James City County Library (757-561-0545) on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, Feb. 1 – April 15. Free.

SEASONAL

• Ice Skating at Colonial Williamsburg | Liberty Ice Pavilion | Colonial Williamsburg’s Liberty Ice Pavilion will continue to operate through Feb. 28. Refreshments including hot cider and coffee will be available for purchase steps from the ice. Season passes and single-day tickets are available.