Things to do this week: Free concerts, Blackbeard Pirate Festival and more events

There will be several free concerts coming up this week.

In Williamsburg, the New Town Tunes spring concert series has been extended, with additional shows scheduled for the next four Wednesdays: May 31, June 7, June 14 and June 21.

This week’s show will feature popular local swing band Good Shot Judy. Gates open at 5:00 pm, and the concert starts at 5:30 pm. 

Also on Wednesday, the high-energy band Revelation will be performing in Newport News from 6:00 – 9:00 pm as part of the free Port Warwick Summer Concert Series.

Yorktown’s much-anticipated Sounds of Summer Concert Series kicks off this Thursday, June 1 at 6:30 pm. This week’s featured band is The Uptown Band. 

In addition, Midtown Row’s Music in Midtown concert series continues on Thursday with a concert by The BJ Griffin Band. The free show will run from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. 

Finally, Flute Frenzy – a local, nonprofit organization featuring an ensemble of flutists – will present its final concert of the season at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Friday, June 2 at 7:00 pm. The show will also be live-streamed on Flute Frenzy’s Facebook page. Admission is free, and donations are accepted.

In addition to all the live music, a variety of multi-day, special events are coming up this weekend.

The 22nd Annual Blackbeard Pirate Festival kicks off in Hampton this Friday and runs through Sunday. The event draws pirate enthusiasts from all over the country and features dozens of pirate reenactors, live music, fireworks, children’s activities, period vendors, arts and crafts and more.

Some other highlights include the Newport News Greek Festival and a Civil War reenactment at Fort Pocahontas in Charles City.

On a practical note, if you need to safely recycle some unwanted documents, mark your calendars for the Williamsburg REALTORS ® Document Shred Community Event. The free event will be held on Thursday, June 1 from 2:00-4:00 pm in the WAAR office parking lot (5000 New Point Rd, Ste 1101, Williamsburg).

Many of these events are weather-permitting, so be sure to stay tuned to the organizers’ websites and/or social media pages for updates if inclement weather arises.

-Christin

Monday, May 29

Memorial Day 

• Free Military Admission: Colonial Williamsburg – Colonial Williamsburg. As part of its continued tradition of military outreach, Colonial Williamsburg is offering free admission to all active-duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans, National Guard members and their immediate dependents May 26-29. Free “Honoring Service to America” single-day passes are available at all onsite ticket locations with proper ID. For more information, click here. 
• Free Admission: Virginia War Museum – 9285 Warwick Boulevard (Newport News). Honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country by visiting the Virginia War Museum. Admission will be free to the public all day on Memorial Day. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. 
• Free Military Admission: JYF Museums – Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. This Memorial Day, May 29, veterans, active duty, reservists and retired military personnel and up to three direct family members (with military identification) receive free admission at both Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. See the website for additional details. 9:00 am  – 5:00 pm. 
• Memorial Day Prayer Service and Ceremony – Historic Grace Episcopal Church (Yorktown). Join Historic Grace Episcopal Church for a Memorial Day prayer service honoring those who died while serving in the armed forces. After the service, a brief ceremony will be held in the cemetery featuring the playing of “Taps.” Free. 10:00 – 11:30 am. 
• 52nd Annual Memorial Day Celebration – Williamsburg Memorial Park (Williamsburg). Honor the men and women who gave their lives to protect our nation. This ceremony features patriotic music, an honor guard, a ceremonial wreath-laying, special guest speakers and more. Free. 10:00 am.

• Memorial Day Commemoration – Palace Green (Colonial Williamsburg). Attend a traditional wreath-laying ceremony honoring the men and women of the U.S. military who gave their lives defending our nation. Open to the public. 10:00 – 10:30 am. 
• Yorktown Freedom Run – York High School and the Yorktown Battlefield Tour Road (Yorktown). The Yorktown Rotary Club hosts the Yorktown Freedom Run annually to raise funds for college scholarships awarded to local high school graduates, fund service projects and donations to charities and service organizations in our local community. See the website for additional details. 8:00 – 10:00 am. 
• York County’s Annual Memorial Day Ceremony – York Hall (Yorktown). The public is invited to York County’s Annual Memorial Day Ceremony in York Hall (301 Main Street) in Historic Yorktown. The Fifes and drums of York Town will march to York Hall at approximately 11:45 am. The ceremony will also feature a keynote speaker, a Color Guard, wreath laying and the playing of “Taps.” 12:00 – 1:00 pm. 
• Memorial Day Jam – Virginia Beer Company (Williamsburg). Celebrate the unofficial start of summer with VBC’s Annual Memorial Day Jam featuring Billy Joe Daniel & Friends along with DJ Kudlz. 2:00 – 5:00 pm. 
• A Salute to the Fallen – Palace Green (Colonial Williamsburg). A lone bagpiper will conclude Colonial Williamsburg’s Memorial Day observance by playing iconic selections from the Governor’s Palace in a heartfelt tribute to those men and women who gave their lives to our nation. Open to the public. 4:40 – 5:00 pm. 

Tuesday, May 30

Film

• Art House Café Film Series: “Harper” – Williamsburg Library Theatre (Williamsburg). This film series brings an art house flavor to your Tuesdays. This week’s featured film is Harper (2023; NR). See a trailer here. 2:00 – 3:50 pm. 

Dance

• Beginner Line Dancing – Yorktown Library (Yorktown). Attend a four-week beginner line dance series at Yorktown Library. Register online. 6:30 – 7:30 pm. 

Fitness

• Indoor Cycle 101 – James City County Recreation Center (Williamsburg). Learn all you need to enter the world of indoor cycling. No experience needed. For ages 14+. Free. 5:30 – 6:14 pm. 

Wednesday, May 31

Live Music

• New Town Tunes: Good Shot Judy – Sullivan Square in New Town (Williamsburg). The New Town Tunes spring concert series has been extended! This week’s show will feature Good Shot Judy. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from New Town Restaurants, Local Food Trucks & Breweries. Follow New Town Williamsburg on Facebook for updates. Free. Gates open at 5:00 pm; show starts at 5:30 pm.

• Port Warwick Summer Concert Series: Revelation – William Styron Square (Newport News). Enjoy a free concert by high-energy band Revelation. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Food and drinks are permitted, and there will also be a wide selection of food available for purchase from on-site food trucks. Free. Weather-related updates will be posted on the website and the Port Warwick Summer Concert Facebook page. The show is scheduled to run from 6:00 – 9:00 pm.

Thursday, June 1

Special Events

• Document Shred Community Event – WAAR Parking Lot (Williamsburg). Williamsburg REALTORS ® will hold a Document Shredding Community Event free to all on Thursday, June 1 at WAAR office parking lot (5000 New Point Rd, Ste 1101, Williamsburg). 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

Film

• Throwback Thursday Film Series: “Funny Face” – Williamsburg Library Theatre (Williamsburg). This film series features a variety of contemporary and classic movies for an adult audience. This month’s featured film is Funny Face (1957; NR). See the website for a description. 2:00 – 3:45 pm. 

Live Music

• Music in Midtown: BJ Griffin Band – Midtown Row (Williamsburg). Attend a night of great music featuring the BJ Griffin Band. Thursday, June 1. Updates will be posted to the Midtown Row Facebook page. Free. 6:00 – 8:00 pm. 
• Sounds of Summer Concert Series: The Uptown Band – 331 Water Street (Yorktown). Yorktown’s Sounds of Summer concert series returns Thursday night through August 10. This week’s featured band is The Uptown Band. Free. For weather-related updates, call the York County Event Weather Hotline at 757.890.3520. 6:30 – 9:00 pm. 
• Chamber Concert: York River Concert Band – Bruton Parish Church (Williamsburg). Visit this historic 18th-century worship center and attend a candlelit concert by the York River Concert band, directed by Jeff Haney. 8:00 – 9:00 pm. 

Friday, June 2

Special Events

• First Friday – City Center at Oyster Point (Newport News). Head out to City Center at Oyster Point for a new First Fridays event series featuring live music on the market stage, local food and drinks and more. Free. 5:00 – 9:00 pm. 
• Celebrate the Bay – New Kent Winery (New Kent). Celebrate the tastes of the Chesapeake Bay at New Kent Winery. There will be various food vendors, ice cream, wine and beer available. Admission is a $2 donation that will be donated to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Tickets are available online. 6:00 – 9:00 pm.  

Live Music

• Live Music on the Pavilion: Hard Times Band – Williamsburg Winery (Williamsburg). Start off your weekend with a performance by Hard Times Band while enjoying a glass of wine. 4:00 – 7:00 pm. 
• Flute Frenzy Presents: How Time Flies! – Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church (Williamsburg). Join Flute Frenzy as they present their final concert of the season: How Time Flies! The program features a diverse set of pieces including some classics, a few arrangements by Director Sean Arawjo, and some repertoire that will be brand new to you, including the premiere of a lively composition by Flute Frenzy member Edgardo Santiago-Ortiz! Free. Donations are welcome. The event will also be streamed live on Flute Frenzy’s Facebook page. Show begins at 7:00 pm.

Saturday, June 3

Special Events

• Tails on the Trail – Greensprings Interpretive Trail (Williamsburg). Join James City County Parks & Recreation and Heritage Humane Society for the annual Tails on the Trail event. This is a self-guided adventure. Wear comfy shoes and get ready to walk. This event is weather-permitting. Follow the James City County Facebook page for updates. 9:00 – 11:00 am.

Markets

• Yorktown Market Days – Riverwalk Landing (Yorktown). Enjoy spectacular views of the York River while shopping for seasonal produce, fresh baked goods, meats, beautiful artwork and more. Acoustical guitarist Louis Vangieri will perform on the Riverwalk Landing Stage. 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. 
• Williamsburg Farmers Market – Merchants Square (Williamsburg). Find a variety of local products – including seasonal produce, meats, seafood, baked goods, honey, cheese, cut flowers, handmade soaps and more – offered by more than 40 vendors. The market runs from 8:00 – 12:00 pm and there will be live music from 9:00 – 11:00 am.
• Hilton Village Farmers Market – Historic Hilton Village (Newport News). Shop for goods from local farmers and bakers at this NEW year-round market at Historic Hilton Village. 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. 
• Toano Open Air Market – 7891 Richmond Road (Toano). Shop for a variety of items from local farmers, artists and artisans. 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.
• Strawberry Moon Festival – Hilton Village (Newport News). Attend a special Full Moon Market at Historic Hilton Village. There will be a variety of vendors selling art, specialty items, handcrafted goods, bakery treats and more. Admission to this event is free. 6:00 – 9:00 pm.

Crafts

• Sewing Saturday: Embroidery Sampler – Abram Frink Jr. Community Center (Williamsburg). Explore a variety of stitches and make a personalized sampler. All supplies provided; reservations required. 9:45 am – 12:00 pm. 
• Saturdays @ Frink: Maker Saturday – Abram Frink Jr. Community Center (Williamsburg). Drop in to create, invent, design or make something between 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. 

Nature

• Clean the Bay Day – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Participate in this annual effort to help maintain the health of America’s largest estuary by helping to remove trash from the shoreline and trails. Clubs and organizations are welcome. 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. 
• National Trails Day – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Help the park enhance its trails during this event through cutting, trimming, removing and clearing. 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. 
• Operation Oyster Reef – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Discover what makes the oyster reef so important to the health of the bay. 1:00 – 3:00 pm. 
• Creek Pick Your Paddle – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Explore the region’s wetlands or the York River and encounter a variety of wild creatures while paddling. See the website for canoe and kayak reservation prices. 4:00 – 6:00 pm. 
• Mysterious Moonlight Canoe Tour – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Explore the marsh at night and view wildlife while paddling. See the website for reservation details. 7:30 – 10:30 pm.
• Full Moon Hike – Freedom Park (Williamsburg). Explore Freedom Park after dark. Multiuse Trail 3 will open for a self-guided hike after sunset. Multiuse Trail 3 is a one-mile, paved, ADA-compliant trail that winds through wooded forest and the Colby Swamp. 8:30 – 9:30 pm.

Kids & Families

• Movie in the Park: “Strange World” – Charles Brown Park (Yorktown). Enjoy a free movie in the park, featuring the film Strange World (PG). Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Concessions will be available. The movie begins at sunset. For weather-related updates, call the weather hotline at 757.890.3501. 

Live Music

• Scott Varney – Spoke & Art Provisions Co. (Williamsburg). Listen to live music from Scott Varney on the deck. Rain or shine. 12:00 – 4:00 pm. 
• Jim Davidson – New Kent Winery (New Kent). Enjoy an afternoon of mellow, classic rock/pop/country by Jim Davidson. 2:00 – 5:00 pm. 
• Clarinet Ensemble Concert: Richmond Clarinet Choir – Bruton Parish Church (Williamsburg). Attend a candlelit concert by the Richmond Clarinet Choir directed by Anne Coldiron, with guest, Grammy-nominated jazz composer, arranger and performer, Dr. Michael Pendowski. 8:00 – 9:00 pm.

Sunday, June 4

Special Events

• Williamsburg’s 1st Annual Food Truck Festival – 401 N Boundary St. (Williamsburg). Enjoy great music, food and beer while supporting a good cause at the 1st Annual Food Truck Festival in Williamsburg. Local swing band Good Shot Judy will be performing live. There will also be six different trucks, and beer and food will be sold individually. This event benefits Housing Partnerships, Inc., a local nonprofit agency that provides emergency home repairs and home modifications such as wheelchair ramps to those with low-to-moderate income levels. General admission is $5; VIP tickets are $10 and include early access to food trucks and a drink ticket. See the website for a list of food trucks and to purchase tickets. 12:00 – 4:00 pm.

Live Music

• Live Music on the Pavilion: Nathan Lienard – Williamsburg Winery (Williamsburg). Spend your Sunday afternoon relaxing while listening to the music of Nathan Lienard. 2:00 – 5:00 pm. 
• History of Handbells Concert – Williamsburg Presbyterian Church (Williamsburg). Virginia Bronze will explore the history of handbells with this concert featuring music from the last 50 years. Free. 4:00 pm. 

Multi-Day

Special Events

• Newport News Greek Festival: Spring Edition – Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church (Newport News). Enjoy authentic Greek food, beverages and sweets, along with music and dancing. Free admission. Thursday, June 1; Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 from 11 am – 9 pm; Sunday, June 4 from 12 pm – 5 pm. 
• 22nd Annual Blackbeard Pirate Festival – Mill Point Park and Downtown Hampton Waterfront (Hampton). This annual festival features dozens of pirate reenactors, children’s activities, live music, period vendors, fireworks, arts and crafts, food and much more. Free, Friday, June 2 (6-8 pm), Saturday, June 3 (10 am – 10 pm) and Sunday, June 4 (12 – 6 pm).  
• Bodacious Bazaar Wine & Spring Festival – Hampton Roads Convention Center (Hampton). The Bodacious Bazaar features over 250 vendors, artists, crafters and several of Virginia’s finest wineries. Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 (10 am – 7 pm) and Sunday, June 4 (10 am – 6 pm). Tickets are $9 for one day or $13 for two days. Kids are $6.
• Action at Wilson’s Wharf Civil War Reenactment – Fort Pocahontas (Charles City). Immerse yourself in history brought to life through battle reenactments and family-friendly activities at scenic Fort Pocahontas. The fort was the site of the May 24, 1864 Action in which the U.S Colored Troops defended the fort they built against an assault by Fitzhugh Lee’s Confederate Cavalry. Open 10 am – 4 pm Saturday and 10 am – 3 pm Sunday. $10/adults, $8/students. Tickets are available on-site, cash or check only. Click here for additional details.
• The Colonial Heritage Model Railroad Club Train Display – James City County Library (Williamsburg). See a model train display, sponsored by The Colonial Heritage Model Railroad Club. The display features trains from the new Yarmouth Creek & Western Railroad and will be open to the public Saturday, June 3 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm) and Sunday, June 4 (1:00 pm – 4 pm). Free. 
• Southern Bay Race Week – Hampton Yacht Club (Hampton). This signature event of southern Chesapeake Bay racing features a weekend of racing, socializing, awards presentation, entertainment and food and drink. 
• Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival – Busch Gardens (Williamsburg). The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival features over 150 international flavors at 16 themed food and beverage locations throughout the park. This year, there are more than 40 new offerings and a rotating menu of returning favorites. This event runs Thursdays-Sundays through June 11. See the website for additional details.
• Destination Dinosaurs – Virginia Living Museum (Newport News). Discover life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and interactive displays, find relics of the past as you dig for fossils and learn about linkages to the present. Dinosaurs inside the Museum, in the Conservation Gardens, and on the Dinosaur Discovery Trail in the woods create an expansive destination. From the towering T-Rex to the tanky Stegosaurus, you’ll encounter creatures that will take your breath away. This exhibit runs May 27 – September 4. See the website for additional details or to purchase tickets.

Ongoing Events

Raffle/Fundraiser

• Wheelbarrow of Summer Fun Raffle – Williamsburg REALTORS has kicked off a Wheelbarrow of Summer Fun raffle to raise money to build a house in James City County for a local family in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. All proceeds will be used to build a Habitat home for a local family. The winner will be drawn on June 15th. To purchase a raffle ticket, click here.