Things to do this week: National Farmers Market Week celebration, summer concerts and more events

Yorktown Market Days will celebrate National Farmers Market Week with special-themed markets on Saturday, August 5 and Saturday, August 12, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

The award-winning farmers market in Yorktown aims to support local farmers by featuring family-owned and operated farms that sell their products at Riverwalk Landing on Saturdays throughout the summer. Those products, including fresh fruits, vegetables and pasture-raised meats, go through just two hands – the farmer and the customer – before reaching the plate. 

The National Farmers Market Week-themed markets will feature more than 40 local vendors, lawn games and activities for kids. Guests will also be able to plant seeds in biodegradable starter pods courtesy of Yorktown Feed Seed N’ More. Live entertainment featuring local musicians will take place on the Riverwalk Landing Stage from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Some other events to highlight this week include the 2nd Annual Edible Book Fest at Yorktown Library (Saturday) and two free outdoor movie nights, including showings of The Bad Guys at Charles Brown Park in Yorktown (Saturday) and Frozen (Sing Along) in Merchants Square (Sunday).

This week’s free summer concert lineup features performances by Top 40 hits band Inside Out Band (Wednesday in Port Warwick), party band Slapnation (Thursday in Yorktown), blues & roots musician Corey Harris (Thursday in Williamsburg), 90’s party band WOAH! 90’s (Thursday in Williamsburg) and big band-style music by Stan’s Big Band (Thursday at Fort Monroe). 

The weather this week is also expected to be much more comfortable, with highs only in the mid to low 80s through at least Thursday.

-Christin

Events This Week

Tuesday, August 1

Nature

• Full Moon Hike – Freedom Park (Williamsburg). Explore Freedom Park after dark. Multiuse Trail 3 – a paved, one-mile, ADA-compliant trail – will be open after sunset for self-guided walks. No registration required; flashlights and bug spray are recommended. Weather permitting. Free. 8:30 – 9:30 pm. 

Film

• Art House Café Film Series: “Champions” – Williamsburg Library Theatre (Williamsburg). This film series brings an art house flavor to your Tuesdays. This week’s featured film is Champions (2023; PG-13). 2:00 pm 

Teens

• Teen Tuesday – Tabb Library (Yorktown). Teens will embark on a series of candy-related challenges during this Teen Tuesday event. See the website to register. 5:00 – 6:30 pm. 

Arts & Crafts

• Paint Night – Yorktown Library (Yorktown). Attend a fun and free painting program, where you’ll be able to relieve your stress and boost your creativity. Paintings will be based on a space-themed design. For ages 18 and older; registration is required. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. 

Wednesday, August 2

Kids/Teens

• Virginia Living Museum: Noisy Nature – James City County Library & Williamsburg Library. Kids will discover the sounds of different habitats and meet the different animals that live there. A ticket is required for this free program; it can be picked up at the Children’s Desk starting an hour before the show. This event will be held at James City County Library (11:00 am) and Williamsburg Library (1:00 pm). 
• Youth Career Series: Index AR Solutions – Stryker Center (Williamsburg). This series introduces youth to a variety of careers. In this week’s program, a team from Index AR Solutions will provide an afternoon of education and hands-on activities. Participants will be given the opportunity to explore augmented reality applications and eBooks. See the website for registration details. 2:00 pm.

Books

• Bestsellers: Chef Jernard Wells – James City County Library (Williamsburg). This new book club allows participants to hear from bestselling authors and discuss their work. Attendees will watch interview highlights from the new Library Speakers Consortium database and then discuss the writer’s books and other topics. Chef Jernard Wells, two-time winner of The Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, is this week’s featured author. This program meets the 1st Wednesday of each month. 2:00 pm. 

Technology

• Top Ten Tips for Using Your New iPhone or iPad – James City County Library (Williamsburg). This class will provide a basic overview of the features of iPhones and iPads. Space is limited; see website for registration information. 

Live Music

• Port Warwick Summer Concert Series: Inside Out Band – William Styron Square (Newport News). Enjoy live outdoor concerts on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer. This week’s concert will feature Inside Out Band, a Top 40 party band. If a concert is canceled due to weather, an announcement will be posted to the Port Warwick Facebook page. These concerts are family-friendly and open to all. Food trucks from Big Daddy’s BBQ, Boyd’s Tasty Dogs, Pop’s Kettle Corn, Kona Ice, and Scratch Bakery will be onsite this week. Free. 6:00 – 9:00 pm.

Thursday, August 3

Film

• Throwback Thursday Film Series: “The King and I” – Williamsburg Library Theatre (Williamsburg). This film series features a variety of contemporary and classic movies for an adult audience. This week’s featured film is The King and I (1956; G). 2:00 – 4:15 pm. 

Kids

• Lego Club – Tabb Library (Yorktown). Kids (Pre-K to grade 5) can stop in to build and create with Legos. 1:00 – 5:00 pm. 

Yoga

• Evening Yoga – Tabb Library (Yorktown). Attend an evening of yoga and breathing exercises led by a certified instructor. This class is held the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. For ages 18+ and all skill levels. 6:30 – 7:30 pm. 

Live Music

• Summer Breeze Concert Series: Corey Harris – Art Museums’ Lawn (Colonial Williamsburg). This week’s concert features Corey Harris (blues & roots). Refreshments will be available for purchase from select merchants. Free. 6:00 – 8:00 pm
• Music in Midtown: WOAH! 90s – Midtown Row (Williamsburg). Head to the Midtown Row Village Green and enjoy a summer concert by WOAH! 90s. Food can be purchased from Midtown restaurants and enjoyed during the show. Coolers are also permitted. This event is dog-friendly. Free. 6:00 – 8:00 pm. 
• Sounds of Summer Concert Series: Slapnation – Riverwalk Landing (Yorktown). Enjoy live music by popular 80s tribute band Slapnation. Coastal Thirst, Boyd’s Tasty Dogs, and Pop’s Kettle Corn will be selling tasty concert snacks and dinner. In case of inclement weather, updates will be posted on Facebook and Instagram, as well as the York County Event Weather Hotline at 757-890-3520. Free. 6:30 – 9:00 pm. 
• Music by the Bay: Stan’s Big Band – Continental Park (Fort Monroe). Bring chairs, blankets and your own picnic and enjoy summer sunsets and some of the region’s most talented performers. This week’s featured band is Stan’s Big Band. Free. 7:00 – 8:00 pm. 
• Organ Recital: Bruce Barber – Bruton Parish Church (Williamsburg). Enjoy a candlelight recital featuring Bruce Barber, organist at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Delaware. 8:00 – 9:00 pm.

Friday, August 4

History

• USS Monitor Legacy Program – The Mariners’ Museum and Park (Newport News). This newly created series highlights the history and lasting impact of the USS Monitor in partnership with the NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. This program’s theme is “What Happened to All the Civil War Ironclads?” Advance registration is required whether attending in-person (included in $1 admission) or via live stream (free). 12:00 – 1:00 pm. 

Kids

• Virginia Living Museum: Noisy Nature – Tabb Library (Yorktown). Kids will discover the sounds of different habitats while meeting the unique animals that live there. 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Teens

• Teens Night Out: Anime Night – James City County Library (Williamsburg). Teens ages 13-18 are invited to celebrate summer with weekly Teens Night Out programs every Friday night through August 18. This week’s theme is Anime Night. 6:00 – 8:00 pm. 
• Teen After Hours – Yorktown Library (Yorktown). Teens in grades 6-12 are invited to attend a fun and interactive program featuring an escape room. 5:30 – 7:30 pm. 

Nature

• Friday Evening Canoe Adventure – Lee Hall Reservoir (Newport News). Join park rangers for this family-fun guided canoe program. It includes a short lesson on canoe safety, basic canoe techniques and history and nature-related educational stops on the water. For ages 6 and up; beginners welcome. Spots are limited. Price is $8 per person. See the website for registration information. 6:00 – 8:00 pm. 

Live Music

• Live Music on the Pavilion: Junior Wilson – Williamsburg Winery (Williamsburg). Get your weekend started with a performance by Junior Wilson, and relax while looking out over the beautiful vineyards. 4:00 – 7:00 pm. 
• First Friday – City Center at Oyster Point (Newport News). Enjoy the new First Fridays event series, featuring live music on the Market Stage, as well as local food and drinks. This month’s featured band is Kaboombox. 5:00 – 9:00 pm. 
• Two Drummers Smokehouse 10 Year Anniversary – Two Drummers Smokehouse (Toano). Celebrate 10 years of Two Drummers Smokehouse with great eats and great beats featuring music by Brandon Bower Band and DJ Kudlz. 

Saturday, August 5

Special Event

• 2nd Annual Edible Book Fest – Tabb Library (Yorktown). The 2nd annual Edible Book Fest allows participants to put their creativity to the test by creating an “edible book” entry that will be judged by an esteemed panel and by festival attendees. See the website for the criteria; registration for entries closes August 3. There will be two divisions: youth & adult. The event will feature a story time at 10:30 am, crafts, snacks, voting for the contest and a raffle drawing. For more information, click here. 10:15 – 11:15 am. 
• Yorktown Market Days: National Farmers Market Week – Riverwalk Landing (Yorktown). Celebrate National Farmers Market Week with a special market. In addition to more than 40 vendors, there will also be lawn games, activities for kids, live music featuring local musicians Lana Puckett and Kim Person (9 am – 12 pm) and a performance by The Fifes and Drums of York Town (10 am). Free. 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. 

Markets

• 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 am – 12:00 pm and there will be live music by Steve Smith this week 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.
• Buckroe Beach Farmers Market – Buckroe Beach (Hampton). Shop for fresh produce, baked goods, dog treats, gift items and much more from 30+ local vendors. 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. 

Arts & Crafts

• Sewing Saturday: Rope Baskets – Abram Frink Jr. Community Center (Williamsburg). Sew a rope basket during this program. All supplies will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own sewing machine if they have one. Reservations are required. 9:45 am – 12:00 pm. 
• Kindness Rock Painting – Tabb Library (Yorktown). Relieve stress by painting rocks with calming images and uplifting messages. Supplies are provided. Drop in any time between 2:30 – 4:00 pm. 

Nature

• Fossil Frenzy Hike – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Discover relics of very old creatures while hiking to a fossil beach. This event is included with standard park admission. 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. 

Kids

• Concert Ballet of Virginia: “Sleeping Beauty” – Williamsburg Library (Williamsburg). The Concert Ballet of Virginia, a nonprofit ballet company, will present the classic tale Sleeping Beauty. Free. 1:00 pm. 

Adult Workshop

• Emotional Eating Workshop – Stryker Center (Williamsburg). This workshop will help participants better understand their relationship with food and the roots of their eating patterns. Tools for mindful eating will be discussed. Attendees are encouraged to fill out a pre-workshop survey; see the website for details. 1:45 – 3:15 pm. 

Family Movies

• Family Movie: “Lightyear” – Yorktown Library (Yorktown). Attend a fun family movie in the Yorktown Auditorium. The featured film will be Lightyear. Popcorn will be provided. Free. 2:00 – 4:00 pm. 
• Movies in the Park: “The Bad Guys” – Charles Brown Park (Yorktown). York County’s free outdoor movie series returns this week with The Bad Guys (PG). Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. Concessions will be available. For weather-related updates, call York County’s hotline at 757-890-3501. Begins at sunset. Free. 

Live Music

• Audio Portrait – Spoke & Art Provisions Co. (Williamsburg). Enjoy a performance by Audio Portrait. 12:00 – 4:00 pm. 
• South Hill Banks – Indian Fields Tavern (Charles City). South Hill Banks is a Richmond-based band that pulls from a wide range of influences such as classic rock, jam, blues, to traditional bluegrass. Bring lawn chairs. Rain or shine. General admission tickets are $15. 6:00-8:30 pm. 
• Hampton Block Party: Natural Wonder – East Queens Way and King Way (Downtown Hampton). Enjoy live music in downtown Hampton all summer long. This week’s featured band is Natural Wonder. Click here for parking information and other details. 6:00 – 9:30 pm. 
• Larger Than Life: The Ultimate Boy Band Experience – Royal Palace Theatre (Busch Gardens Williamsburg). Larger Than Life, hailed the “#1 Boyband Experience” in the U.S., is the only act of its kind to have been on tour with *Nsync, 98 Degrees, O-town, LFO, TKA and more. The concert will feature boyband style singing, dancing and the iconic pop look. Free with park admission. 7:00 pm.

Sunday, August 6

Special Event

• 1st Sundays at the Fields – Indian Fields Tavern (Charles City). LoveLight Placemaking will host a 1st Sundays event on August 6 at Indian Fields Tavern. The event will be vintage-themed and will feature live music (1-4 pm) from Vexine, a high-energy quartet featuring original blues rock. 12:00 – 5:00 pm.

Nature

• Bird Walk – Newport News Park (Newport News). Join volunteers from the Hampton Roads Bird Club for early morning birding the first and third Sunday of the month. Beginners are welcome. Binoculars are recommended. Free. 7:00 am. 
• Snakes of Virginia – Tabb Library (Yorktown). Join Virginia Master Naturalist David Lauthers to learn more about the snakes in the Virginia ecosystem. This program is geared toward adults, but teens are also welcome. Registration not required. 1:30 – 2:30 pm. 
• River Seine – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Discover the unique fish and shellfish living in the waters of the York River. This event is included with standard park admission. 1:00 – 3:00 pm. 
• Roaming Ranger – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Meet with a park naturalist and discover the aquatic, insect, mammal and plant life in the park’s ecosystems. This event is included with standard park admission. 4:00 – 5:00 pm. 
• Sunset Paddle – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Conclude your weekend with a scenic evening trip on the York River. This event is included with standard park admission. See website for canoe and kayak rental pricing. 5:30 – 7:30 pm. 

Teens

• Teen Gaming – Yorktown Library (Yorktown). Teens are invited to play games in the library along with other teens from the community. 1:30 – 4:30 pm. 

Live Music

• Scott Varney – Spoke & Art Provisions Co. (Williamsburg). Grab a bite at Spoke & Art and enjoy live music by Scott Varney. 12:00 – 4:00 pm. 
• Live Music on the Pavilion: Nathan Lienard – Williamsburg Winery (Williamsburg). Enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon at the winery with live music by Nathan Lienard. 2:00 – 5:00 pm. 
• Choral Evensong – Bruton Parish Church (Williamsburg). The choirs of Bruton Parish Church, directed by Rebecca Davy and accompanied by organist JanEl Will, will perform in this historic church. 5:30 – 6:30 pm. 

Summer Movie

• Summer Breeze Movie Series: “Frozen (Sing Along Version) – Merchants Square (Williamsburg). Enjoy a showing of the film Frozen (Sing Along Version) under the stars in the parking lot of Baskin Robbins and The Peanut Shop off Henry Street. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. This film is presented by Everything Williamsburg/Brick & Vine. Free. 8:30 pm. 

Multi-Day

Recreation

• Pickleball 2-Week Clinic – James City County Recreation Center (Williamsburg). Get introduced to one of the nation’s fastest-growing sports during this 2-week clinic. All equipment will be provided. Tuesdays & Thursdays, August 8 – 17. $20. 9:00 – 10:30 am. 

Nature

• Butterfly Haven Exhibit – Virginia Living Museum (Newport News). Over 450  butterflies and moths and dozens of chrysalis are now part of the Butterfly Haven exhibit at the Virginia Living Museum. The exhibit will be open July 29 – September 24. Click here for details. 

Kids

• Kids Dream Family Film Series – Movie Tavern (Williamsburg). The Movie Tavern theater in Williamsburg is offering $3 summer movies every week, June 13 – August 5, 2023. Movies will be shown at 11:00 am, Tuesday through Saturday. Movie Tavern has also recently launched the “Kids Dream Passport,” which allows children to see each film for just $15 total. Purchase the pass or individual tickets and see the full lineup of movies on Movie Tavern’s website. 
• Regal Summer Movies for Kids – Regal New Town (Williamsburg) and Regal Kiln Creek (Yorktown). Regal Cinemas is offering $2 family movies on select days all summer long through Sept. 6. For details, visit the Regal Cinemas website.
• 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 through September 4. See the website for additional details or to purchase tickets.

Future Events to Note

Williamsburg REALTORS Raising The Roof 5K Run/Walk – The WAAR Outreach Committee is hosting the Williamsburg REALTORS Raising The Roof 5K Run/Walk fundraiser to benefit Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg on August 19. This fun event is a Colonial Road Runners Grand Prix event, with a USATF-certified 5K course.  After the race concludes, WAAR will be hosting a Community Day filled with fun and entertainment for everyone. This event is not just about running and walking; it’s about coming together as a community with a shared purpose: to tackle the pressing issue of affordable housing in the Greater Williamsburg Area. To learn more, donate or sign up for the race, click here.