Several big events are coming up this weekend.

The Brill Music & BBQ Fest kicks off at Jamestown Beach Event Park on Saturday.

The festival, organized by CultureFix, will feature samples of pulled pork from over 50 BBQ teams who competed in a national Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS)-sanctioned competition earlier in the day. Attendees will get to decide who serves up the best pulled pork, and the newly crowned champion will be announced at 5 pm.

Country music will be provided throughout the afternoon by Johnnie St. Clair, Mason Brown & The Shiners and Drew Pace and his band. Food trucks and a beer truck will be on site, and wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. General admission tickets are $20, and VIP tickets are $50.

Saturday will also bring the Historic Hilton Village Spring Festival. The family-friendly event is expected to draw thousands of visitors and will feature artisans, live music, food trucks, adult beverages, fresh market products and activities for kids. 

Additionally, the John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society will host its Annual Native Plant Sale this Saturday from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm. Shoppers will be able to select from hundreds of native plants that attract butterflies, birds and other pollinators, and experts will be on hand to offer helpful advice. Proceeds help support the organization’s efforts to conserve and create native plant habitats, provide nature camp scholarships and educate the public through free lectures and plant walks.

Pirates Invade Yorktown Weekend is set to take place this Saturday and Sunday. The historic Yorktown Waterfront will be taken over by a pirate encampment, sea shanties, live music, and blacksmith and cannon demonstrations. There will also be food trucks and a town-wide treasure hunt. A full schedule of events can be found here.

Art lovers won’t want to miss the 58th Annual Art on the Square this Sunday. Held on the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, the juried art show features 80 artists showcasing original, handcrafted and diverse mediums of art. The event, hosted by the Junior Woman’s Club of Williamsburg, is free and open to the public. Proceeds from vendor booth fees are donated to local visual and performing arts organizations.

Some other highlights for this week include a free concert by the Ford’s Colony Dance Band (Thursday), a free stargazing event hosted by NASA Skywatchers (Friday), a the 1st Annual Williamsburg Food Truck Festival (Sunday) and the Yorktown Library Reopening Celebration (also Sunday).

See the list below for The Triangle’s full community calendar of upcoming events.

-Christin

Events This Week

Please note that inclement weather is expected on Friday, April 28 and Sunday, April 30. If you’re considering attending an outdoor event this weekend, be sure to contact the event organizer, check the event website, and/or follow the organization on social media so you can stay up-to-date about possible postponements/cancellations.

Friday, April 28

Live Music

Live Music on the Pavilion: Junior Wilson – Williamsburg Winery (Williamsburg). Listen to relaxing acoustic tunes by Junior Wilson while sipping on a glass of your favorite wine. 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

Ewell and Dewey Decibel Concert Series: Victor Haskins – Williamsburg Library Theatre (Williamsburg). Enjoy a performance by musician, artist and educator Victor Haskins. Learn more about Haskins here. Free and open to all ages; no ticket required. 7:00 pm. 

Nature

• NASA Skywatchers – New Quarter Park (Williamsburg). The NASA SkyWatcher’s Club will point out planets, stars and galaxies in the night sky during this event. Telescopes will be set up for everyone. This event is weather-dependent. Free. Register here. 8:30 – 10:30 pm. 

Saturday, April 29

Special Events

• Williamsburg Community Shred-a-Thon – Walsingham Academy (Williamsburg). Bring your confidential documents for drive-thru, on-site shredding. The first bag is free, and additional bags (the size of a grocery bag) are $5 each. Donations will also be accepted. Rain or shine. 8:00 – 11:00 am. 
• Offramps 5K – The Mariners’ Museum and Park (Newport News). The Offramps 5K is an annual event hosted by Freekind to raise awareness of human trafficking and help support its prevention. A virtual 5K is also available. For additional details or to register, click here. 8:00 am. 
• Annual Native Plant Sale – Williamsburg Community Building (Williamsburg). The John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society is hosting a native plant sale on Saturday, April 29. The event will feature plants to attract butterflies, birds and other pollinators. Plants for sun or shade and moist or dry locations will all be available. Attendees can also receive expert advice on choosing and planting. Cash, check and credit will be accepted. Purchases support the Virginia Native Plant Society – a nonprofit organization – in its efforts to conserve and create native plant habitats, provide nature camp scholarships and educate the public through free lectures and plant walks. 9:30 am – 2:00 pm.
• Drone Day – James City County Library (Williamsburg). Attend an open house all about drones. You’ll hear from local experts and take one for a test flight, weather permitting. 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. 
• Historic Hilton Village Spring Festival – Historic Hilton Village (Newport News). Celebrate the return of spring at the Historic Hilton Village Spring Festival. This family-friendly event will take place in the business district of Hilton Village along Warwick Blvd. There will be artisans, fresh market goods, live music, adult beverages, food trucks, kids activities and more. For more information, follow the Hilton Village Main Street page on Facebook. 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. 
• Brill Music & BBQ Fest – Jamestown Beach Event Park (Williamsburg). Enjoy an afternoon of country music while sampling pulled pork from over 50 BBQ teams who competed in a KCBS-sanctioned competition. You’ll get to vote for your favorite, and a champion will be crowned at 5 pm. General admission is $20 per ticket and VIP tickets are $50. See the website for additional details. 1:00 – 7:00 pm. 

Markets

• Yorktown Market Days: Pirate Invasion Market – Riverwalk Landing (Yorktown). Head to the Yorktown Waterfront for a special pirate invasion market. You’ll be able to shop for traditional market fare while participating in numerous special activities throughout the morning and afternoon, including pirate living history and activities, sea shanties, a treasure hunt, a Yorktown History fair and more. 8:00 am – 3:00 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.
• 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.

Kids/Family

• Preschool Dance Party – Stryker Center (Williamsburg). Kids are invited to join this hour of exciting songs, movement, rhymes and fun. 11:00 am. 
• Healthy Kids Day – Virginia Peninsula YMCAs (Williamsburg, Yorktown, Hampton and other locations). Celebrate the health and well-being of kids and families at this free, annual community event featuring fun activities throughout the day. See the website for a full list of participating YMCAs. 10:00 am – 1:00 pm.
• Movies in the Park: “FernGully” – New Quarter Park (Williamsburg). Enjoy a free showing of the film FernGully. There will be free popcorn, and concessions will be available for sale. Begins 15 minutes after sunset. 

Nature

• Fossil Frenzy Hike – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Discover fossils from creatures that swam in the York River thousands of years ago, including early whales, porpoises, sharks, claims scallops and snails. Included in park admission. 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. 
• Meet the Marsh – York River State Park (Williamsburg). Discover the creatures that live in the park’s estuarine wetlands. Included in park admission. 1:00 – 3:00 pm. 

Live Music

• RapJack – The Virginia Beer Company (Williamsburg). RapJack performs live at VBC. Food trucks will also be on site. 6:00 – 9:00 pm. 
• Annual John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Concert – Bruton Parish Church (Williamsburg). The Bruton Parish Choirs and Orchestra, directed by Rebecca Davy, will present their annual John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Concert. 8:00 – 9:00 pm. 

Sunday, April 30

Special Events

• Williamsburg 1st Annual Food Truck Festival – 401 N Boundary St. (Williamsburg). Attend the 1st Annual Food Truck Festival, hosted by Housing Partnerships, a local nonprofit organization. This event will feature four different food trucks for different tastes, and Good Shot Judy will perform around 1:00 pm. $5.00 entry fee; $8.00 for VIP tickets with early access. This event is rain or shine. 12:00 – 4:00 pm. 
• Art on the Square – Colonial Williamsburg. Attend the 58th Annual Art of the Square Show, hosted by the Junior Woman’s Club of Williamsburg. This juried show is free and open to the public. The event is held on the streets of Colonial Williamsburg and features more than 80 vendors offering original, high-quality, handcrafted and diverse mediums of art. Proceeds from vendor booth fees are donated to local visual and performing arts organizations. See the website for a full schedule of events. 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
• Yorktown Library Reopening Celebration – Yorktown Library (Yorktown). Tour the newly reopened Yorktown Library and join in the celebration. There will be a Books & More sale from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, an Open Play in the Youth Services Area from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, and a Teeny Tiny Farm with animals from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. The event will also feature live music and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream available for purchase. 

Health & Wellness

• Emotional Eating Workshop – Stryker Center (Williamsburg). This workshop will help you to better understand your relationship with food and the root of your eating patterns. Attendees will learn tools for mindful eating and managing emotional triggers. 1:00 – 2:30 pm. 

Live Music

• Live Music on the Pavilion: Jocelyn Oldham – Williamsburg Winery (Williamsburg). Enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon with a concert by Jocelyn Oldham on the 1619 Wine Pavilion. 2:00 – 5:00 pm. 

Multi-Day

Special Events

• Pirates Invade Yorktown Weekend – Yorktown Riverfront (Yorktown). Become immersed in the golden age of piracy at Riverwalk Landing and Watermen’s Museum this weekend. Attendees will explore a pirate encampment, sign along to sea shanties, participate in a town-wide treasure hunt and enjoy blacksmith and cannon demonstrations. There will also be food trucks, live music and dance demonstrations. See a full schedule of events here. Free. April 29 & 30, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. 

Live Theatre

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Kimball Theatre (Williamsburg). Attend a performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, presented by William & Mary Theatre. Show times: Thursday, Apr. 27 (7:30 pm), Friday, Apr. 28 (7:30 pm), Saturday, Apr. 29 (7:30 pm) and Sunday, Apr. 30 (2:00 pm). Tickets are $7.00 – $15.00 and can be purchased here.

Galleries

• The Photographer’s Guild Member Exhibit – Williamsburg Library (Williamsburg). This exhibit features work from ten local photographers who enjoy the art and craft of photography and sharing their work. Exhibit hours: April 3 – May 31, 2023, during library hours. 

Ongoing Plant Sales

• Plants with a Purpose Honor Box Plant Sale – Freedom Park (Williamsburg). The 2023 Honor Box Plant Sale by the Williamsburg Botanical Garden and Freedom Park Arboretum (WBG-FPA) opens Saturday, April 22 and runs through May 26 from 7 am until sunset. Plants are priced as marked; pay with cash or check dropped in the lock box on the attached sale rack or pay for plants online at https://bit.ly/honorpay if the total is above $10. See the web link for additional details. 
• Spring Native Plant Sale 2023 – Virginia Living Museum (Newport News). Choose from an array of beautiful native plants for a variety of gardens and styles. Many are great for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds and other wildlife to your yard. April 22-23 and 29-30, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm.