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| A sign commemorating Lafayette's historic visit to Jamestown will be installed at a ceremony on Jan. 10. (Photo courtesy of The Lafayette Trail) |
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| By Christin Nielsen Jan. 7, 2026 |
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| A Lafayette Trail historical marker will be officially unveiled this weekend in James City County.
The installation marks the commemoration of Marquis de Lafayette's visit to Jamestown, Virginia, during his Farewell Tour of the United States on Oct. 22, 1824. The VA250 event will feature reenactors, an artillery piece and a special salute to General Lafayette.
A legendary Revolutionary War hero, Lafayette was invited by President James Monroe to tour the United States as the "Nation's Guest" on the country's 50th anniversary. He received widespread adulation and was greeted with parades, balls, dinners and other celebratory events, according to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
"We have reached an incredible milestone that brings into focus the marvelous collaborations taking place among people, organizations, and communities to recognize Lafayette's impact on national history," said Julien Icher, president and founder of The Lafayette Trail.
While the notorious farewell tour included more than 20 American states, the general's return to the Historic Triangle was particularly poignant. Lafayette commanded Continental Army troops during the decisive Siege of Yorktown in 1781, which led to American independence.
Yorktown recently welcomed its own historical sign commemorating Lafayette's tour. A new marker was placed at the waterfront by the Coleman Bridge in November. Both local installations are made possible by grant funding provided by The William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
The James City County trail sign unveiling ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at Jamestown Beach Event Park located at 2205 Jamestown Road. The event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to park near the park's entrance.
"There is no better time than now, during the bicentennial, to reflect on General Lafayette's far-reaching influence," Icher said. "The marker dedications often inspire public celebrations that bring people together."
The Lafayette Trail, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization interpreting the legacy of General Lafayette in the U.S. and France. Its goal is to promote a greater understanding of Lafayette's legacy by leveraging today the same material culture that Lafayette used in the 19th century to enhance the significance of his triumphal tour.
For more details about the sign unveiling, visit va250.org/localevents.
Additional Historic Triangle event highlights this week include a free "All Creatures Great & Small" premiere screening event at Yorktown Library on Thursday, an educational sheep shearing demonstration at Colonial Williamsburg and a winter gardening workshop at James City County Library.
This week also marks the final opportunity to check out the Winter Lantern Festival at Jamestown Settlement. The event will end on Jan. 11, and discounts are available for the remaining days.
See below for our curated guide to things to do around the Historic Triangle, Jan. 7 - 11. |
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EVENTS THIS WEEK |
| Each week, we scour event calendars from across the region and send readers a list of local events and activities worthy of their time. For additional event details, click on the bolded, hyperlinked titles. |
Wednesday, Jan. 7 |
| SPECIAL EVENT |
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| PHOTOGRAPHY |
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| WELLNESS |
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Thursday, Jan. 8 |
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| WHRO will host a free premiere screening event at Yorktown Library on Jan. 8. (Photo courtesy of YCPL) |
| SPECIAL EVENT |
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| FILMS |
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Throwback Thursday: "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" | Williamsburg Library Theatre | This film series screens a variety of classic and contemporary movies for an adult audience. The feature this week is "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969, PG), a popular western starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Free. 1hr 50min. 2 - 4 pm.
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Celtic Film Festival: "Ryan's Daughter" | Williamsburg Library Theatre | This film series runs on the second Thursday of the month through May 2026. This month's feature is "Ryan's Daughter" (1970, R), an old-fashioned romance about a girl in an Irish village who becomes involved with a handsome British military officer. Free. 5 - 8:20 pm.
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| HEALTH & WELLNESS |
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Techniques of Meditation | James City County Recreation Center | This workshop introduces simple, effective practices to reduce stress, improve concentration and cultivate mindfulness. Free. 7 - 8 pm.
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Saturday, Jan. 10 |
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| York River State Park. (Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks) |
| SPECIAL EVENT |
- Lafayette Trail Sign Unveiling | Jamestown Beach Event Park | Revolutionary War hero General Lafayette will be honored with the installation of a new sign at Jamestown Beach Event Park on Jan. 10. The event will include reenactors, an artillery piece and a special salute to General Lafayette. This is a VA250 program. Visitors are encouraged to park near the park entrance. Free. 2 pm.
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| NATURE |
- Fossil Frenzy | York River State Park | Discover relics of very old creatures, such as whales, porpoises and sharks, while hiking to a fossil beach. Included with park admission. 10 am - 12 pm.
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- Monthly Litter Cleanup | York River State Park | Help maintain the beauty of the York River by participating in this litter cleanup event. Cleanup supplies and tools will be provided, and parking fees are waived for volunteers when visiting the park for this program. Register here. 10 am - 12 pm.
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| HISTORY |
- Sheep Shearing | Colonial Williamsburg | Watch Colonial Williamsburg staff hand-shear rare Leicester Longwool sheep using 18th-century methods. Free & open to the public. 10:30 - 11 am.
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| ART |
- Paint Your 2026 Word | James City County Recreation Center | Participants will choose a personal "word of the year" representing their focus or goal and bring it to life with paint on canvas. For ages 16+. $25. 1 - 4 pm.
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| GARDENING |
- Growing Native Plants from Seed | James City County Library | Learn about native plants that require "cold stratification," meaning they need to be planted in the winter. Attendees will receive seeds to grow their own native plants. Presented by the Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists. Free. 11 am - 12 pm.
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| KIDS |
- Beanbag Book Club | James City County Library | Children ages 5 - 8 are invited to read, craft and play games surrounding this month's selected book. Participants will receive a copy of the book to keep. Free. 2 - 3 pm.
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| WORKSHOP |
- How to Use an AED | Williamsburg Library | Learn about Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and how they are used. While this is not a CPR class, it includes a demonstration and is designed to give attendees the confidence to use AEDs in emergency situations. Free. 2 - 3 pm.
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| MARKETS |
- Williamsburg Farmers Market | 345 W Duke of Gloucester St. | Shop from the finest Virginia-grown and Virginia-made produce, plants and products. This farmers market features over 40 vendors, live music and children's programming. Rain or shine. Free admission. 8 am - 12 pm.
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- Hilton Village Farmers Market | 10260 Warwick Blvd | Historic Hilton Village's weekly market on Main is held every Saturday, year-round. Free admission. 9 am - 12 pm.
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| MUSIC |
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Sunday, Jan. 11 |
| KIDS |
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Multi-Day |
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| Ice skating will continue at Colonial Williamsburg's Liberty Ice Pavilion through Feb. 28. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) |
| SPECIAL EVENTS |
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Whymsical Way Art Exhibit | Williamsburg Library | View a new exhibit featuring the work of local artist Layne Fraser Dyer. An educator who was honored by William & Mary in 2012, Dyer draws and paints lovable, whimsical and friendly characters. Jan. 6 - Jan. 18. Free & open to the public.
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Ice Skating at the Liberty Ice Pavilion | Colonial Williamsburg | Daily through Feb. 28 | Enjoy outdoor ice-skating at Colonial Williamsburg throughout the winter. Refreshments, including hot cider, coffee and baked treats, will be available for purchase steps away from the ice. See the operating schedule here. Regular daily rates are $16 for adults, $14 for youth ages 3 - 12. Skate rentals are $6. Season ice passes are also available.
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