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Yorktown’s 250th Anniversary Commemoration Activities

susan
June 5, 2025
3:37 am
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Yorktown will host a two-day event on June 7&8 commemorating the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s 1775 Virginia campaign, the last royal governor of the Virginia colony.
Events include military encampments, musical performances, ship deck tours, and family-friendly activities, with a special ceremony at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Most events are free and open to the public.
The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience is available at the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday through Sunday.
Historian David Pondolfino portrays Lord Dunmore, who infamously removed gunpowder from Williamsburg’s Powder Magazine in 1775, sparking colonial outrage.
The Colonial Seaport Foundation’s ship Luna and Riverwalk Landing provide the backdrop, with reenactors depicting colonists and British soldiers.
Pondolfino, as Dunmore, will deliver three daily talks explaining Dunmore’s perspective and actions during the crisis.
Dunmore’s removal of gunpowder on April 19, 1775, was seen as theft by colonists, escalating tensions and marking the beginning of his downfall.
After the incident, Dunmore fled Williamsburg for a British ship in the York River, later moving his headquarters to Norfolk.
Pondolfino has portrayed Dunmore for 20 years, emphasizing the villainous role with historical depth.
Yorktown will host five additional events in 2025 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence:
- Independence Day Celebration: July 4, parade, concert, and fireworks at Riverwalk Landing and Main Street.
- 1781 Yorktown before the Siege: Sept. 6-7, reenactors and drills at Yorktown Battlefield and Main Street.
- Yorktown Market Days: Oct. 18, victory-themed farmers market with patriotic crafts and food.
- Yorktown Day: Oct. 19, wreath-laying, parade, historic building tours, and battlefield roadway tour.
- Yorktown Tea Festival: Nov. 7, paid event at the American Revolution Museum focusing on tea culture and politics.