The Fun Continues Throughout the Day (And Night!!)

Some of you who have not yet been to Colonial Williamsburg (I hope you are planning to change that statement soon) might be thinking that all this place has to offer is a street theater program, and a town filled with historic buildings that you can visit. Well I declare to you here this day that you are wrong! There are plenty of things to do throughout the day and night that you might not even realize. This blog will be about some of the many activities you can do at Colonial Williamsburg.

First off, I would like to stress that Colonial Williamsburg is a living history museum. It is a real working town just like it would have been in the 18th Century. That in itself makes this completely different from your "typical museum."

Carriage Rides

A very popular thing to do during the day at Colonial Williamsburg is to take a carriage ride. There are many carriages (both open and closed) to take a ride on. For about 15-20 minutes, your carriage driver will take you about the town, and tell you stories and information about the town. Feel free to ask the drivers questions too, for they love to hear and answer them for you.

There are many different tours you can take throughout the day as well. Tours of the Governor's Palace and the Capitol (around 30-40 minutes) will take you throughout each building and bring to life the events that happened or simply just some interesting information about each room. Also, there are some tours of other buildings such as the George Wythe House, the Randolph House, R. Charlton's Coffeehouse and much more.

If you are completely new and have no clue what Colonial Williamsburg has to offer, there are Orientation Walks where a tour guide will take you about the town and give you insider information about how to get around, and information on events and dining.

Also, there is quite the selection of trade shops that you can visit. (Detailed information about each shop in blogs to come!) Inside, you will find tradesmen who are working on their projects. They will give you loads of information on what they are doing, how they make their product, and just about the job itself and the importance of it during the 18th Century. Just a few of the trade shops you will find are the Shoemaker, the Gunsmith & Foundry, the Blacksmith, the Post Office, the Print Shop, the Silversmith, the Wigmaker, the Milliner and Tailor, the Brickyard, and the Cabinetmaker. (And yes, there are a lot more trade shops than that!)

The Shoemaker

There are also Public Audiences either in the Coffeehouse Backyard, or behind the Governor's Palace with historical figures. There, for 45 minutes a historical figure will talk to you about their life and important events that are going on presently (remember you're in the 18th Century.) They will discuss matters and leave time out at the end for you to ask any questions you may have for them. Some historical figures that give Public Audiences are the Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Martha Washington.

The Marquis de Lafayette during a Public Audience

There are also many activities for little children as well. They can learn popular 18th Century games and lifestyle in the many different activities designed especially for youngsters.

You can also participate in a trial at the Courthouse. In, "Order in the Court" you can participate in a reenactment of a few cases that actually happened right there in Williamsburg. You may even get to be in the Jury, or perhaps be the victim of the case!

At the Play Booth, there are little skits throughout the day about many different things that will surely entertain you. Also, you can find musical entertainment around other places such as the Kimball Theater, and the DeWitt Wallace Museum to name a few.

So you think Colonial Williamsburg closes down for the night? Think again! There is still much more to do during the night.

One of my personal favorites, "Dance, Our Dearest Diversion" is a dance program that takes place either in the Governor's Palace or the Capitol. In this program, dancers will show you many different dances, and even invite you to join in to learn the dance. Don't be afraid to get up and dance either. It is a lot of fun, and I'm telling you, you WILL enjoy yourself.

Jone's Family Cemetery

There are also Ghost Tours you can take as well. You can partake in either a Tavern Ghost Tour (more suitable for children) or "Ghosts Among Us" (not so suitable for children.)  There you will walk about the town with your tour guide and learn of some ghost stories of strange happenings that occurred there. Along with "Ghosts Among Us" there is also "Pirates Among Us" where you will meet ghosts of Blackbeard's Crew.

Palace and Capitol Concerts provide musical entertainment for you.

"Cry Witch" is a court trial that takes place in the Capitol where you can participate as the jury to determine the "Virginia Witch's" fate. Another court trial you can partake in is "Courage or Cowardice" where you question the witnesses and make your decision on a reenactment of a military court inquiry.

"In Defense of Our Liberty" takes place at the Magazine. There, you can experience the life of a soldier. (If you go, you must participate due to safety reasons)

You can also go to hear stories like in "Listen My Children: Legends, Myths, and Fables for Families" at the Coffeehouse Backyard, or "Papa Said, Mama Said" where slaves will share their stories passed down to them.

Although it seems like I have listed a lot of things to do at Colonial Williamsburg, I really have only scraped the surface. Along with all these things to do, there are colonial citizens just around the streets all during the day that you can strike up a conversation with. They have a lot to tell you if you are willing to listen. When you visit Colonial Williamsburg, no matter what time of day (or night) there will always be so much in store for you to experience.