Tag Archives: Williamsburg

December Brings Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination

I’m known as a big fan of Colonial Williamsburg, but I’d never had the chance to see the Grand Illumination until last December. It’s a tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season, dating back to 1935, but based on the colonial custom of celebrating significant events by firing guns and lighting fireworks. Initially, Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination took place on the first Sunday of December. However, the event has expanded to multiple weekends in recent years, allowing more visitors to enjoy the festivities. It’s become very popular, so make your plans and reservations now. 

Fireworks over Williamsburg’s Governors Palace.

As twilight beckons, crowds start to gather on Duke of Gloucester Street. Performances from actors, handbell ringers, and a roving men’s choir from the College of William and Mary entertain. 

The crowd begins to gather in front of the Courthouse.

The gala evening festivities begin with the Fife and Drum Corps performance before the Courthouse. A proclamation is read, inviting all to the season of goodwill and peace. Then, the corps marches in a torch-lite parade to the Palace Green, stopping in front of the George Wythe House. Mr. Wythe was a leader of the patriot movement in Virginia, delegate to the Continental Congress and Virginia’s first signer of the Declaration of Independence. The house, an original structure, also served as General George Washington’s headquarters just before the British siege of Yorktown.

The Fife and Drum Corps play.

A George Wythe reenactor in period costume welcomes the crowd and proceeds to read various quotes as a candle is lit in each window of the mansion—inspired by the colonial practice of placing candles in windows to celebrate life events. The crowd responds with loud “huzzahs,” a 17th-century word of praise shouted at the end of speeches. 

George Wythe greets the crowd in front of his home in Colonial Williamsburg.

The Fife and Drum Corps then proceed to a stage before the Governor’s Mansion. The waiting crowd listens to additional holiday music until the highlight of the Grand Illumination at 7 pm, a spectacular fireworks display. Fireworks illuminate the sky over three key locations in the Historic Area: the Governor’s Palace, the Magazine, and the Capitol. A nod to modern technology, all are centrally controlled by a computer, with synchronized timing and choreography of launches.

The Fife and Drum Corps advance toward the Palace .

I have seen many outstanding pyrotechnic productions like those over Cinderella’s Castle in Disney World, but the Williamsburg Grand Illumination is even better. I was blown away!! The dazzling streams of color and the breathtaking explosions, often in red, white, and blue, left me gasping. When I thought they were over, another round of stars and lights shot skyward. Heavenly!

The Grand Illumination lights up the night.

After the celebration, I proceeded down Duke of Gloucester Street, where burning braziers (firewood baskets) led the way. The warmly glowing road felt alive and joyful as residents and visitors meandered up and down past colonial homes and taverns. (Food trucks are brought into Nicolson Street for the evening to help keep the crowds fed.)  I had reservations for dinner in Christina Campbell’s Tavern, a favorite. 

Burning braziers line the Duke of Gloucester Street.

While in the historic area, I especially enjoyed the holiday decorations made from live, natural products. An annual contest picks a winner, but every building in town displays a unique entry. Colonial Williamsburg also offers special programs during the holiday season: candlelit tours of historic homes, holiday-themed interpretations at various trade shops, and special exhibits showcasing colonial holiday traditions. I saw many trees decorated with old-fashioned ornaments. I also did my shopping for holiday items in the craft shops, markets, and gift stores. The world-class museums offer an alternative activity. 

Holiday wreaths and decorations made from natural products.

You can choose to attend three Grand Illumination weekends, December 7, 14, and 21, 2024.  For more information: ColonialWilliamsburg.org

Fact or Fiction? Questions about Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg Mythbusters

by Debi Lander, an AOL Travel Contributor

This article appears on the AOL Travel Website, however, the author’s photos have been substituted here.

Colonial Williamsburg is the quintessential living history museum. The site includes 301 acres with 88 original buildings, 500 reconstructed houses, shops, public buildings, working craftsmen and costumed interpreters. The popular tourist area, close to Richmond and Norfolk, is known as the Historic Triangle of Virginia, which also includes Jamestown and Yorktown. Take the following true-false quiz and see if you are one of the Williamsburg mythbusters.

1. The College of William & Mary, founded in 1693, is the second oldest college in the United States.

TRUE. Harvard was the first school of higher learning founded in 1636. Classes at the College of William & Mary began in temporary quarters in 1694, until the Wren Building was constructed. The Wren Building, which is the oldest college building in the country, has been returned to its original design by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. The College of William and Mary was named in honor of the reigning English monarchs of the time, and was a key factor in establishing Williamsburg as capital of Virginia in 1698.

The College of William & Mary
327 Richmond Rd
Williamsburg, VA 23186
757-221-4000

2. The popular fictional American Girl character, Felicity Merriman, hails from Colonial Williamsburg, and her story is set in the year 1774.

TRUE. Original American Girl doll founder, Pleasant Roland, wanted to find an appropriate Christmas present for her nieces. She disliked the high fashion Barbie-type dolls; hence, didn’t want to buy a baby doll. While in Williamsburg, she came up with the concept of American Girl dolls and formed The Pleasant Company. Ms. Pleasant followed her own American dream, selling off her company to Mattel in1998 for $700 million. And that’s not a Williamsburg urban legend.

Colonial Capitol Building, Williamsburg, VA

3. Patrick Henry made his “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech in the Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg.

FALSE. Patrick Henry made his impassioned cry against the English in the House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775, in St. John’s Church in Richmond. Henry was calling for military action against the approaching British army. The urban myth claims that the crowd jumped up and shouted “To Arms! To Arms!” after the speech.

Historians have begun to question the authenticity of Henry’s alleged words, because they were unrecorded until 18 years after his death, but we will never know.

4. Virginia has had three capital cities: Jamestown, Williamsburg and Richmond.

TRUE. Jamestown was the first English settlement in the U.S., and also the first capital of Virginia. The capital moved to Williamsburg from 1698 to 1780, making it the political, social, and cultural hub in Virginia. It then moved on to Richmond at the urging of Thomas Jefferson, who feared the Williamsburg location was vulnerable to a British attack. During the Civil War, Richmond became the capital of the Confederacy and remains the capital of Virginia today.

5. Virginia was named for England’s “Virgin Queen,” Elizabeth I.

TRUE. Virginia was named for England’s famous unwed queen, Elizabeth I. Interestingly, Queen Elizabeth II has visited Colonial Williamsburg twice. Her original trip in 1957 celebrated the 350th anniversary of England’s first settlement in the New World at Jamestown. Her most recent visit in May 2007 occurred during the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement.

6. The establishment and reconstruction of the colonial capital of Williamsburg was the dream of an Episcopalian priest.

Sign marks the Tavern on Duke of Gloucester Street

TRUE. In 1907 Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin, the pastor of Williamsburg’s Bruton Parish Church, worked to save the original structure. Shortly thereafter, he moved away, but returned to the city in 1923. After seeing the deterioration of the other colonial-era buildings, he dreamed of saving them.

Goodwin looked for support and financing from a number of sources and finally inked a plan with philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller. Their combined efforts created Colonial Williamsburg, with detailed plans for the accurate restoration of much of the city.

Bruton Parish Episcopal Church
331 W Duke of Gloucester St
Williamsburg, VA 23185
757-229-2891

7. Williamsburg fine dining restaurants, Christiana Campbell’s, Chowning’s, King’s Arms, and Shield’s, taverns prepare their food on the open hearth.

FALSE. Although the food served in these Williamsburg restaurants can be traced back to similar fare served to colonists, Williamsburg mythbusters know that the ingredients and preparation take place in modern kitchens. The servers, however, are dressed in period clothing and the dishes, flatware and goblets are authentic reproductions of 18th century items.

Christina Campbell’s Tavern
101 South Waller St
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
757-229-2141
Hours vary

Chowning’s Tavern
109 East Duke of Gloucester St
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
757-229-2141
Hours vary

King’s Arms Tavern
416 East Duke of Gloucester St
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
757-229-2141
Hours vary

Shields Tavern
422 East Duke of Gloucester St
757-229-2141
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
Hours vary

8. Colonial Williamsburg has been criticized for becoming almost a theme park of reenactments.

TRUE. Foundation president, Colin Campbell has said, “Presenting American history in a place that is both a tourist attraction and an education landmark leads to inevitable strains between entertainment and authenticity.”

Sadly, Williamsburg mythbusters, even the Foundation’s 1996 publication conceded that “Colonial Williamsburg bears the burden of criticism that the restored town appears too neat and clean, too ‘spick-and-span’, and too manicured to be believable.”

The Corner Chat- Williamsburg Reenactors