Pirates, barbeque and art are just a few of the things you can experience in Yorktown in the next couple of weekends.
“At the beginning of the season we bring in some themed events to really showcase what we do,” said Mark Medford, head of Village Events.
“Yorktown just plans a lot of different things, especially in the shoulder seasons, to kind of introduce people to Yorktown, but also to keep them coming after the season starts to wind down.”
April and May are no exceptions to the variety of events taking place in the city. Here are some of the highlights of what’s happening the next two weeks at Riverwalk Landing.
Pirates Invade Yorktown
Landlubbers, prepare yourselves for a swashbuckling good time at Pirates Invade Yorktown this weekend. Jessica Wauhop, spokeswoman for York County Tourism Development, said this is the area’s 11th year putting on the program.
“It became so popular that it eventually went from a one-day event to a two-day one,” Wauhop said.
During Pirates Invade, Riverwalk Landing and the Watermen’s Museum are filled with pirates who provide special live programming.
For example, Wauhop said attendees who buy a regular ticket to ride the Schooner Alliance will also get to experience a cannon firing against a pirate ship.
“It’s really cute to see the kids plug their ears and people smiling and shouting when the cannons go off,” Wauhop said.
There will also be a treasure hunt. Children will be given a map with a list of participating businesses where they can stop to collect some pirate booty of their own.
“It’s just a lot of fun,” Wauhop said.
Want to go?
Pirates Invade Yorktown is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday Riverwalk Landing and the Watermen’s Museum, 309 Water St., Yorktown. Watermen’s Museum tickets free to $5.
Blues, Brews and BBQ
If beer, wine, music and good food are all you need for a good time, then you should stop by Blues Brews and BBQ at Riverwalk Landing.
“We have the reputation of just having a really great event,” Medford said. “We’ll have multiple local food restaurants trucks and things that will be serving up the barbeque for purchase.”
The festival will also have more than 30 craft beers from local breweries and a brand new wine garden.
“To give people options so if they don’t like beers, they can go down to the wine garden,” Medford said.
Tickets include unlimited beer and wine tastings for those 21 and older.
While you’re enjoying local fare, live music will be on the main stage all day. Starting at 12:30 p.m., Medford said the Verge will take the stage followed by Brasswind at 3:30 p.m.
All proceeds from the festival benefit the York Foundation for Public Education.
“So folks know when they come to the event proceeds are going to support our local school division — teachers and scholarships for students and programming,” Medford said. “So the money stays local.”
Medford said while visitors come for lots of different reasons, his favorite part of the festival is seeing their smiles.
“You see a lot of people having a good time and smiles and … you know you have a successful event when at the end of the day you saw the smiles, you saw a great atmosphere, you see positive comments across social media,” Medford said.
Want to go?
Blues, Brews and BBQ is noon to 6 p.m. May 4, 400 Water St., Yorktown. Tickets $30-$350; purchase at eventbrite.com.
Art on the River
Enjoy the beautiful weather with an art show stroll at the sixth annual Art on the River.
Maydel Nelson, committee chairwoman of Art on the River, said the show features a variety of artists from painters and potters to jewelry makers and photographers.
“We have almost 40 artists who are going to be set up on the Riverwalk with the York River as a backdrop, and also we are going to have an exhibit with student art from York County High Schools in the Freight Shed building,” Wauhop said.
In addition to the art show, Nelson said the event has a few new activities: a tent where children can make their own art and live demonstrations by artists.
“We have two groups that are going to do demonstrations, one is the Tidewater Turners — they’re wood turners, they make bowls and all kinds of things out of wood,” Nelson said. “And the other one will be the Basket Guild, and they’ll be demonstrating how to make baskets and have baskets for sale.”
However, Nelson’s favorite part of the show is a classic component: the awards.
“Some (artists) are just so surprised and so excited and for some, it’s their first art show,” Nelson said. “It just makes it all worthwhile.”
Want to go?
Art on the River is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 5, Riverwalk Landing, 331 Water St., Yorktown. Free.
