Charlottesville, VA

Local Events

Reenactments, heritage festivals, and living history programs — experience the Revolution where it happened.

Upcoming This Year

Jun

CeremonyFeatured

Jack Jouett Ride Commemoration

Historic Albemarle County Courthouse / Swan Tavern area, Charlottesville, VA

Annual commemoration of Captain Jack Jouett's legendary 40-mile midnight ride on June 3–4, 1781, to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Legislature of Banastre Tarleton's approaching British cavalry. Events typically include historical talks, a wreath-laying, and living history presentations at sites along the route. Jouett's ride saved the Virginia government from capture and is one of Charlottesville's most celebrated Revolutionary episodes.

FreeTypically held on or near June 4, the anniversary of Jouett's arrival in Charlottesville. Contact the Albemarle County Historical Society to confirm dates.

Apr

Guided Tour

Ash Lawn-Highland Colonial Life Demonstrations

Ash Lawn-Highland — James Monroe Museum, 2050 James Monroe Parkway, Charlottesville, VA

James Monroe's Ash Lawn-Highland hosts periodic living history and colonial life programs throughout the year, with particular emphasis during the spring and summer season. These programs explore daily life in Revolutionary-era Virginia, Monroe's military service during the Revolution (including his wounding at the Battle of Trenton), and the political culture of the early republic. Events may include musket demonstrations, hearth cooking, and guided walks interpreting the 18th-century landscape.

Regular admission appliesPrograms offered spring through fall; contact Ash Lawn-Highland / College of William & Mary to confirm specific dates and availability.More info →

Jun

Lecture

Tarleton's Raid Anniversary Lecture & Walking Tour

Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society / Historic Court Square, Charlottesville, VA

Local historical organizations, including the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, periodically offer lectures, panel discussions, and guided walking tours commemorating Banastre Tarleton's June 4, 1781 raid on Charlottesville. Programs trace the route of the British cavalry through town, visit sites associated with the attempted capture of Virginia's legislators, and discuss the broader 1781 British invasion of Virginia under Cornwallis. Tours typically include stops at the Historic Courthouse and other downtown landmarks.

Free or small donationUsually scheduled in early June near the raid anniversary. Contact the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society to confirm dates and registration.

Jul

Ceremony

Monticello Independence Day Celebration & Naturalization Ceremony

Monticello — Thomas Jefferson Foundation, 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA

Each Fourth of July, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation hosts a nationally recognized celebration at Monticello featuring a naturalization ceremony for new American citizens on the West Lawn of Jefferson's home. The event includes patriotic readings from the Declaration of Independence, musical performances, and reflections on the legacy of the American Revolution and the ideals Jefferson articulated in 1776.

Regular Monticello admission; naturalization ceremony viewing is freeHeld every July 4. Advance registration recommended; check Monticello website for details.More info →

Sep

Festival

Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello

Monticello — Thomas Jefferson Foundation, 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Charlottesville, VA

An annual festival at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello celebrating the agricultural heritage of the estate and the broader 18th-century Virginia Piedmont. While focused on heirloom gardening, food history, and sustainable farming, the festival regularly features 18th-century living history demonstrations, period cooking, and discussions of plantation life during the Revolutionary era. Speakers and workshops explore how Jefferson's agrarian ideals connected to his revolutionary political philosophy.

Ticketed event; prices varyTypically held on a Saturday in mid-September; exact date varies by year. Check Monticello's events calendar.More info →