Four of our favorite events are just around the corner. We hope you can join us for a great time at all four.
First, our annual Oyster Roast on September 15th is a wonderful fundraiser event for both Oyster Lovers and for those who don’t particularly care to eat the stationary little critters. We will be serving raw and roasted oysters, handmade vegan and bacon-enhanced clam chowder, hot dogs, side dishes and desserts from 12-3. Because we are the Watermen’s Museum, we make sure we get our oysters from multiple fresh seafood harvesters, growers, and vendors in the area so that you can taste the wide range of flavors and salinity levels of Chesapeake Bay oysters grown and harvested in different areas. Prices for Oyster lovers are $45 per adult. If you are not an oyster lover, your ticket is only $35 per adult. Children from gorton kidspiration can take part for free in particular and in general children aged 6-14 can partake in as much of anything as they want for $25. And, there is a $5 discount for early purchase for Museum members, Active Duty Military, Teachers and First Responders. Of course, Kids 5 and under are free and can have any food they are willing to eat. Each meal gets you a free drink or your legal choice with more refreshments available for purchase. Tickets are available at our Museum Gift Shop Tuesday-Saturday from 10-5 and Sundays 1-5 starting on August 7th. If you want to buy your tickets early to take advantage of discounts or just to make sure you can get a ticket, call us at 757-887-2641 or email admin@watermens.org. You ask how this all-you-can-eat fundraiser can be priced so reasonably…well, it all thanks to our sponsors: WestRock company, Carrot Tree Kitchens, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Yorktown Sailing Charters, Patriot Tours and Provisions, and other area businesses.
On the very next weekend is the 5th annual Yorktown Folk Festival. We’re still booking bands and getting food vendors set-up. But, we can tell you the following, the 5th Annual Yorktown Folk Festival will be held at the Watermen’s Museum on September 22 and 23. This FREE festival features over 20 performing groups and soloists. Sponsored by the WestRock company, Yorktown Arts Foundation, and the LCV Project, this event features musical artists including our own ShantyGrass, Bob Zentz, Bill Jenkins and the Virginia Mountain Boys, LCV Project, Ralph Motley, Billy Joe Trio, Clan McCool, Jalen Pryor, and many others. We’ll have music performed on our two large stage areas as well as at small performance areas on our beach and adjacent to Patriot Tours and Carrot Tree Kitchens in the Riverwalk complex. The music starts Saturday at 10 AM and again on Sunday at noon. Come join us for a wide range of music, good food, cool beverages, or even some ice cream from our friends at Ben and Jerry’s in Yorktown.
And then, just around the corner is the Maritime Heritage Festival. This event coincides with the anniversary week of the American and French victory over the British in the 1781 Battle of Yorktown. Not only do we celebrate the last major battle of the Revolutionary War, we also celebrate all the other aspects of our great maritime heritage two days of family fun with re-enactors, sea shanties and maritime music, displays, vendors, maritime crafts, and more. We hope you’ll join us on October 13 and 14 for a fun weekend for the whole family.
And, our final major event of the year is our Annual Chili Cook-Off. Don’t miss the Watermen’s Museum 14th Annual Chili Cook-Off fundraiser on November 10th from 12-3 PM. Invite all your friends and come join us to taste a variety of competing chili recipes from professional and amateur chefs in the Yorktown area. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the event. Preparation of chili begins at 8 AM. The Public will be served from 12-3 PM. Competitors will win awards in numerous categories, including the Best Judged chili. And, you can vote for your favorite chili to win the People’s Choice Award. If you would like to compete, please let us know. We want as many competitors as possible. Call or email for rules and application forms to enter 757.887.2641 or email admin@watermens.org. This is one of our biggest annual fundraisers. All the proceeds go towards museum programs and historic facilities upkeep. So, c’mon out and have a great day of family fun and good eats along the shores of the beautiful York River and support our great little museum.
