Yorktown to host VA250 Sail Yorktown festival June 11��14 with tall ships, concerts and modified traffic

Heidi Spies, York County's content marketing specialist, told the Board of Supervisors the VA250 Sail Yorktown festival will span four days in June and will feature tall ships, military and search-and-rescue vessels, free concerts, family activities across Riverwalk Landing and the battlefield, and special transit and traffic arrangements.

Nut graf: The multi-day festival is part of Yorktowns VA250 commemoration. Spies said the county worked with the Colonial National Historical Park, Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and tourism partners to assemble tall ships, orchestral performances and family programming; organizers emphasized the bulk of programming is free to the public and highlighted a temporary opening of the Colonial Parkway for event traffic.

Spies said the parade of sail will take place at 9 a.m. on June 12, with free deck tours beginning at noon on Friday and multiple concerts beginning June 11. The program includes a June 13 headlining performance by Carissa Ella and an appearance by Broadway performer Lexi Lawson; the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra will present a multimedia program, American Mosaic by Peter Boyer. "On June 12, and we think we'd make the Comte de Grasse really proud right now," Spies said as she described the flotilla of vessels slated to arrive.

She outlined logistical measures: a modified trolley route to serve parts of the historic area not normally on the route, an ETA Spot app for trolley tracking, and a temporary opening of the Colonial Parkway from Penniman Road to Yorktown from June 10 through July 6 to accommodate event traffic and July 4 holiday travel. Spies said the full schedule and a frequently asked questions page are posted at visityorktown.org/sailyorktownfestival and on the countys social channels.

Spies also previewed additional VA250 events through the summer and fall and asked the board for continued coordination with county departments and partners. Board members praised the teams work and asked logistical questions about parking, security and the placement of historical exhibits; Spies said large partners including the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation were assisting with planning.

The presentation concluded with applause and no formal action; organizers said volunteers and vendors would be needed and encouraged residents to consult the event website for details.