Ampersand International Arts Festival returns to Williamsburg March 17 – 23

The Ampersand International Arts Festival returns to Williamsburg, March 17 – March 23. The festival features special guests, films, music, theater, dance, author talks, and professional workshops.

All events are ticketed individually. Many programs are free and do not require a ticket. View the full line up of events and additional information at ampersandfestival.com.

Festival events take place at Kimball Theatre, PBK Memorial Hall, and Muscarelle Museum of Art.

2025 Spotlight Programs:

March 18: The Lone Bellow at Kimball Theatre – The Brooklyn-based trio band is known for their transcendent harmonies, serious musicianship and raucous live performance—a reputation that earned them their rabid fan base.

March 19: A Night of Laughs with James “Murr” Murray – James Murray is a writer, executive producer, and comedian, best known as “Murr” on the hit TV show Impractical Jokers on TBS. Hang out with Murr as he tells hilarious stories, answers your questions and has some surprises in store. 

March 21: Masters of Silent Comedy with Live Music by The Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra – Watch classic silent films featuring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd underscored by a twelve person orchestra with live music and sound effects! Experience America’s first popular music: Ragtime, played between the films, hearing hits by Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, and others.

March 21: Like Minds – A comedy quiz show that takes the fact-filled fun of a pub quiz and combines it with the quick-witted comedy of an improv show. Hilarious comedian competitors face off in a head-to-head trivia match along with lots of help from the audience!

March 22: A Conversation with Rev Run – Hip-hop icon, DJ, and preacher Rev Run is one of the most iconic figures in music. He is the front man of seminal hip-hop group RUN DMC, the author of several books, an ordained minister, and a beloved TV personality. Asher Perlman, an Emmy-nominated, WGA award-winning, Peabody-award winning comedian, will moderate the conversation. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for an exclusive meet-and-greet.

Highlighted Programs:

March 17: Conclave Dinner & A Movie – This program features a screening of Conclave, preceded by a prix fixe dinner at Blue Talon Bistro. Tickets for the film only are also available. 

March 21: McVeigh – A screening of McVeigh followed by a conversation with Producer Joe Pirro (W&M ‘08) and Executive Producer Milan Chakraborty (W&M ‘00). Free to attend.

March 21: Griffin In Summer – A screening of Griffin In Summer followed by a conversation with Writer/Director Nicholas Colia.

March 22: When Santa was a Communist – A screening of When Santa Was a Communist followed by a conversation with Director Emir Kapetanović.

March 22: Festival Reception – Enjoy appetizers and an open bar with wine and beer selections while mingling with festival guests and attendees.

March 22: The White Guys Named John – A one-woman play performed by alumna Andrea Coleman.

Additional information and the full schedule at ampersandfestival.com.

The Ampersand International Arts Festival is produced by AVAdventure Productions, with main sponsorship support from the City of Williamsburg. Other sponsors include Colonial Williamsburg and William & Mary.