July 4, 2024 in Yorktown – Fun Events All Day Long!

4^th of July in Yorktown Schedule of Events 2024

·       8 a.m.           The Yorktown Independence Day 8K/5K Run/Walk – (Virtual & In person)

🎉 This event is a great way to kick off the day than near the very spot where Gen. Cornwallis raised the white flag over 200 years ago! This 2024 race honors the legacy of the Marquis de Lafayette. Start your Fourth of July weekend by joining the live or virtual Yorktown Independence Day 8K/5K Run/Walk. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️

📦 Packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m. and the 8K Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. Race participants will park and gather near the York High School tennis courts, then be led to the start line by the Fifes and Drums of York Town. The live race runs on Historic Battlefield Tour Roads, accessed from the school grounds.

For more information and to sign up, click here! See additional race info.

·       9 a.m.           Patriotic Parade on Water, Ballard and Main Streets

🎉 One of the most exciting events of the day is the annual parade! People line the streets in Historic Yorktown as groups of musicians, politicians, civic groups, and performers pass by, waving to the crowds and handing out flags. Listen to patriotic tunes from DJ Ben Herrick and the Fifes and Drums of York Town. If you’re wondering where to set up your chairs and blankets, the route starts at the Yorktown Beach Picnic Area on Water Street (by the fishing pier), moves down Water Street, up Ballard Street, and then takes a left onto Main Street, ending near the Victory Monument. 🎺🇺🇸

🚗 The big question is always where to park. Your best bet is to stick to the outskirts of town and walk down to the fun. While the parade doesn’t start until 9, traffic will get congested quickly, so we recommend arriving early to secure your parking spot.

🚙 Try the York-Poquoson Courthouse or Administration Building first (both on Ballard Street). From 8:45 to 10 a.m., Water Street will be closed from Read to Mathews Street and Ballard Street will be closed from Water Street to Alexander Hamilton Boulevard. All traffic arriving from Alexander Hamilton Boulevard via George Washington Memorial Highway (Rt. 17) will be directed away from the parade route. The town will re-open to vehicular traffic following the parade.

🌟 Come early and enjoy the parade!

Food Trucks, Games, Hot Dog Eating Contest & Family Fun!
Riverwalk Landing | 1 – 9:45 p.m.

🌟 For those looking to make a day out of your visit, stick around for fun children’s activities starting at 1 p.m. at Riverwalk Landing. Enjoy corn hole, hula hoops, and other outdoor games…even a hot dog eating contest presented by Carrot Tree Kitchens! They’re still looking for contestants! If you’re interested, call 757.988.1999. This will be a timed event to see how many hot dogs you can eat, with prizes including Carrot Tree gift cards. 🌭🎉

While you’re playing games and visiting food trucks, enjoy the sounds of acoustic guitarist Phil Poteat starting at 2 p.m. on the Riverwalk Landing Stage. 🎸🎶

It’s going to be a fantastic day for the whole family! 🎈

·      3 p.m.           Patriotic Food Pavilion Opens – Location: Riverwalk Landing – Historic Yorktown’s restaurants will be open for lunch and dinner. Plus, there will be several to-go options at the Patriotic Food Pavilion starting at 3 p.m. and running until the fireworks are over. This year’s food trucks and vendors include local favorites like Coastal Thirst, Kona Ice, Boyd’s Tasty Dogs, Pop’s Kettle Corn, Island Time Delights, and Snack Attack. 🍦🌮🍿

·       7 p.m.            Sounds of Liberty Bell Ringing Ceremony, Riverwalk Landing Stage – Every Independence Day, after the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the York County Historical Museum holds a symbolic program that’s been a community tradition for decades. The event begins with an acknowledgment of all 13 colonies and the original signers from the Second Continental Congress who together formed the United States of America. The Fifes and Drums of York Town kick off the event at the Riverwalk Landing Stage, and each year, a different child from the audience is given the special honor of ringing the bell. Following this historic program, enjoy a concert by the Super Jazz Band featuring Conni Ironmonger, all leading up to the big fireworks finale! 🎆🎺

🚗 Starting at 4:00 p.m., visitors attending evening activities must park on the Yorktown Battlefield at the corner of Cook Road and Ballard Street, accessible via Cook Road. The Battlefield will close to the public at 8:30 p.m. or once it reaches capacity. This includes visitors attempting to access the town via Goosley Road, Old Williamsburg Road, and Mathews Street (by way of George Washington Memorial Highway). If you are not a Yorktown Village resident, business owner, or have an official pass, you will not be permitted to park in Historic Yorktown. Please note that the Colonial Parkway leading into Yorktown is closed for maintenance. 🚧

Fireworks Over the York River

·       9:15 p.m.      Spectacular Fireworks Display –

🎆 Fireworks should be able to be seen from anywhere at the waterfront or up on Main Street at the Victory Monument! The show starts at 9:15 p.m. and lasts about 20 minutes. Some of the fireworks will shoot up to 800 feet into the sky. To put that in perspective, the Washington Monument in D.C. is 555 feet tall! 🎇

For more information visit VisitYorktown’s July 4th guide

Parking

Important Parking Information for July Fourth: Several roads in the historic area are closed all day, including Zweybrucken Road, Comte de Grasse Street, Ambler Street, Water Street, and Main Street (from Zweybrucken to Ballard).

The Yorktown Beach Picnic Area (on the corner of Water and Comte de Grasse Streets) will be closed to vehicles, but pedestrians are permitted. Church, Nelson, Smith, and Bacon Streets will be open to residents only. 

🚗 The Yorktown Battlefield, located at the corner of Cook Road and Ballard Street, will be the central parking location for the evening activities and fireworks. The Battlefield will open to the public at 4 p.m. and will close at 8:30 p.m. or once it reaches capacity. Plan to get there early! 🚀

This includes visitors attempting to access the town via Goosley Road, Old Williamsburg Road, and Mathews Street (by way of George Washington Memorial Highway). If you are not a Yorktown Village resident, business owner, or have an official pass – you will not be permitted to park in Historic Yorktown. Please note that the Colonial Parkway leading into Yorktown is closed for maintenance.

The free, accessible Yorktown Trolley will be in operation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on an alternate route during this event. 

🚨 Important Notice:

🚌 The Yorktown Trolley will stop running at 5 p.m. Please be aware that the walk from the Battlefield to the waterfront is approximately one mile and includes hills and uneven terrain. Wear comfortable shoes! Also, avoid packing too much stuff that you’ll have to carry.

♿ Those requiring handicapped parking and special assistance should report to Yorktown Middle School between 4 and 7 p.m. and must check in no later than 7 p.m. to take advantage of this service. Transportation is available for a person with disabilities or special needs and one companion. Drop-off is at Riverwalk Landing, approximately 200 yards from the performance area. Due to limited shuttle capacity, all other individuals in the party will need to park at the Yorktown Battlefield.

🕡 Please note that once the shuttle is parked at the waterfront at 7:30 p.m., it will remain there until after the fireworks—with the first trip back to Yorktown Middle School beginning at 9:45 p.m. Return trips will take place until 10:30 p.m. Each person must possess a pass to board the shuttle.

🔑 Plan accordingly and make sure everyone in your party is prepared.

FYI – While visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers, alcoholic beverages are prohibited. There will be several Yorktown restaurants open for business, and several to-go options at the Patriotic Food Pavilion, which will be open from 4 to 9:15 p.m. The food trucks and vendors will be set up at Riverwalk Landing and include local favorites.