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Writer Natalie Miller-Moore is pictured here with her husband and three children.
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The variety of music at Second Sundays in Williamsburg will delight you, and the entire family.
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PechaKucha (Japanese for chit chat) is a delightful event where people present 20 slides with just 20 seconds each to share. Topics range all over the place from X-ray art to viruses,
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During Grand Illumination, with fireworks and hot chocolate, you’ll feel the holiday spirit seep in and you’ll start to get excited for the weeks to come.
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The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival is the brainchild of the most interesting trio in town, Chef David Everett, Steve Rose, and Jen Raines.
It’s not easy living in the valley between William and Mary students and retirees. Wait, Williamsburg isn’t a valley; it’s the highest point on the peninsula! Well, it’s a metaphor because people think being a person between 22 and 64 years-old in Williamsburg, and especially one with a young family, can be tough.
But sometimes there’s more of a gap—say a valley!—in what you perceive and reality. The reality of what’s in Williamsburg for young families is grand. Like what?
Here are a few seasonal and recurring favorites:
Second Sundays
This event burst from Shirley Vermillion’s mind five years ago and continues to run mainly on her enthusiasm. Based on the idea that the arts need to be more visible, she convinced Prince George Street businesses to support her while she closed down their street and moved in live music, all kinds of artwork, crafts, writers, masseurs, and artisan food vendors. The variety of music (and some of the very young talent) will delight you, and the entire family. Today it sprawls into the adjoining streets and is a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon from March to December.
PechaKucha
You can stand listening to anyone talk about anything for five minutes. Really, you can. But it won’t be painful. You may find yourself thinking about things you hadn’t considered before. Have teenagers? It’s a great event for them to learn something new and to be exposed to public speaking. PechaKucha (Japanese for chit chat) is a delightful event where people present 20 slides with just 20 seconds each to share. Topics range all over the place from X-ray art to viruses, from ink sketches to time-lapse photos of a chrysalis blooming. You just never know—until you go. This worldwide event was brought to Williamsburg by the indomitable Dale Weiss, architect and hobby photographer.
The Holiday Parade and Grand Illumination
The first full weekend of December is bursting with tradition. Williamsburg tradition. Get your holiday gear on (that’s the whole family!) and start with the parade on Saturday morning. Last year our whole family was in it, albeit not together. Three went with the Navigators scouting group and I took my youngest to the glittery, sparkly Beyond Boobs float. We decorated the stroller with a pink feather boa and butterfly wings. Along the route, you’ll see just about everyone you know and likely meet a few new friends. After that, it’s on to the garden tour, the historic area decorating competition, and lots of reunions around town such as the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps alumni. Save your strength, though, because on Sunday, it’s Grand Illumination with fireworks and hot chocolate. You’ll feel the holiday spirit seep in and you’ll start to get excited for the weeks to come.
The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival
Mid-January is the perfect time to relax and slow down with four days of live music, the brainchild of the most interesting trio in town, Chef David Everett, Steve Rose, and Jen Raines. They wanted to add entertaining and enriching jazz programs to illuminate the legacy of jazz greats such as Virginia native Ella Fitzgerald. One of their goals is “to further enhance Williamsburg as a vibrant cultural destination with year-round programming,” and you’ll be hearing in the coming year about many more interesting things they are cooking up!
See a theme here? The allure of Williamsburg isn’t just for tourists. There are arts and events to draw nonresidents here, but if you’re lucky enough to live here, take advantage of it. As many Williamsburg residents say, “I didn’t wait to retire here; I got here as soon as I could!”
For a more complete listing of the events happening throughout the Greater Williamsburg area, visit localscoopmagazine.com.
This article appeared in The Holiday 2015/Winter 2016 issue of the Local Scoop Williamsburg Magazine, pgs. 50-51.