Friends of Urbanna invites all to enjoy Urbanna’s 11th celebration of Founders Day, starting a little after 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the small park-like green space next to the Middlesex County Woman’s Club building at 210 Virginia St.
This annual family-friendly and free event, celebrating Urbanna’s colonial history, will be rung in by a town crier, fifers and drummers, who will all lead event attendees en masse to the Urbanna Baptist Church for an 11 a.m. living history presentation. Town Historian Larry Chowning will introduce the program and its participants, Founding Fathers “Thomas Jefferson” and “George Wythe.”
Visitors can listen in while Jefferson and Wythe, two well-known Founding Fathers from Virginia, begin to play key roles in taking charge of the war effort and begin to govern the newly-formed nation.
A balladeer will perform at Urbanna Baptist Church (UBC), 121 Watling St., prior to the program, starting at 10:30 a.m. With limited seating, the doors at UBC will close when the church is at capacity or at 11 a.m. at the start of the interpretive program.
Urbanna Founders Day schedule:
- 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — Encampment of the Virginia Navy Galley Norfolk Revenge on the grounds of the Scottish Factor Store, 130 Virginia St., Urbanna. Live firing demonstrations at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.; and at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
- 10:15 a.m. — Town Crier invites all to celebrate, a special fife and drum corps performs at the Middlesex County Woman’s Club, 210 Virginia St., Urbanna.
- 10:25-10:35 a.m. — Fifers, drummers and event attendees all march en masse to the historic Urbanna Baptist Church (UBC), 121 Watling St., Urbanna.
- 10:35-10:55 a.m. — Balladeer performs at UBC.
- 11 a.m.-noon — Town Historian Larry Chowning welcomes all and introduces a living history report from “Thomas Jefferson” and “George Wythe” about the Second Continental Congress at UBC.
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — Scottish Factor Store Museum, 130 Virginia St., Urbanna, is open, with refreshments, Mitchell Map presentation, and docents.
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — 18th century replica colonial trading sloop Luna is open for tours at the Urbanna Town Marina, 210 Oyster Road, Urbanna.
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — 17th century replica Explorer is open for tours at the intersection of Virginia and Cross streets. “Anas Todkill,” who traveled with Captain John Smith, tells of his early 17th century adventures at his encampment near the Explorer.
- 11 a.m.-3 p.m. — 18th century historic courthouse, now the Middlesex County Woman’s Club, 210 Virginia St., Urbanna, is open for tours.
- Noon — Town crier, fifers and drummers lead the crowd back to the center of town for events throughout the day.
- 12:30-3 p.m. — Col. Arthur Broadus “AB” Gravatt III’s historic Lansdowne, the home of Arthur Lee, is open for tours, 271 Virginia St., Urbanna.
The Friends of Urbanna is encouraging those attending Urbanna Founders Day to also visit Urbanna restaurants and businesses. “Throughout the day, please visit our exceptional merchants and eating establishments!” a spokesman for the group urged.
