Fife And Drum Parade, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

One of the most popular daily events for tourists in Colonial Williamsburg is the fife and drum corps parading down Duke of Gloucester Street.

Drummer's Call Spectacular, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg's Fife and Drum Corps (pictured) hosted fourteen other corps from the United States and Canada in its annual Drummer's Call weekend.  In honor of Armed Forces Day, the groups marched from the Capitol down Duke of Gloucester Street to the courthouse parade grounds followed by throngs of visitors. While we tend to favor our local corps from Williamsburg and Yorktown, everyone was fantastic. We had an delightful day. 

More activities are planned through the weekend  We will feature a number of photos of the event in upcoming posts.

Fifes And Drums, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

 

This is a shot we took a few years ago of the daily fife and drum presentation at Colonial Williamsburg. We are looking forward to the Drummers' Call this weekend in which a number of the best corps will present Revolutionary War era military music. We hope to get some great shots. Click here for more information.

Fifer's March, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Each evening in Colonial Williamsburg, the day ends with a cannon firing ceremony involving troops and their fife and drum corps. After the ceremony, they lead troops and town folk down Duke of  Gloucester Street to the Capitol.

The Drummer, Williamsburg, Virginia

 

 

Drumming in colonial times was serious business. It allowed communication with troops on the battlefield to coordinate attacks or tactical maneuvers. Given this important role, military musicians were often paid more than fighting troops. 

 

 

Musical Rest, Williamsburg, Virginia

This fife and drum team take a rest from their musical and historical presentation.

Fife And Drum Van, Williamsburg, Virginia

The General Store on Richmond Road in Williamsburg has its own van decorated with their fife and drum corp.s

Sticks High In Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The fife & drum unit is a favorite attraction in Colonial Williamsburg. This group shows a little sticks high flair as it marches down Duke of Gloucester Street.

Fife And Drum, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Fife and Drum units entertain at Colonial Williamsburg.

Time Warp, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

These young men walk the streets of Colonial Williamsburg as if one was time warped to 1774.

Fife and Drums, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

One of the most popular events in Colonial Williamsburg is the parade by one of the fife and drum units. This group marches passed the Magazine.

Fifes And Drums At The Farmers' Market, Yorktown, Virginia

Saturday was the first day of Farmers' Market season at Yorktown's Riverwalk Landing. The Yorktown Fife and Drum unit opened the with lively music. Everyone seemed impressed with the musical skill and dedication of these young men and women.  There was good music, good food, and a wide variety of vendors on hand.

Meandering Minstrels, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

These young musicians wondered the streets of Colonial Williamsburg in their bright costumes. Fife and drum groups perform regularly in Colonial Williamsburg.

Always A Parade, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Spending time in the historic district (Colonial Williamsburg) is always an unusual event. We ate lunch at the King's Arms Tavern and watched one of  the fife and drum corps parade down Duke of Gloucester Street. The photo was taken through the front window of the tavern. The music and the Norfolk Pottage Pye were excellent.

Warding Off Hurricane Irene With The Fife and Drum Corps At Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This is a photo of the fife and drum corps that performs regularly in Colonial Williamsburg. It is a re-post, but given that we had an earthquake a couple days ago, will be visited by Hurricane Irene Saturday and Sunday, and are trying to settle our daughter who recently graduated from college and got her first real job five hours away, we thought you wouldn't mind. All is well, (so far) but it has been quite a week. Maybe the corps will scare away the hurricane.

The Fife and Drums of Yorktown, Yorktown, Virginia

This is the headquarters of The Fifes and Drums of York Town, which was formed in 1976 for the Bicentennial celebration.  The young men and women of the corp perform at a wide variety of events each year.

Young Fife And Drummers, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

These young members of one of the fife and drum units in Colonial Williamsburg are waiting for their chance to play for the tourists. Despite their youth, they are quite good at their art.

Rallying Suppport At The Capitol, Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, Virginia

The fife and drum corps drew large crowds in front of the Capitol who were then exorted to join the cause and prepare to fight against the British. It still works today.

The Capitol was the political center of power in the colony and was the location where the legislature met. It included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry among its members.  The royal trappings and British flag fly high above the crowd.

There is a webcam atop the building showing the eastern end of Duke of Gloucester Street. The link will also allow you access to other webcams in the restored colonial district. Maybe you will see us taking photos.

Fife and Drum Painted Van, Williamsburg, Virginia

This van, adorned with a fife and drum corps mural, is parked outside the Williamsburg General Store on Richmond Road.  It's a great advertisement for the corps and very eye catching to passersby.

Happy Memorial Day America! - from Williamsburg, Virginia

From our little colonial town of red, white and blue here in Williamsburg, Virginia, 

 we wish all America a Happy Memorial Day.  

We express our extreme gratitude and respect to those who have served, are serving, 

and will serve our country.

-Darryl and Ruth