Celebrating Presidents Day in Virginia should seem like the most natural thing in the world to do. After all the first President of the United States George Washington was born here, as were several other chief executives who followed him. With all the local celebrations, residents of Virginia as well as tourists should find presidents day to be rather like a little Fourth of July, full of patriotic history and lots of fun.
A Birthday Bash Like No Other. For the financially well off, one of the really unique ways to celebrate Presidents Day could be to attend the George Washington Birthday Banquet and Ball in Alexandria, Virginia on Feb. 16 beginning at 5:30p.m. You will discover that you are being brought back through time to the year 1799 and are being invited to participate as folks would when celebrating Washington’s birthday in the 18th Century .
The entire evening allows you to be part of a virtual recreation of a marvelous birthday event including dinner, entertainment, dancing, desserts, appropriate music and even a visit from “George and Martha” are part of the fun. If you can afford the pricey $100 per ticket and want to celebrate Presidents Day in this rather elaborate way, don’t shy away from going whole hog. All guests are invited to come in period dress if they wish or at least “after five” attire. To join in this gala celebration reservations are required and can be made by calling at 703-838-4242. This is a very popular annual event and has the potential to sell out in advance.
Mount Vernon the Place to Be. If you don’t mind the crowd, Mount Vernon , home of George Washington, will be alive with birthday celebratory events from February 16-18 in honor of George Washington, the first President of the U. S. Pick from among the weekends activities to suit your tastes and your personal schedule. On February 16 and 17 Mount Vernon welcomes guests to visit and enjoy patriotic music from the days of George Washington and enjoy Washington’s favorite breakfast of “hoecakes and honey. A reenactor portraying George Washington may even stop by to enjoy part of the day with you.
On February 18, Presidents Day, visitors can come to Mount Vernon without paying the usual admission fee as part of the celebration. At 1:30 p.m. there will be a fife and drum parade around the grounds for all to watch. Farm animals and the once again a “presidential appearance” round out the events of day. You can’t feel much more involved with Presidents Day than when you come to the very home of our first president.
Williamsburg celebration . In colonial days the town of Williamsburg was one of the busiest and most important in the colony of Virginia. As fledgling legislators and local leaders, three residents who would eventually lead their nation as president spent lots of busy hours here . Undoubtedly, were they still living, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would find it most appropriate that Presidents Day be celebrated in the town of Williamsburg, VA.
From 9 a.m.- 5 p.m on February 16 and 17 you and your family can discover an excellent way to celebrate Presidents Day in Virginia by meeting the leaders of our past and learning more about how they developed into the men who would led the United States as presidents in her early years. There is a great deal to see and do in Williamsburg and while most folks prefer to visit in the fall or spring when the weather is ideal, you can enjoy the unique winter time experience by choosing Williamsburg a place to celebrate Presidents Day in 2008.
Berkeley Plantation. Not all of the presidents who were born in Virginia were colonial leaders, for example President William Henry Harrison . You might find Berkley Plantation,home of William Henry Harrison, the ninth president of the U. S., less crowded than Mount Vernon or Williamsburg during the Presidents Day weekend. At the plantation you can take part in a house tour, watch an informative film and even learn about the presidential election which yielded the presidency to the man called “Tippecanoe” for his experience in wilderness fighting.
While everyone may know that both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were both born in February , the month in which President’s Day is celebrated. But far fewer people probably know that William Henry Harrison is another president who shares the month of February as a birth month, born as he was on February 7, 1773.
There are lots of ways to celebrate Presidents Day throughout the country. In Virginia, with all of its presidential birth places and February presidential birth places, the choice are real historical gems.
