Colonial Williamsburg's Drummers Call Weekend - May 15-17, 2015
Experience a stirring display of 18th-century military music in the 57th Annual Drummers Call. Celebrate the traditions of 18th-century military music. Units from across the United States will join Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums to perform grand displays of period music.
This event is free and open to the pubic. You will get to see 10 or more Corps from around the US and Canada. This Honorable Corp participation is by Colonial Williamsburg invitation only. So you will see some of the best performers by Colonial Williamsburg standards. This is the only event of this type within hundreds of miles and the only local event where you can see this number of Corps in one place. Perhaps the only place you may ever see some of these Corps. The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps alone is worth seeing when they attend. Another special group is the Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums Alumni which reunites members from 1958 to now.
This is technically an all-weekend event, but the three main highlights are on Saturday with the Grand March, the Grand Review, and the Military Tattoo.
The Grand March starts at the Capitol Circle at noon. Each Corp will assemble and, after an address by Patrick Henry, line up for their place into the parade after Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums leads off. A great opportunity for pictures and seeing these guys up close.
The parade ends at the Market Square where each Corp has a Review and gives a brief 10 minute performance on the green behind the Court House. The Preview usually includes a cannon salute! It takes up until about 3:00 pm for all the Corps to perform.
Then you have a few hours of your own to explore Colonial Williamsburg and grab some grub.
The day ends with a thrilling torchlit march from the the Palace Green to the Capitol stepping off at 8:30 pm. The parade ends around Shield's where each corp lines up to honor the next in line. When the last unit arrives, ALL the corps join together for an impromptu jam session. You haven't experienced live music until you stand amongst the thunder of some 500 fifes and drums playing together. You can see the parade anywhere along that route, but fall in behind the last unit and follow them to the end to experience the jam. If you only have time to do one thing, see this parade.
Here are the links from Colonial Williamsburg for each session. Everything is come and go as you please. Besides, it is too crowed to go to the park on a Saturday. Did I mention getting to watch 10+ high caliper Fife and Drum Corps for free?
Drummers Call
Grand March and Grand Review
Military Tattoo Torchlit March
Experience a stirring display of 18th-century military music in the 57th Annual Drummers Call. Celebrate the traditions of 18th-century military music. Units from across the United States will join Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums to perform grand displays of period music.
This event is free and open to the pubic. You will get to see 10 or more Corps from around the US and Canada. This Honorable Corp participation is by Colonial Williamsburg invitation only. So you will see some of the best performers by Colonial Williamsburg standards. This is the only event of this type within hundreds of miles and the only local event where you can see this number of Corps in one place. Perhaps the only place you may ever see some of these Corps. The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps alone is worth seeing when they attend. Another special group is the Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums Alumni which reunites members from 1958 to now.
This is technically an all-weekend event, but the three main highlights are on Saturday with the Grand March, the Grand Review, and the Military Tattoo.
The Grand March starts at the Capitol Circle at noon. Each Corp will assemble and, after an address by Patrick Henry, line up for their place into the parade after Colonial Williamsburg's Fifes and Drums leads off. A great opportunity for pictures and seeing these guys up close.
The parade ends at the Market Square where each Corp has a Review and gives a brief 10 minute performance on the green behind the Court House. The Preview usually includes a cannon salute! It takes up until about 3:00 pm for all the Corps to perform.
Then you have a few hours of your own to explore Colonial Williamsburg and grab some grub.
The day ends with a thrilling torchlit march from the the Palace Green to the Capitol stepping off at 8:30 pm. The parade ends around Shield's where each corp lines up to honor the next in line. When the last unit arrives, ALL the corps join together for an impromptu jam session. You haven't experienced live music until you stand amongst the thunder of some 500 fifes and drums playing together. You can see the parade anywhere along that route, but fall in behind the last unit and follow them to the end to experience the jam. If you only have time to do one thing, see this parade.
Here are the links from Colonial Williamsburg for each session. Everything is come and go as you please. Besides, it is too crowed to go to the park on a Saturday. Did I mention getting to watch 10+ high caliper Fife and Drum Corps for free?
Drummers Call
Grand March and Grand Review
Military Tattoo Torchlit March
