neitz

One of the best weekends to visit Colonial Williamsburg is the annual Under the Redcoat event held on the final weekend of June. This recreates the 1781 occupation of Williamsburg by the British army commanded by General Cornwallis.

I am a reenactor who portrays a soldier of HM 55th Regiment of Foot and consider CW a mecca for 18th century Living History. During UtR, a couple hundred redcoat reenactors from around the US converge on CW and take the town, encamping on the market green and setting up roadblocks on Duke of Gloucester Street. All persons wearing 18th century costume are fair game for search and seizure, as there are several spies, smugglers, and deserters making up an opposition force and it is our job to ferret them out. This appears to be as much fun for the tourists as for us reenactors, and CW says that this is one of their most popular weekends.

Under the Redcoat Event photos