This open-air, riverside festival is free and open to the public from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Aquia Landing in Stafford, a beach and park located at the mouth of the Aquia Creek at 2846 Brooke Road. Each day, visitors will be able to participate in several unique activities. For example, the History Village will feature Native American, Black History, Elizabethan Era, Colonial and Civil War displays. Craft and food vendors will also have their goods for sale. Children’s activities will include make-and-take crafts and a moonbounce.   

Events centered on the Godspeed will include a flotilla, sponsored by Aquia Harbour Marina, that will honor the ship at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, as well as pontoon rides to and around the ship that will be available for a fee throughout the weekend. Event attendees will NOT be able to board the ship at Aquia Landing, but a special shore-side display will be presented by the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, including living historians, navigational equipment and a replica period cannon. This period cannon and other weapons will be fired periodically from both the ship and the shore, so residents should not be concerned when they hear the ceremonial demonstrations.

The Godspeed is on a promotional sail to build excitement for Jamestown and Virginia’s 400th Anniversary in 2007.  Such a commemorative sail is the first of its kind, and may not happen for at least another 50 years.  Exclusive commemorative items will only be available at this event, including specially bottled wine, artisans’ unique ship renderings, official sail t-shirts, and other promotional items.  This special appearance will be the only one of its kind in the Fredericksburg area.   

There will be FREE satellite parking at the Brooke VRE station and Brooke Point High School.  Stafford Courthouse will also offer overflow parking, if needed. FREE shuttles will be available from all three sites.  Please note:  There will be no on-site parking available at Aquia Landing. All event-goers must park at the satellite parking lots and ride the shuttles to the event. 

Aquia Landing is a rustic beach site, with limited accessibility on existing paved, gravel, grass and sand surfaces.  The pontoon rides will not be wheelchair-accessible.  However, the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation will provide information in a printed format about the ship to help with interpretation from shore.  FRED Transit will provide handicapped-accessible shuttle service from Brooke VRE to the event site.  Staffed golf carts will be available on site to assist folks as needed. 

Discovery Days organizers are still in need of volunteers to assist with the activities. Interested businesses, organizations and citizens can download volunteer applications and participation forms at www.DiscoveryDaysFest.com, or call (540) 658-8681 to request one by mail.  Limited space is available for crafters and vendors, as well as community performing groups and living historians.  Businesses interested in sponsorship and all other inquirers should contact Megan Orient in the Stafford Economic Development and Tourism Office at
(540) 658-8681, or visit www.DiscoveryDaysFest.com. 

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:

OPENING CEREMONY
11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 19

MAIN ACTIVITIES

10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Daily (August 19-20)

Elizabethan Era:  Dances, plant folklore, old-time calligraphy, fingerloop braiding, and more... 

Native American Village:  Corn-grinding, drum and flute playing, story telling, tools, dug-out canoes, games... 

Colonial:  Early navigational equipment, period clothing, cannon demonstrations; also, Colonial games and dances by Rappahannock

Colonial Heritage Society

African-American History Displays

Civil War reenactors encamped on-site. 

FLOTILLA
3:00 p.m. Saturday, August 19

PONTOON RIDES
12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. daily (as tides allow)

PERFORMERS
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., August 19-20

Captain Dave & The Neptunes -- beach music
Dylan Pritchett -- African and African-American story telling
Fife & Drum Corps -- traditional marching music
Joe Ayres Minstrels -- banjo fiddle music and songs of VA countryside
John Douglas Hall -- colonial troubador, 18th century gentleman
Moch Pryderi -- celtic traditional music
Paul Hadfield -- juggling, stilts, circus arts
Ship's Company Chanteymen -- quartet of chanties, sea songs and   ballads
Smith Mountain Band -- old time string band
The NicoloWhimsey Show -- Nicolo the Gypsy Juggler & Joanne the Queen of Whimsey
TomLori - historical, period and celtic music

 

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