Shenandoah County Historical Society Presents
Shenandoah County Celebrates 1776
A Celebration of America's 250th Birthday
June 20, 2026
Woodstock, VA
SCHEDULE/TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
10am Opening Ceremony -
- All day exhibits open: Art & Artisans/Museums/Encampments/Historical Displays
11am
- Michael Cecere Four Heroes of Shenandoah Presbyterian Social Hall
- Meet Peter Muhlenberg portrayed by Noah Caplan Episcopal Sanctuary
- Jeff Evans 18th Century Shenandoah Valley Decorative Arts and Material Culture Lutheran Sanctuary
- Meet William“Billy” Lee portrayed by Quinton Castle Bonfire Bookstore
- Dragoon Cavalry Demo Court & Water Street Encampment
- Colonial-era Family Bibles Display 11-2 - Kathy Rivers Courthouse Museum
11:30
- Ian MacDougall Drums & Fife of the Revolutionary War - Performance Courthouse Steps
Noon
- Dulcimer Concert by the Heart Strings Presbyterian Sanctuary
- Gabe Neville Peter Muhlenberg, The Fighting Parson Episcopal Sanctuary
- Dr Emily Sneff When the Declaration of Independence Was News Lutheran Sanctuary
- Meet Captain Daniel Morgan portrayed by Ryan Williams Court & Water Street Encampment
12:30
- Meet the young Lafayette portrayed by Roy Wulf Court & Water Street Encampment
- Michael Cecere Children’s talk: Growing up in Williamsburg During the Revolution Bonfire Bookstore
1pm Patrick Henry Jolly Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death Presbyterian Sanctuary
John C Settle The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution’s Southern Campaign Episcopal Sanctuary Meet Peter Muhlenberg portrayed by Noah Caplan Lutheran Sanctuary
Meet William“Billy” Lee - portrayed by Quinton Castle Court & Water Street Encampment
8th Virginia Firing Drill E Court Street Encampment
1:30 Lisa Minardi Virtual Tour of Muhlenberg’s Historic Trappe Lutheran Sanctuary
Ian MacDougall Drums & Fife of the Revolutionary War - Performance Courthouse Steps
2pm Nick Powers The Impact of the Revolutionary War on the Shenandoah Valley Presbyterian Social Hall
Gabe Neville Shenandoah County & the 8th Virginia Regiment Episcopal Sanctuary Meet Daniel Morgan portrayed by Ryan Williams Court & Water Street Encampment
Jeff Evans 18th Century Shenandoah Valley Decorative Arts and Material Culture Lutheran Sanctuary
2:30 Meet the young Lafayette portrayed by Roy Wulf Bonfire Bookstore
8th Virginia Firing Drill E Court Street Encampment
3pm Brett Walker 18th Century Shoemaking, Fashion, Supply & Guilds Presbyterian Social Hall
John C Settle The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution’s Southern Campaign Episcopal Sanctuary
Patrick Henry Jolly Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death Lutheran Sanctuary Dragoon Revolutionary War Weapons Court & Water Street Encampment Shen Rio Traditional Colonial music Episcopal Lawn 3-5pm
3:30 Nick Powers The Impact of the Revolutionary War on the Shenandoah Valley Bonfire Bookstore
4pm Shenandoah Valley Historical Dancers Courthouse Steps
Dragoon Cavalry Demo Court & Water Street Encampment
June 20, 2026 Activities/Details
Art & Artisans - All Day
- Keith Rocco - Revolutionary War Prints & paintings-some were in the Ken Burns PBS series VECCA
- Drew Alexander — blacksmith E Court Street
- Josiah Alexander — leather working E Court Street
- Shea Alexander — woodworking and carving E Court Street
- Waltraud Hornick — 18th-century spinning and fiber arts Clerks Lawn
- Elissa Parish — tape loom weaving Clerks Lawn
- Paul Parish — 18th-century surveyor Clerks Lawn
- Clyde Jenkins — basketry Clerks Lawn
- Kent Harper — silversmith Lutheran Social Hall
- Brett Walker — boot-maker and shoemaker Presbyterian Lawn
- Diane Cooley Lutz — genealogy for children Clerks Lawn
- Collaborative Arts Council — mosaic event piece Episcopal Lawn
- Shenandoah Engraving — wooden and slate 250th souvenirs Clerks Lawn
- Suzanne’s Studios— ceramic 250th souvenirs & painting project for kids Clerks Lawn
- Monday Rug Hooking Group Presbyterian Lawn
- Bill Wine — Historic Shenandoah County maps E Court Street
Historical Displays-All Day
- Amy and Ryan Stottlemyer — Continental and militia weaponry Lawyers Row
- Dave Terefenko — Nathan Starr Cavalry Saber display Episcopal Social Hall
- Brian LaMaster — traditional gunsmith Episcopal Social Hall
- Juanita Leisch — Centennial Celebrations: 1876 & 1976 Regimental Uniforms Lutheran Social Hall
- Kathy Rivers — Family Bible Project / DAR - Courthouse 11-2pm @ Historic Courthouse
- Dr. William Rickman— Battlefield medical doctor portrayed by Ralph Ryer Presbyterian Lawn
Especially for Kids - of all ages
- Scavenger Hunt/ Anne Dellinger Pick up entry cards at Info desk/Courthouse
- Ken Smith-Christmas — Revolutionary War drummer & fiddler Walton & Smoot Sidewalk
- Meet Betsy Ross/part of the Scavenger Hunt Bonfire Books
- Suzanne’s Studio — Canvas painting for children / souvenirs Clerks Lawn
- Marty and Marlyn Keesecker — 18th Century Children’s games and crafts All day on Lawyers Row
- Heather Daugherty — Children’s face painting 11-1pm Clerks Lawn
- Diane Cooley Lutz — genealogy for children - Make a family tree Clerks Lawn
- Meet Dr. William Rickman— Battlefield medical doctor/portrayed by Ralph Ryer Presbyterian Lawn
- Michael Cecere — Growing up in Williamsburg During the Revolution @ Bonfire Books 12:30pm
- Pre-event! June 14th - FREE showing of the movie 1776 Woodstock Community Theater at 4:30pm
Military Units & Encampments
- 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line E Court Encampment
- 8th Virginia Continental Regiment E Court Encampment/ Firing Drills 1& 2:30pm
- 5th Troop, 1st Light Dragoons Court & Water Street Encampment / Demos @ 11am, 3pm, 4pm
- Colonel James Wood II Chapter, NSSAR /Clerks Lawn Clerks Lawn
Distinguished Lecture Series/Speakers & Authors
- Emily Sneff — When the Declaration of Independence Was News Noon @ Lutheran Sanctuary
- Lisa Minardi — Virtual Tour of Historic Trappe 1:30pm @ Lutheran Sanctuary
- Michael Cecere — 11am Four Heroes of Shenandoah @ Presbyterian Social Hall
12:30pm Children’s Talk: Growing up in Williamsburg During the Revolution Bonfire Books
- Gabe Neville — Peter Muhlenberg, The Fighting Parson Noon @ Episcopal Sanctuary Shenandoah County & the 8th VA Regiment 2pm @ Episcopal Sanctuary
- John C. Settle —The Virginia Continental Line in the Revolution’s Southern Campaign 1 & 3pm @ Episcopal Sanctuary
- Nick Powers — Revolutionary War impact on the Shenandoah Valley
2pm @ Presbyterian Social Hall & 3:30pm @ Bonfire Bookstore
- Jeff Evans —18th Century Shenandoah Valley Decorative Arts and Material Culture 11am & 2pm @ Lutheran Sanctuary
- Brett Walker —18th Century Shoemaking, Fashion, Supply & Guilds 3pm Presbyterian Social Hall
- Patrick Henry Jolly —Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
1pm @ Presbyterian Sanctuary and 3pm @ Lutheran Sanctuary
Meet our Guests from the Past - Patriots
- Peter Muhlenberg - portrayed by Noah Caplan
11am Episcopal Sanctuary & 1pm Lutheran Sanctuary
- Patrick Henry - portrayed by Patrick Henry Jolly - talk: Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death 1pm Presbyterian Sanctuary & 3pm Lutheran Sanctuary
- Daniel Morgan - portrayed by Ryan Williams
Noon and 2pm Court & Water Street Encampment
- Billy Lee - portrayed by Quinton Castle
11am Bonfire Books & 1pm Court & Water Street Encampment
Lafayette - portrayed by Ryan Wulf
12:30pm Court & Water Street Encampment & 2:30pm Bonfire Books
- Dr Rickman - portrayed by Ralph Ryer
All Day - Battlefield Medical Tent - Presbyterian Lawn
- Betsy Ross - portrayed by Rachel Fitzsimmons
All Day - Scavenger Hunt destination @ Bonfire Books
- George Washington- portrayed by Charles Harbaugh IV Music & Dance
- Heart Strings — Dulcimer group Noon Concert @ Presbyterian Sancuary
- Tom Mack & Shenandoah Valley Historical Dancers — Colonial-era dancing 4pm Courthouse Steps
- Sala de Estar — Strings trio, period music All Day @ VECCA
- Shen Rio — Colonial music 3-5pm @ Episcopal Lawn, E Court Street
- Ken Smith-Christmas — Revolutionary War drummer and fiddler Sidewalk @ Walton & Smoot
- Ian MacDougall — Revolutionary War drummer with fife 11:30am & 1:30pm Courthouse Steps
Museums
- Historic Shenandoah County Courthouse — 103 N. Main Street Open all day
- Woodstock Museum — 104 South Muhlenberg Street Open all day
- Wickham House — 124 West Court Street Open all day
- Pre-Opening - Theatre Shenandoah to perform excerpts from the musical 1776
- Welcome - Barbara Adamson, president of Shenandoah County Historical Society
- Invocation - Pastor Nate Robinson, Emanuel Lutheran Church
- Color Presentation - Col. James Wood II Chapter, NSSAR
- Shenandoah County Community Choir - led by Jennifer Cooper, singing of the National Anthem and “Freedom Medley”
- Introduction of Hufford Family - Kim Yeck, co-chair of “Shenandoah County Celebrates 1776”
- Comments by Hufford Family - Fred Hufford
- Introduction of Patriots, Authors, and Artisans - Suzanne McIlwee, co-chair of “Shenandoah County Celebrates 1776”
- Campaign March -1st and 8th VA Regiments, and 1st Light Dragoons
- Gun Salute
Parking & Shuttle Rides
9-5:30 Shuttle service from the parking lot at the County Administration Bldg (600 N. Main St) to corner of East Court and Water Street (not available if it rains)
Contact Information
250th event Committee Contacts:
Suzanne McIIwee - email: sartz@shentel.net Phone: (540) 335-4477 Kim Yeck - email: kimyeck@mac.com
www.facebook.com/SCHSVA Website: www.shenandoahhistory.org
Shenandoah County Historical Society
Bookstore/Visitor Center: 103 N. Main Street, Woodstock VA Mail: P.O. Box 506, Edinburg VA 22824
Phone: 540-459-1795
E-Mail: schs.va@gmail.com
