Halifax Days: Prelude to Revolution

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, April 12, 2024

Ongoing Events: 

View the new Life and Times of W.R. Davie exhibit at the Davie House throughout the day. Living-History, including hearth cooking & blacksmithing atBradford-Denton House throughout the day. Tours of the Royal White-Hart Masonic Lodge, 10-4.  Tours, & Displays on Genealogy/Cemetery History, & Historic Preservation: Edward Cheek House Museum 10-4.  Self-guided tours of the Underground Railroad Trail throughout the day.  Restaurants and Shops in business district open throughout the day.  See map for food vendor locations.

Open Houses at Historic Churches, 10-4: First Baptist (Saint David St.) & church history display, Halifax United Methodist (King St.), Halifax Baptist (Prussia St.), Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception (King St.). See event map for locations. 

Scheduled Activities: 

9:30 – 12:00 p.m.        School Group Activities (Living History stations & Building tours)

• 11:30 a.m.       Colonial Music – led by Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps for School Groups
• 11:45 a.m.       Artillery Demonstration for School Groups
• 12:00 p.m.      School Group Activities Conclude

10:30 a.m.       Wreath Laying at Colonial Courthouse Site - Sons of the American Revolution

2:00 p.m.         Halifax Resolves Day Ceremony with Kickoff by Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps

3:00 p.m.         Reception at Bradford -Denton House

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.      Tours of Historic Buildings

5:00 p.m.         Historic Site Programs & Activities End

6:00-8:45 p.m.  Free Concert: The Chatham Rabbits in front of Historic Courthouse (King St.) Sponsored by the Town of Halifax, concludes with a laser show. 

7:00-10:00 p.m. Ticketed Event: Red White and Blue Bash at Weldon Mills Theatre (Roanoke Rapids) food & entertainment featuring The Band of Oz at 8 p.m. America's 250th NC Kick-off Party, Tiered Pricing: $25-100. 

Saturday, April 13, 2024

Ongoing Events: Historic Site Buildings, the Continental Army Camp, Market Square, and vendors on King Street will be open throughout the day. View the new Life and Times of W.R. Davie exhibit at the Davie House throughout the day. Living-History, including hearth cooking & blacksmithing at Bradford-Denton House throughout the day. Tours of the Royal White-Hart Masonic Lodge, 10-4.  Tours, & Displays on Genealogy/Cemetery History, & Historic Preservation: Edward Cheek House Museum 10-4.  Self-guided tours of the Underground Railroad Trail throughout the day.  Restaurants and Shops in business district open throughout the day.  See map for food vendor locations.

Open Houses at Historic Churches, 10-4, Same churches as Friday, plus St. Mark’s Episcopal (King. St.)  

Scheduled Activities: 

10:00 a.m.       Ceremony at Magazine Spring, led by the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe

10:45 a.m.       Arrival of Troops on King Street, led by Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps

11:00 a.m.       Historic Weapons Demonstration – Small Arms and Artillery

11:00 a.m.       African American & Indigenous Patriots of the Revolutionary War in NC by Kevin Graham, Tyrone Goodwyn, and Luke Alexander- First Baptist Church, Saint David St. (adjacent to historic site)

11:30 – 3:30 p.m.    Living History Vignettes – Meet historical figures from Halifax’s past

•  Provincial Congress Delegates at the Tap Room- 11:30, 12:30, 2:00
• The Women of Halifax at the Burgess Law Office- 12:00, 1:00, 2:30

1:00-3:00 p.m. Meet Piety, a Halifax Freedom Seeker at the Owens House Front Porch

1:30 p.m.         Historic Weapons Demonstration – Small Arms and Artillery

1:45 p.m.         Presentation at the Speaker’s Tent – Courthouse Research/Discovery, Dr. David Cranford

2:30 p.m.         Presentation at the Speaker’s Tent – The Halifax Resolves, Larry Armstrong

3:30 p.m.         Historic Weapons Demonstration – Small Arms and Artillery

4:00 p.m.         Historic Site Programs & Activities End

4:00 p.m.         Community Event: Evening Prayer Service - Saint Mark's Episcopal Church (King St.) – All are welcome

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Ongoing Events:

Historic Site Buildings, the Continental Army Camp, Market Square, and vendors on King Street will be open 11- 4.  View the new Life and Times of W.R. Davie exhibit at the Davie House, 11-4. Living-History, including hearth cooking & blacksmithing at Bradford-Denton House throughout the day. Tours, & Displays on Genealogy/Cemetery History, & Historic Preservation: Edward Cheek House Museum 11-4.  Self-guided tours of the Underground Railroad Trail throughout the day.  Restaurants and Shops in business district open throughout the day.  See map for food vendor locations.

Scheduled Activities: 

10:30 a.m.       18th Century Church Service at Free Church Site

11:00 a.m.       Continental Army Camp, Market Square, & Historic Buildings open

1:15 p.m.         Historic Weapons Demonstration – Small Arms and Artillery

1:30 p.m.         Presentation at the Speaker’s Tent – Black Patriots of Halifax, Frank McMahon

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.      Living History Vignettes – Meet historical figures from Halifax’s past

•  Provincial Congress Delegates at the Tap Room- 2:00
• The Women of Halifax at the Burgess Law Office- 3:00

2:30 p.m.         Presentation at the Speaker’s Tent – The Halifax Resolves, Larry Armstrong

3:30 p.m.         Historic Weapons Demonstration – Small Arms and Artillery

4:00 p.m.        Historic Site Programs & Activities End

Printable Schedule of Events

Help commemorate the beginning of the American revolution while celebrating the anniversary of the Halifax Resolves, the first official call for independence from Britain by any American colony. 

 Enjoy living-history activities, historic weapons demonstrations, military drills, and interact with characters from Halifax’s past.  Witness a traditional Native American ceremony at Magazine Spring, hosted by the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, enjoy a short military parade will process along King Street, hear guest speakers presenting on various topics throughout the day. Visit nearby vendors along King Street.