Mount Vernon Launches New “Summer Huzzah” Event Featuring 18th Century Entertainment, Food, Music, and George Washington’s Whiskey

To give visitors the full experience of what life was like for President George Washington and his guests, Mount Vernon will host a new event, “Summer Huzzah,” on June 8. Huzzah is a colonial-era expression of joy, so it’s a fitting name for this novel experience that promises an evening of merriment for all ages. The Summer Huzzah will include a performance by The Washington Tattoo, 18th-century tavern games, horse-drawn wagon rides, ice cream and whiskey making, music, a special VIP menu tasting experience, and more.

In the coming weeks, visitors can enjoy a multitude of experiences at the home of America’s first president, George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Two of the historic site’s most popular spring events, Revolutionary War Weekend and the Spring Wine Festival, are right around the corner. Visitors also can engage with renowned experts, dressmakers, authors, and historians, and the George Washington Distillery and Gristmill are open for tours.

Images related to upcoming events at Mount Vernon are available here and should be attributed to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

Located just outside of Washington, D.C., on the banks of the Potomac River, upcoming events and activities are as follows: 

• Experience 18th-century life at the Summer Huzzah on June 8th. This summer evening offers 18th-century entertainment, food, music, and more. A special VIP experience includes food and whiskey tastings. Learn more.
• Step back in time at Mount Vernon's Revolutionary War Weekend on May 4th and 5th. Mount Vernon's serene 12-Acre Field transforms into a battleground as Continentals, Redcoats, and Hessians conduct military drills, perform cavalry demonstrations, and engage in 18th-century tacticals. Learn more.
• Secure tickets now for the popular Mount Vernon Wine Festival on May 17th and 19th. Bring a blanket to relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River while sampling wines from Virginia vineyards and enjoying the live music of Bruce Ewan and the Solid Senders. Please note May 18th already is sold out. Learn more.
• Book tickets before they sell out for the annual dazzling Independence Day fireworks display along with 18th-century music and entertainment. Tickets go on sale on May 6th. Learn more.
• Meet Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, at a book event on May 9th. The Declaration of Independence identified “the pursuit of happiness” as one of our unalienable rights, along with life and liberty. Hear from Rosen about what pursuing happiness meant to six of the most influential American founders, as detailed in his new book, The Pursuit of Happiness. Learn more.
• On May 10th, bring lunch and learn about the infamous Hutchins Map. Alexandra Montgomery will provide insight on George Washington’s relationship to the American West and one of the maps he used most frequently during the American Revolution: Thomas Hutchin’s 1778 A New Map of the Western Parts of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina. Learn more.
• Explore the lives, loves, and loss of the enslaved families at George Washington's Mount Vernon on May 11th. This event offers a special guided tour (free tour ticket required), family activity, and ceremonial remembrance. Learn more.
• Watch an 18th Century sewing demonstration on May 11th. Mount Vernon’s historic costumer, Kathrin Breitt Brown, and Brooke Welborn of Burnley & Trowbridge will refashion two of Mrs. Washington’s gowns into new garments for character interpreter Timbila Kabre’s portrayal of Ona Judge. Learn more.
• Treat the mothers in your life to a special buffet at The Mount Vernon Inn on May 12th. Learn more.
• Have Lunch at the Library with Brook Manville to discuss his new book, The Civic Bargain: How Democracy Survives, on May 15. This book offers a guide for democratic renewal, calling on citizens to recommit to a “civic bargain” with one another to guarantee civic rights of freedom, equality, and dignity. Learn more.
• Hear from historian Talmage Boston on his new book, How the Best Did It:Leadership Lessons from our Top Presidents, on May 23rd. This book offers an insightful explanation of how the most important leadership traits from America’s eight greatest presidents can be implemented by today’s leaders. Learn more.
• George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill is now open for the season. Exclusive whiskey tastings will be offered on Saturdays in May and June from 2–5 p.m. Learn more. These fully functioning reconstructions of George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill are located just two miles from the estate’s main entrance. Tours are offered on weekends from April – October and are included with a Mount Vernon grounds pass. Learn more.
• Watch the 18th-century baking process with Resident Baker Justin Cherry of Half Crown Bakehouse. Each loaf is baked in a reproduction clay oven and made of grains authentic to the period that, when possible, were ground at George Washington's Gristmill. Demonstrations are scheduled on select dates, with baked goods available for purchase until sold out. Learn more.

Read the full listing of Mount Vernon events here. Most Mount Vernon events are free or discounted for members. Information about Mount Vernon membership is available here.