Most City of Virginia Beach offices and facilities will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Solid waste and recycling collection for Tuesday will not be affected. Some facilities, including parks, community recreation centers, and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, will remain open. Residents can check the full list of open locations and services by reviewing the city’s Veterans Day operating schedule.
The City of Virginia Beach is partnering with the VA250 Committee to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Skirmish at Kemp’s Landing with a free public event at City View Park on Nov. 15 and 16. The event is part of the statewide Virginia Semiquincentennial (“VA250”) observance, which highlights Virginia’s role in the American Revolution.
“This event will bring to life an important but often overlooked moment in the lead up to the American Revolution and Virginia Beach’s meaningful contribution to America’s fight for independence. The Skirmish at Kemp’s Landing occurred Nov. 15, 1775, when British forces, under Lord Dunmore, engaged the Princess Anne County militia in what would result in the first Patriot casualties in Virginia. In the aftermath, Dunmore stayed at a Loyalist home in Kemp’s Landing and issued his proclamation offering freedom to enslaved people who joined the British Cause (the ‘Ethiopian Regiment’), which had ripple effects in the region.”
The VA250 commemoration includes reenactments as well as educational programs designed to highlight significant events from Virginia’s revolutionary history. For more information about upcoming VA250 events taking place across Virginia Beach, visit https://va250.org/virginia-beach/. Details about Sail250—an international gathering of tall ships and military vessels off the coast—can be found at https://www.sail250virginia.com/.
