Historical reenactors at the 2023 Rochambeau Festival in Yorktown, N.Y. Photo by Carol Reif.
The second annual Rochambeau Festival will commemorate the critical role that French General Rochambeau and his army played in aiding America’s independence from Great Britain.
The Rochambeau Festival on May 18 & 19 is an immersive experience that educates attendees about pivotal Revolutionary War and Franco American Alliance events in our nation’s history. Visitors can learn about Generals Rochambeau and Washington, the locations of the encampments in New York State and what happened in Westchester County.
Families can join an encampment setup, drill with model muskets, greet animals like oxen, and learn butter or cheese making. There will be a tactical weapons demonstration and battle with the Brigade of the American Revolution. On May 19th, a short bus tour from Rochambeau Park will take visitors on a guided tour of Yorktown’s historic encampment sites. Guests can also enjoy food and beverages.
The two-day festival occurs at Rochambeau Park, also known as Yorktown Grange Fair Grounds, in Yorktown Heights, one of five locations the French forces camped in Yorktown in 1781, then known as Crompond, and dedicated to General Rochambeau on September 18, 1954.
The festival runs both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the cost is $10 per car for parking.
The event is produced by the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association – New York (W3R-NY), in partnership with the Yorktown Heritage Preservation Commission / Yorktown 250 and the Yorktown Grange.
“We are excited to produce a festival where everyone can dive into the history that happened in our backyards and learn about the crucial role Rochambeau played in aiding Washington and the Continental Army,” said Lynn Briggs, Chair of W3R-NY.
