Photo courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association
Mount Vernon visitors say hello to a number of new lambs born this spring.
With spring in full bloom on the banks of the Potomac River, George Washington’s Mount Vernon is welcoming the season with new life on the estate and a dynamic lineup of programs marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. This year, visitors can meet 28 newborn lambs on Mount Vernon’s working farm, each named for pivotal battles of the American Revolution, including Ticonderoga, Yorktown, Lexington and Concord, offering a unique and engaging way to connect with the era that shaped the United States.
Alongside these seasonal highlights, Mount Vernon invites visitors to experience signature events such as the immersive Revolutionary War Weekend, the popular Mount Vernon Wine Festival and a series of author lectures and book talks featuring leading historians and scholars of the founding era.
And new for the spring season is an expanded lineup of on-site dining and seasonal experiences at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. Visitors and locals can unwind at the estate’s new outdoor Beer Garden, offering a relaxed setting with local craft beer, wine, and freshly prepared sandwiches, snacks, and shareable plates. To celebrate Mother’s Day, the Inn will host a special afternoon tea featuring a curated menu of teas, pastries, and light fare, as well as a festive brunch buffet with seasonal favorites to provide memorable ways for families to gather and celebrate on the estate.
“Spring was a defining season for George Washington and the Continental Army, marking the start of campaigns that would shape the course of the Revolution,” said Douglas Bradburn, Ph.D., president and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. “From welcoming new lambs on our farm—each named for iconic Revolutionary War battles—to large-scale events like Revolutionary War Weekend, we are creating meaningful opportunities for visitors to experience both the daily life and the pivotal moments that defined America’s founding.”
One of the season’s signature events is Revolutionary War Weekend, when visitors can explore a full-scale Continental Army encampment, watch military drills and artillery demonstrations, meet soldiers and historical interpreters, and learn how Washington’s army trained and prepared for the campaigns that ultimately secured American independence.
Spring also features the Mount Vernon Wine Festival, where guests can sample wines from Virginia wineries while enjoying sweeping sunset views of the Potomac River and the historic estate. Mount Vernon will also host a multitude of book talks and lectures at the George Washington Presidential Library, connecting visitors with historians and authors like H. W. Brands, Joanne Freeman, and Walter Isaacson, whose work sheds new light on the American Revolution.
Springtime visitors can explore the 500-acre estate, including the recently restored Mansion, Washington’s gardens and working farm, and the museum galleries, making Mount Vernon one of the nation’s premier destinations for understanding the founding of the United States.
Upcoming events and activities are detailed below to plan your spring and summer events at Mount Vernon:
- NEW Beer Garden – Visitors and locals can relax and socialize during happy hour at the new outdoor Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant Beer Garden, featuring rotating local craft beers, wine, and a special food menu, open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. No estate admission is required to visit the beer garden. Learn more.
- Author Lecture: The American Revolution at 250 – April 16, 2026. Hear from historians Francis Cogliano, Joanne Freeman, and Peter Onuf about their contributions to The American Revolution at 250: Twenty-Four Historians Reflect on the Founding. A book signing and reception with beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres will follow the lecture. Learn more.
- Mount Vernon After Hours – April 25, 2026. Members are invited to experience the estate after hours with special access to the grounds and historic areas in a relaxed evening setting. Learn more.
- Author Lecture: Entangled Alliances – April 29, 2026. Hear from historian Ronald Johnson, author of Entangled Alliances: Racialized Freedom and Atlantic Diplomacy During the American Revolution, which brings to light the story of American patriots and rebels from Saint-Domingue allying against European tyranny. Learn more.
- Revolutionary War Weekend – May 2–3, 2026. One of Mount Vernon’s most popular annual events brings the Revolutionary era to life through reenactments, military drills, encampments, artillery demonstrations, and hands-on activities that illuminate the fight for American independence. Learn more.
- George Washington Whiskey Tastings – Starting May 2, 2026. Guests can sample spirits produced using 18th-century distilling techniques while learning about George Washington’s historic distillery and the role whiskey played in early American commerce. Learn more.
- Mother’s Day Tea and Brunch – May 10 and May 15–17. Celebrate Mom at the historic Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant with a festive brunch or elegant afternoon tea, featuring live harp music, scones, and champagne. Learn more.
- Mount Vernon Wine Festival and Sunset Tour – May 15, 16, and 17, 2026. Guests can sample wines from Virginia’s finest wineries while enjoying breathtaking sunset views of the Potomac River and the historic estate. The festival also features live music and access to Washington’s Mansion and grounds. Learn more.
- Mixed Container Workshop – May 15 and 16, 2026. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn techniques for selecting and arranging summer annuals, with moss and birch twig accents, to create vibrant, lasting displays. Learn more.
- Author Lecture: The Greatest Sentence Ever Written – May 27, 2026. Hear from renowned historian Walter Isaacson about his new book, The Greatest Sentence Ever Written. A book signing and reception with beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres will follow the lecture. Learn more.
- Becoming American: Mount Vernon Symposium – May 29–30, 2026. Scholars and experts gather at the George Washington Presidential Library to explore the emergence of American design, culture, and identity in the decades following independence as part of the nation’s America 250 commemorations. Learn more.
- Author Lecture: American Patriarch – June 2, 2026. Hear from historian H. W. Brands about his new book, American Patriarch: The Life of George Washington, which provides insight on George Washington’s unrivaled leadership in the birth of America. A book signing and reception with beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres will follow the lecture. Learn more.
More information about Mount Vernon’s America’s 250 programming is available at www.mountvernon.org/250. Mount Vernon is pleased to offer the Virginia 250 Passport — a free, commemorative travel guide inviting guests to explore more than 70 historic sites across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Passport holders can collect unique stamps at participating destinations, access special discounts, and enter prize drawings designed to inspire discovery and engagement with Virginia’s rich heritage.
