Agecroft Hall and Gardens – the 16th-Century, English Tudor manor home shipped across the ocean to Richmond, Va. in the 1920s – hosts a free outdoor community event to commemorate the Bard’s 461st birthday this month.
While most historians place the playwright’s birthday on April 23, the celebration at Agecroft Hall lasts all month long, culminating in Shakespeare’s Birthday: A Celebration of the Bard, on April 26 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
The free festivities include entertainment, dances, games, songs and other merry activities. Costumed “living history” staff mingle with partygoers and demonstrate Tudor-era crafts. VCUarts students under the tutelage of Professors Karen Kopryanski and Katie Holland perform sonnets and scenes.
The gardens and grounds are open to picnickers and revelers of all ages. Coffee drinks, baked goods, and ice cream are available for purchase. Outdoor activities are free; house tours of Agecroft Hall are available at the regular rate.
“There is so much to celebrate about William Shakespeare and his contributions to the English language and culture. The beautiful gardens and grounds surrounding our Tudor manor museum really do provide the perfect backdrop,” says Anne Kenny-Urban, executive director. “The Bard’s birthday is the perfect occasion to grab your family and friends, head to our riverside estate, and party like it’s 1564!”
Information on this event and more is available at AgecroftHall.org/upcoming-events
About Agecroft Hall and Gardens
Agecroft Hall and Gardens, located at 4305 Sulgrave Road, is a 23-acre estate featuring a Tudor house originally built c. 1500 in England and transported to Richmond in the 1920s. Now a museum, the house is open to the public six days a week. Details at AgecroftHall.org.
