Events & Programs

Upcoming Virtual Programs

Stratford Hall Spring Online Auction

April 19 at Noon – April 25 at 10 P.M.

Auction preview beginning on April 12

For many years, the Northern Neck Friends of Stratford and Auction Committee have raised significant funds to support preservation and education at the very popular annual Oyster Roast and Auction. Due to restrictions on the size of in-person gatherings this spring, we are hosting our first online auction which will be centered around Stratford Experiences and Directors’ Picks. Bidding will begin on April 19 at noon and close on April 25 at 10 p.m.

To preview the catalogue for Stratford Hall’s Spring Online Auction, please visit

StratfordHall.betterworld.org/auctions/spring-auction

Caribbean Rum and the Making of the Atlantic World Virtual Program

Saturday, May 8: 7 – 9 pm

Join Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz as she hosts Dr. Fred Smith, author of Caribbean Rum: A Social and Economic History, for a lecture and discussion on one of the most popular alcohols in the world.

Rum was very popular at Stratford Hall! The Lees kept a large supply of Caribbean rum in their cellar, and consumed it, gifted it, and celebrated the spirit at any occasion. But what is the larger history of rum, and how does it connect Stratford to the Atlantic World? Rum making emerged in the Caribbean in the early seventeenth century to meet the social and spiritual needs of colonists and maritime traders. Rum drinking helped enslaved Africans, indigenous peoples, and indentured European laborers cope with the challenges of everyday life in the region. Rum quickly became a valuable economic commodity, and the rum trade connected peoples in disparate parts of the early Atlantic world. Almost from the start of the industry, Caribbean rum made its way to the North American colonies, including to the towns and plantations of Virginia. Throughout the emerging Atlantic world, rum helped enslaved and free colonists express ethnic identity, define social boundaries, enhance resistance ideologies, and escape the many anxieties of life. Today, rum is one of the most widely consumed spirits in the world, and it is a defining commodity of the Caribbean. This talk will explore the historical rise of rum making and the extent of the early rum trade, including to Stratford Hall. It will also address popular cultural depictions and misconceptions about rum, especially about rum and pirates.

Virtual program via Zoom. Registration is required. We invite you to pay as you wish (suggested amount $8) to support lectures like this and future programs at Stratford Hall. A contribution can be made online with your registration or by mail to the following address: Development, Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, VA 22558.

Free for Friends of Stratford.

Save the Date: Stratford Hall Wine & Oyster Festival!

Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19

Exclusive Signature Sponsor: C&F Bank

Stratford Hall’s annual Wine & Oyster Festival returns this fall! Unfolding in front of the 18th-century Great House, Stratford Hall’s signature event features tastings from Virginia wineries, coastal oysters, craft breweries, spirits, artisan booths, live music, and family-friendly activities. The Great House will be open for tours and opportunities will be available to explore the over 1,800 acres throughout Stratford Hall. Make it an overnight in one of our three lodging options!

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Development office at lfortsch@stratfordhall.org or (804) 493-1974. If you would like to be featured as a vendor in this year’s festival, contact Alex Withers at awithers@stratfordhall.org.

Introducing Science Saturday at Stratford Hall

Stratford Hall’s 120-foot cliffs are a geological phenomenon that have yielded treasures from the earth dating back 17 million years. Grab the family and go on a fossil-filled virtual journey with Stratford Hall’s Manager of Education & Public Outreach Jon Bachman, the man who found the earliest record of dinosaurs from the Cretaceous period of Virginia.

Tune in for Science Saturday and experience the amazing world of paleontology! Register at the dates below!

Saturday, May 8 – Shark Mysteries at Stratford Hall

This program is for grades 2-7. Virtual program via Zoom.

Hidden in the Walls: Secrets of the Enslaved Community at Stratford Hall

Saturday, May 29: 7 – 9 pm

In March of 2021, a reevaluation of Stratford’s existing collections revealed evidence that illuminate the stories of the enslaved African and African Americans who built, labored, and lived at Stratford Hall. Join Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz for a lecture and discussion focusing on the recent findings, the forthcoming exhibit, and the importance of reevaluating evidence to help render the stories of the enslaved.

Free for Friends of Stratford.

Summer Teacher Institute: Teaching Difficult Topics

July 26 – 31, 2021

Stratford Hall will host an esteemed faculty for a rigorous examination of American democracy. The
program will include lectures, field trips, and hands-on pedagogy workshops.

To Apply: The Institute is open to any certified K-12, public or private, teacher, and past attendees
may reapply. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, beginning on April 15, 2021, and open until capacity is reached. Please download and complete the below Teacher Institute 2021 application and email to Dr. Kelley Deetz at kdeetz@stratfordhall.org.

Due to COVID-19 mandated restrictions, this year’s Institute will be offered as a hybrid (in-person limit of 25, online limit of 15). We ask that participants adhere to all state regulations and Stratford Hall COVID-19 policies while on site.

Support provided by the William H.- John G.- Emma Scott Foundation

2021 Teacher Institute Application

Note: This image was taken prior to COVID-19. Guests are required to wear face masks indoors.

Colonial Milling & Brewing