Sail 250 Celebration Draws Crowds to Onancock, Caps Weekend With Spectacular Fireworks Display

By Linda Cicoira

Sail 250 festivities got underway Friday afternoon when the Lady Maryland, a 104-foot, gaff-rigged, wooden-hulled pungy topsail schooner, arrived at the Onancock Wharf. The vessel’s arrival marked the beginning of a weekend filled with speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, musical performances, kayak launches, an art show, movies, and theatrical productions.

Amid the entertainment and historical presentations, many attendees said the highlight of the celebration was Saturday night’s fireworks display.

The show, which lasted about 20 minutes, featured a nearly continuous succession of fireworks and drew spectators from throughout the area.

Photographs struggled to capture the scale of the display as hundreds of spectators gathered on the soccer field at the Historic Onancock School following an evening concert at the pavilion. Others watched from porches, yards, and waterfront locations throughout town.

The Sail 250 celebration continues next weekend in Cape Charles, where four historic and tall ships are scheduled to visit as part of the ongoing commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary.