YORKTOWN, Va. — One of Hampton Roads' biggest Independence Day celebrations is happening at the site of a decisive battle in the Revolutionary War.
Celebrations around Yorktown began with a parade and a 5k and it had era-appropriate music courtesy of the Yorktown fife and drums.
Yorktown is where British troops surrendered to the combined forces of the French and Continental Army, meaning history is everywhere you turn. It's a reason, Grace Aliberto and her family came to visit from Pennsylvania.
"I love history, and I think this is just amazing,” Grace said.
"For me, actually being here almost gives me the chills. Because you can watch a documentary and you don't get that same feeling. You don't really connect with it the same way,” said Grace's dad, Nate Aliberto.
The city that symbolizes victory over British tyranny celebrates our independence as no one else can and along with plenty of events planned throughout the day, many folks look forward to one thing: fireworks.
"If you're going to see the fireworks, you got to do it down by the water because you can feel the fireworks like really shake your, shake your bones down there," said Michael Gibinio, who was visiting from Norfolk.