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Friends of Lafayette will commemorate Major General Lafayette’s American Farewell Tour through Suffolk, February 24-26, 2025.
Activities will include arrival of Lafayette by horse drawn carriage, living history interpreters, an art exhibit of Lafayette artifacts, a re-creation of Lafayette’s Suffolk banquet, historic tours including an event in Somerton, educational lectures and programs, etc.
The American Friends of Lafayette established a Bicentennial Committee to commemorate the Farewell Tour of Lafayette. The committee consists of over 300 individuals, representing the 24 states Lafayette visited between 1824–1825. Our mission is to educate everyone, from youth to seniors and from every cultural and ethnic background, on the life and legacy of Lafayette, to celebrate the Franco-American alliance, and to educationally enrich the public through meaningful programming and remembrances.
August 16, 2024, kicks off the beginning of this monumental occasion with hundreds of events planned tracing the footsteps of Lafayette on his tour of America as the “Guest of the Nation” between 1824–1825, in the exact order he traveled. lafayette200.org
Activities will include arrival of Lafayette by horse drawn carriage, living history interpreters, an art exhibit of Lafayette artifacts, a re-creation of Lafayette’s Suffolk banquet, historic tours including an event in Somerton, educational lectures and programs, etc.
The American Friends of Lafayette established a Bicentennial Committee to commemorate the Farewell Tour of Lafayette. The committee consists of over 300 individuals, representing the 24 states Lafayette visited between 1824–1825. Our mission is to educate everyone, from youth to seniors and from every cultural and ethnic background, on the life and legacy of Lafayette, to celebrate the Franco-American alliance, and to educationally enrich the public through meaningful programming and remembrances.
August 16, 2024, kicks off the beginning of this monumental occasion with hundreds of events planned tracing the footsteps of Lafayette on his tour of America as the “Guest of the Nation” between 1824–1825, in the exact order he traveled. lafayette200.org
About the AFL
The American Friends of Lafayette is an organization aware of the ideals of this great French visionary leader, the inspirational quality of his remarkable career, his contributions to our own struggle for liberty, and his ceaseless efforts to forge an eternal bond of friendship between the United States and France.
The goal of The American Friends of Lafayette is to foster and promote this traditional friendship by way of continual research into the history that began with the American War for Independence and includes any documents and discoveries past and present that shed more light on the life of the Marquis.
www.friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org
The American Friends of Lafayette is an organization aware of the ideals of this great French visionary leader, the inspirational quality of his remarkable career, his contributions to our own struggle for liberty, and his ceaseless efforts to forge an eternal bond of friendship between the United States and France.
The goal of The American Friends of Lafayette is to foster and promote this traditional friendship by way of continual research into the history that began with the American War for Independence and includes any documents and discoveries past and present that shed more light on the life of the Marquis.
www.friendsoflafayette.wildapricot.org
Suffolk Lafayette Bicentennial Events, January – February 2025
Lafayette Memorabilia Display, Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Thursday, January 23, 2025 to Saturday, March 1, 2025, with an opening night reception on January 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The reception will include French appetizers and three Lafayette wines from the Williamsburg Winery. This exhibit, titled “Celebrate Lafayette: Soldier, Statesman, Champion of Human Rights,” includes memorabilia from the Farewell Tour. The American Friends of Lafayette’s (AFL) six traveling panels and a detailed map of the Farewell Tour route through the 24 states that Lafayette visited will also be on display. The free, five-week exhibit will include an exhibit guide and weekly speakers or videos on Thursday nights. Guests will be encouraged to wear timeline attire (1777 – 1825).
Welcome Ceremony, Suffolk Visitor Center and Riddick’s Folly. Sunday, February 23, 2025, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. This family-friendly event, free and open to the public, will include costumed interpreters that will represent veterans of the American Revolution and their families, and present aspects of life in camp. Lafayette, portrayed by Mark Schneider of Colonial Williamsburg, will arrive in person by carriage. Lafayette will be formally welcomed, give an appropriate response, and will address attendees about his experiences in Suffolk during the American Revolution. The day will be portrayed as if it is 1825. The Mayor of Suffolk’s proclamation will be read announcing Lafayette Days in Suffolk and Somerton, February 23 to February 26. A community band will play music that was played for Lafayette. Guests will be encouraged to wear timeline attire (1777 – 1825).
Lafayette Banquet, Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. This ticketed event will echo the banquet at which Lafayette was entertained on February 25, 1825. The evening will be portrayed as if it is 1825. During the reception, the Mayor’s Proclamation of Lafayette Days will be read, Lafayette (Mark Schneider) will be welcomed, and he will give an appropriate response. Once the guests are seated in the ballroom, the dinner will begin with the 13 original toasts given to Lafayette 200 years ago. During dinner, guests will be entertained with period music. After dinner, local historian and AFL Vice President, Robert Kelly, will address Lafayette’s role in the American Revolution, the significance of the Farewell Tour, where Lafayette has visited since arriving in the United States in August 1824, and where he is going after he leaves Suffolk. Lafayette will provide an appropriate response. Guests will be encouraged to wear timeline attire (1777 – 1825).
Reception, Washington Smith Ordinary, Somerton. Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Lafayette (Mark Schneider) will be welcomed at the only building still standing in Suffolk that he visited 200 years ago. The day will be portrayed as if it is 1825. He will be formally introduced to the Murfreesboro, North Carolina delegation and will provide an appropriate response. An informal reception will be hosted by Suffolk’s Constantia Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Guests will be encouraged to wear timeline attire (1777 – 1825).
Welcome Ceremony, Suffolk Visitor Center and Riddick’s Folly. Sunday, February 23, 2025, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. This family-friendly event, free and open to the public, will include costumed interpreters that will represent veterans of the American Revolution and their families, and present aspects of life in camp. Lafayette, portrayed by Mark Schneider of Colonial Williamsburg, will arrive in person by carriage. Lafayette will be formally welcomed, give an appropriate response, and will address attendees about his experiences in Suffolk during the American Revolution. The day will be portrayed as if it is 1825. The Mayor of Suffolk’s proclamation will be read announcing Lafayette Days in Suffolk and Somerton, February 23 to February 26. A community band will play music that was played for Lafayette. Guests will be encouraged to wear timeline attire (1777 – 1825).
Lafayette Banquet, Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront. Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. This ticketed event will echo the banquet at which Lafayette was entertained on February 25, 1825. The evening will be portrayed as if it is 1825. During the reception, the Mayor’s Proclamation of Lafayette Days will be read, Lafayette (Mark Schneider) will be welcomed, and he will give an appropriate response. Once the guests are seated in the ballroom, the dinner will begin with the 13 original toasts given to Lafayette 200 years ago. During dinner, guests will be entertained with period music. After dinner, local historian and AFL Vice President, Robert Kelly, will address Lafayette’s role in the American Revolution, the significance of the Farewell Tour, where Lafayette has visited since arriving in the United States in August 1824, and where he is going after he leaves Suffolk. Lafayette will provide an appropriate response. Guests will be encouraged to wear timeline attire (1777 – 1825).
Reception, Washington Smith Ordinary, Somerton. Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Lafayette (Mark Schneider) will be welcomed at the only building still standing in Suffolk that he visited 200 years ago. The day will be portrayed as if it is 1825. He will be formally introduced to the Murfreesboro, North Carolina delegation and will provide an appropriate response. An informal reception will be hosted by Suffolk’s Constantia Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Guests will be encouraged to wear timeline attire (1777 – 1825).