Associate Vice President for Public Safety Cliff Everton sent the following message to the campus community on June 29, 2026. – Ed.
Dear William & Mary Community –
The William & Mary Division of Public Safety urges the university community to be prepared for large crowds, traffic delays, and severe heat during a July 4th weekend that is shaping up to be one of the busiest Williamsburg has ever seen.
The Williamsburg area will be a focal point of the national July 4th celebration as America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That means visitors from far and wide will descend upon our community throughout the weekend of July 2-5.
As part of its annual national July 4th broadcast, PBS will be in Colonial Williamsburg to film a star-filled tribute to America’s 250th. Live performances and fireworks will be part of the show, which will be filmed at CW’s Palace Green.
The university has coordinated with the City of Williamsburg and Colonial Williamsburg to provide parking and limited resources for the event. Beginning July 2nd at 5:00 PM, all campus buildings will be locked and accessible by swipe card or physical key only. Please make sure you have yours with you. Buildings will remain locked throughout this period except for pre-approved building hours, conferences, and events. Regular operations will resume on Monday, July 6th.
Although the July 4th events will not be held on the William & Mary campus, we ask that the university community be mindful of the large crowds expected in the area for the celebration – more than twice as many for a typical July 4th. Please plan for heavy traffic and a considerable demand for parking. Give yourself ample time to arrive safely and expect severe heat during the events.
Safety is a priority, which is why you will see a heightened police, fire, and EMS presence over the weekend. That will include additional personnel from the William & Mary Police Department to handle the larger number of visitors traversing campus from parking areas to include Kaplan Arena, Zable Stadium and the Law School.
This is an exciting time for our country and our community. William & Mary was central to the forming of our great nation, and it will be a focal point as we commemorate such a monumental anniversary. Stay safe and enjoy the festivities!
Cliff Everton
Associate Vice President for Public Safety