WILLIAMSBURG—More than 9,000 people are expected at America’s Anniversary Weekend in Jamestown next spring—and that’s just counting the performers on six stages.

A draft plan for the May 11-13 event estimates that 90,000 people will show up during the three-day festival to celebrate Jamestown’s 400th anniversary as the first permanent English settlement in America.

The estimate was part of a “Public Safety Planning Assumptions” document distributed yesterday at a meeting of the Historic Triangle Jamestown 2007 Host Committee.

Committee members, who represent governments and organizations in the Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown region, were asked to review the plans developed so far by public-safety officials.

As described in the document, the festival will take place in Historic Jamestowne—the island where the settlement existed, at the state-run Jamestown Settlement museum nearby and in Anniversary Park, a venue to be created on a large campground adjacent to the museum.

With four stages planned for Anniversary Park and one each in Historic Jamestowne and Jamestown Settlement, the weekend boasts an ambitious performance schedule.

The logistics surrounding the performances—and hoped-for appearances by President Bush and a member or members of the British royal family—include satellite parking lots and plenty of security.

Helping to ensure that visitors will park and ride a shuttle from lots at Colonial Williamsburg, Surry County and other places, the plan calls for closing the southern part of the Colonial Parkway for the duration of the weekend.

“It’s a draft of the initial thoughts of what needs to be done,” said Kevin Crossett, spokesman for the state agency organizing the weekend as a climax of Virginia’s 18-month commemoration. “The whole thing could be completely different in a week. But you have to start somewhere.”

Organizers announced last fall that single-day tickets will be $30 for adults and $15 for children 6-12. Younger children will be admitted free.

Crossett said yesterday that the tickets are being required in hopes the event won’t attract more visitors than can be accommodated.

H. Edward Mann, executive director of the federal Jamestown 400th Commemoration Commission, said his group has not yet sent formal invitations to the president and royal family but has been in touch with their representatives.

He said nothing is certain, but organizers would like the president, the first lady and the British royals to appear together.

The document also says there will be provisions for protesters, if any, to demonstrate in specific locations during the event.

“At this point, we’re trying to anticipate everything,” Crossett said. “We’re trying to anticipate anything that may or may not happen.”

Andrew Petkofsky is a staff writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He can be contacted at or (757) 229-1512.