With banners waving and crowds cheering, the Marquis de Lafayette, who fought alongside George Washington in the American Revolution and was an international symbol of freedom and human rights, visited Fayetteville as a part of a “Farewell Tour” in 1825.
To celebrate the bicentennial this year, cities across America have been commemorating with “living history” events, and Fayetteville is celebrating its 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s visit on March 4-5.
Fayetteville has a special designation — it was the first city named for Lafayette and the only city that he visited.
“Lafayette was a worldwide symbol for liberty, justice and equality so we want to honor him since we are the first city named for him in the nation and at the same time promote Fayetteville to everyone coming,” said Hank Parfitt, who is helping organize the events that will include a processional, ball and dinner.
Parfitt said that guests are coming from not just North Carolina, but states as far away as Michigan and New Hampshire.
“At least half of the people registered are from cities all over North Carolina as well as out of state, the other half are community members, many of them prominent,” Parfitt said.
Parfitt, a member and former president of the Lafayette Society, said that the events were designed to showcase what it was like during Lafayette’s visit. He hopes that attendees will relish the 200-year-old history being re-enacted.
“All our events will be colorful and will involve people in motion and enjoying a special evening or afternoon in Fayetteville,” Parfitt said.
Here is a schedule of events:
Tuesday, March 4
- The Processional: At noon, a horse-drawn carriage will bring actors portraying Lafayette, his son George Washington Lafayette and Hutchins Burton, North Carolina’s governor in 1825, through downtown Fayetteville, along with the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry. The public is encouraged to attend this free event welcoming Lafayette to Fayetteville. According to Parfitt, Lafayette was a bit of a rockstar in his time so the streets were packed 200 years ago.
- The Lafayette Ball: From 6-9 p.m., a dance will be held in Lafayette’s honor with guests in full Regency and formal attire to the sounds of Syllabub, a trio of musicians who will be playing live period music. Charles Steplively, a dance master from Virginia, will lead everyone through the dance steps.
Wednesday, March 5
- Lafayette Collection Display: From 1-5 p.m., The Methodist University Lafayette Collection will be open to the public and on display at the Davis Memorial Library.
- The Lafayette Dinner: From 6-9 p.m., enjoy a dinner theatre with re-enactments of scenes from Lafayette’s visit to Fayetteville directed by Jeremy Fiebig, a theater professor from Fayetteville State University. This ticketed event will be held in the Ralph and Linda Huff Orangery at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden.
Both Tuesday and Wednesday
- Guided Tours: View Lafayette’s carriage at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F.I.L.I.) at the Armory on Burgess Street. This carriage was donated by the family of Col. Henry W. Ayer, who was the commander of the North Carolina Artillery in 1825 and escorted Lafayette through Fayetteville.
- Fayetteville’s Lafayette Trail: See Lafayette-related exhibits at the Fayetteville Museum, the Museum of the Cape Fear and the Arts Council on the same trail that Lafayette took in 1825.
Both the Lafayette Ball and Lafayette Dinner are sold out, but all other events are free and open the public. For more information, visit lafayettesociety.org/the-grand-tour-bicentennial.
