The Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps

A highlight for visitors, the Fife and Drum Corps parade along Duke of Gloucester Street takes place daily at Colonial Williamsburg. In the 18th Century, the fife and drum were collectively used as a method of communicating military orders and information. The duties of a fifer and a drummer, when assigned to a company, included waking the soldiers in the morning, announcing meals, indicating lights out and communicating orders to fire during battle. In addition, the fife and drum music was a great morale booster for the soldiers.

Eighteenth Century fifers and drummers were usually boys ages 10 to 18. Today in Historic Colonial Williamsburg, girls as well as boys participate in the Fifes and Drums.

^{Source: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation}