Many of the students were wearing clothing their parents had sewn. This

year, the girls' dresses ranged from calico plain to Williamsburg

fancy, while most boys wore knee britches, a tricorn hat and a brilliantly

white yarn wig (granted, some bewigged gentlemen sported sneakers).

For the occasion, volunteer parents transformed the cafeteria into a

parlor perfect for dancing the waltz and Virginia Reel. Ms. Hearn and

Ms. Byrd, music teachers at Peeples, taught the students the dances. Ms.

Hearn expressed that the students began learning the dances well before

Thanksgiving and had made great strides going from barely being able to

hold hands with a member of the opposite sex to mastering the colonial

dances.

After the dancing had concluded, the students and their guests were then

treated to a hearty feast of period fare including fruit kebobs, pumpkin

bread, and cookies.

The week prior to the event, students spent time hand dipping candles,

crafting dried apple wreaths, practicing calligraphy on an invitation

to parents, and stenciling placemats. Many of the students found the candle

making process and wig wearing daunting and realized how difficult life

in colonial times might have been.