ARLINGTON, VA – George Washington’s Mount Vernon, PBS and WETA are hosting a free outdoor screening of highlights from the documentary series THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION on Wednesday, October 29. The screening takes place at sunset on the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in Mount Vernon, VA.
This special event features filmmaker Ken Burns along with excerpts from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Guests will preview this expansive look at the American Revolution and birth of the United States of America, while sitting on the lawn of the home of General George Washington, the man who led the American army to victory. As the culmination of a year-long journey of THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION preview events, this evening at George Washington’s Mount Vernon is the final live preview of the series before it airs on PBS stations nationwide.
The screening begins at 6:15 p.m., and ticketholders will be allowed to enter Mount Vernon at any point during the day on October 29 and are encouraged to arrive early. Admission is free, but registration is required. Registration opens on Wednesday, September 24 and more information about the event can be found at weta.org/AmRevEvent.
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION is a six-part, 12-hour documentary series that explores the country’s founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence. Filmmakers Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt examine how America’s founding turned the world upside-down. Thirteen British colonies on the Atlantic Coast rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired centuries of democratic movements around the globe.
The series will premiere on Sunday, November 16 and air for six consecutive nights through Friday, November 21 from 8-10 p.m. ET on WETA PBS and PBS stations nationwide. The full series will be available to stream beginning Sunday, November 16 on the WETA+ streaming service and the PBS app.
EVENT: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Preview Screening with Ken Burns
LOCATION: George Washington’s Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Mount Vernon, VA 22121
TIME: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
6:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.
Live music begins at 5 p.m.
TICKETS: Event is free; registration is required
Registration opens September 24 at weta.org/AmRevEvent
DETAILS: Event is all lawn seating
Guests may bring blankets or low chairs
Refreshments are available for purchase
Free parking and a shuttle service are available
###
ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOUNT VERNON
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
ABOUT PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 36 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 16 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, 53 million viewers on YouTube, and 60 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life.
ABOUT WETA
WETA has been the production partner of Florentine Films and Ken Burns for more than 35 years, bringing landmark documentaries to the nation. As the leading public broadcaster in the nation’s capital, WETA serves Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with inspiring and educational content on television channels WETA PBS, WETA Metro, WETA UK, WETA PBS Kids and WETA World; streaming on the WETA+ app and at weta.org; and on radio station WETA Classical 90.9 FM and wetaclassical.org.