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Colonial Williamsburg Revolutionary Rhetoric Tournament

November 6-8, 2026

Sponsored by

Hunton

http://revolutionaryrhetoric.tabroom.com

The American Revolution was inspired by discussions and debates that took place in Colonial Williamsburg 250 years ago. The memories of those formative times remain alive today to inspire new generations and encourage new debates about how best to strive for a more perfect union. This tournament hosts promising high school students to debate as our founders did, fulfilling our promise that the future will learn from the past.

The Richmond Forum, Colonial Williamsburg, and Hunton are delighted to invite you to the third annual Revolutionary Rhetoric Tournament. Founded in the spirit of historic debates, the tournament also builds on oratorical and performance traditions going back over 250 years.

This year, all student congress, debate, and speech events will take place at the Colonial Williamsburg historic site, the Williamsburg Lodge, and The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher’s Institute. All are within walking distance of each other.

Event Logistics & important information

Entry fees** (inclusive of Colonial Williamsburg admission and opening ceremony dinner):

Debate: $45 per single entry (PF or individual)

Speech: $30 per single entry (duo or individual)

Congress: $50 per entry

Meal Packages (Available Saturday and Sunday):

Boxed lunch available for Saturday and Sunday - $15

Dinner for non-competitors and judges - $25

Hotel room blocks have been reserved at the following Colonial Williamsburg properties:

o The Woodlands Inn & Suites (complimentary breakfast)

• Two double beds

• King with sofa bed

o The Williamsburg Lodge (no complimentary breakfast)

• Two double beds

• One king

Judges burden:

o Speech: One judge for every 5 entries or fraction thereof

o Debate: One judge for every 2 entries or fraction thereof

**Meals will be provided for all judges

Deadlines:

Registration (including judges) and meal package requests due October 16th.

Walking and Transportation Logistics:

Hotel shuttle available from Woodland Inn to historic site. Please check available times. We recommend competitors wear flat shoes. There will be lots of walking on unpaved paths and uneven historic cobblestone and pavement.

Accessibility accommodations must be sent two weeks in advance via email to lucretia@richmondforum.org.

Competition Events – All NSDA rules

Events are required to have 6 or more entries to be included. Events with more than 36 entries will break to a semi-final round, events smaller than 36 entries will break to a final round of the top 25% of competitors.

Debate

Student Congress (Flagship event)

Lincoln Douglas Debate (November/December NSDA resolutions)

Public Forum Debate (November/December NSDA resolutions)

Speech

Pattern A

Declamation

Dramatic Interpretation

Extemporaneous Speaking

Humorous Interpretation

Original Oratory

Poetry Interpretation

Pattern B

Duo Interpretation

Impromptu Speaking

Informative Speaking

Prose Interpretation

Program Oral Interpretation

Storytelling

Although students may double-enter, they are reminded that events may be in different buildings on the historical site and it is their responsibility to get to their rounds in a timely fashion.

Extemp Topics

• Round 1 - The Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government

• Round 2 - The Executive Branch of the U.S. Government

• Round 3- The Judiciary Branch of the U.S. Government

• Round 4- America’s 250th Anniversary

Congress Resolutions - please see document on tournament website, estimated post date September 1st.

Proposed Schedule (subject to change)

Friday, November 6

3:00 pm-5:00 pm Arrival, check in to hotels, tournament registration at Williamsburg Lodge

5:30 pm-7:30 pm Opening Ceremony and Dinner

Optional Haunted Williamsburg Ghost Tour -{Link to Book your own ghost tour}

Saturday, November 8

8:00 am Students arrive at the competition spaces

8:00 am-9:00 am Judges/staff meeting

Congress

8:15 am- 9:30 am Student Congress Committee

9:45 am-12:00 pm Student Congress Session 1

12:00 pm-1:45 pm Lunch

2:00 pm- 4:00 pm Student Congress Session 2

Debate (double-flighted)

8:30 am LD/PF Debate Round 1

10:30 am LD/PF Debate Round 2

12:30pm Lunch

2:00 pm LD/PF Debate Round 3

4:00 pm LD/PF Debate Round 4

Speech

8:30 am Extemp Draw

9:00 am Speech Round 1A

10:30 am Speech Round 1B

12:00 pm. Lunch

2:00 pm Extemp Draw

2:30 pm Speech Round 2A

4:00 pm Speech Round 2B

Sunday, November 9

Congress

8:30 am Students and judges arrive

9:00 am -11:00 am Congress Semi-Final

11:00 am Lunch

12:15 pm-2:15 pm Congress Final

4:30 pm Awards Kimball Theater

Debate

7:30 am Students and judges arrive

8:00 am LD/PF Debate Round 5 (double-flighted)

10:00 am LD/PF Debate Round 6 (double-flighted)

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 pm LD/PF Quarter-Finals (single-flighted)

2:00 pm LD/PF Semi-Finals (single-flighted)

3:00 pm LD/PF Finals

4:30 pm. Awards, Kimball Theater

Speech

8:00 am Students and judges arrive

8:00 am Extemp Draw

8:30 am Speech Round 3A

10:00 am Speech Round 3B

11:30 am Lunch

12:30 pm Extemp Draw

1:00 pm Finals A

2:30 pm Finals B

4:30 pm Awards, Kimball Theater

For More Information, Contact:

Tournament Logistics (hotel, transportation, meals),Sandra Wheeler, sandra@richmondforum.org

Tournament Director (rules, resolutions, Tabroom),Deano Pape, deanopape@gmail.com

Hosted By

The Richmond Forum Speech and Debate Initiative and Colonial Williamsburg

Revolutionary Rhetoric Invitation Link