Nearly 45 years after children first gathered at First Baptist Church to take part in one of Winchester’s most memorable community programs, the Tom Thumb Wedding is returning for a new generation.
The Winchester Black History & Heritage Committee will present the program at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, at First Baptist Church, 39 North Highland Street in Winchester. For organizers, the afternoon is more than a performance. It is a chance to revisit a beloved local tradition, celebrate the city’s children, and gather families around a shared piece of community memory.
A Tom Thumb Wedding is a staged mock wedding traditionally performed by children, often as part of a school, church, or community fundraiser. Young participants dress as the bride, groom, attendants, minister, family members, and guests, then act out a formal wedding ceremony in a presentation known for its charm, humor, and pageantry.
The tradition takes its name from General Tom Thumb, the stage name of Charles Stratton, a well-known 19th-century performer associated with P. T. Barnum. After Stratton’s highly publicized wedding in 1863, communities began staging miniature children’s weddings as entertainment. In Winchester, the tradition found a home at First Baptist Church on Aug. 16, 1981, when the church hosted its first Tom Thumb Wedding.
A media advisory released by the organization contained this quote:
“The Winchester Black History & Heritage Committee is honored to share this tradition with the community once again and hopes families will join us for an afternoon that celebrates our history, our children, and the spirit of fellowship that brings us together.”
For more information, contact Martha Miller at 859−536−5617 or Joyce Morton at 859−744−7207.
