East Berlin (Pa) Colonial Day Set for
 Saturday, September 8

Annual Event will take place from 8 am - 4 pm along National Historic District

(8/22) Thousands of people from the Mid-Atlantic region know that if it’s the second Saturday in September, it’s time to head to East Berlin, PA for Colonial Day as they have for the past 32 years. The nonprofit East Berlin Historical Preservation Society began the event to showcase and support craftspeople working in traditional ways to produce quality goods and celebrate the 18th century heritage of the town. The Society is the sole sponsor of the official juried vendor area which will line the National Historic District on West King Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Great food, free entertainment, demonstrations and people in colonial dress provide a step back in time.

Crowds fill the main street early, with many anxious to visit their favorite vendors first before spending the day browsing for new choices. Hand loomed textiles, rag and hooked rugs, a wide variety of pottery and metalwork including tin, iron and copper, furniture, painted and inlaid boxes, floor cloths, chalk-ware, carved and painted birds, gameboards, dried flowers in the colonial style, hand-woven baskets and much more offer customers the chance to take home special items handmade by the vendors. Demonstrators will show the skills involved in paper making, weaving, broom making, basket weaving, blacksmithing, rug hooking, candle dipping, quilting and more.

Delicious food makes a festival and Colonial Day offers wonderful choices: pig roast sandwiches, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, kettle corn, apple dumplings, fries, root beer in old fashion bottles and much more. Volunteers will once again be ready with the famous funnel cakes made from scratch in huge quantities and fried individually in cast iron pans.

For many years, Society volunteers, lead by Doris Leas, have worked through the winter to hand-stitch a special quilt which is raffled off on Colonial Day. This year’s pattern is a beautiful diamond strip design in warm vintage prints. Be sure to stop by the quilt demonstration booth to watch volunteers working on next year’s project and learn about the fine points of quilting as well as the fun of being part of the group.

Entertainment throughout the day will be provided by the music of Tom Jolin and Catherine Roth of the group Orrtanna, Linda Huber on the dulcimer and "Wherlygig" featuring the Koons Family.

"This event is very important," according to Society president Bill Powell, " It is our one-day chance to raise much of the money needed to maintain the buildings in our care and assure they will be here for future generations. Everything goes back into our preservation work. We began planning in January and do everything we can to make it a great day for everyone."

Funds raised are used by the non-profit Preservation Society to maintain five early buildings in town including Swigart’s Mill (1794), the log house (1832), the log Church Schoolhouse (18th century), Liberty No. 1 Fire Hall (1892) and Red Men’s Hall, which houses the Society headquarters and museum. The Society’s education program uses the buildings to teach groups of children about early ways of life including weaving and spinning, hearth cooking, and a typical school day.

The event will take place along King Street in East Berlin on Saturday, September 8, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Rain or shine. Admission to this event is free and paid parking is available. No pets. For additional information please call 717-259-0822.

Read other articles on Gettysburg