Penns Colony turns 25
SAXONBURG — For two weekends, Saturday and Sunday and Sept. 27 and 28, Penn's Colony recreates the history of early America by featuring period entertainment (known as diversions); the living history of the natives, French, British, Scottish and Germans; and finally craftsmanship that demonstrates the traditions of these various cultures.
Ray and Beth Rush, directors of Penn's Colony Festival in its 25th year, along with the artisans, re-enactors and performers, keep the festival true to the period.
Sharon Wiesener, new to Penn's Colony, for example, celebrates German heritage and ancestry by creating German stars, a craft that originated in Germany in the 1800s.
The basic design of folded stars is credited to Friedrich Froebel, who is well known for founding what we know today as kindergarten. Froebel was born in Oberweissbach, Germany in 1782 and during the early 1800s was responsible for creating this and other items to use as a teaching method for children.
German Stars are formed using a technique similar to basket weaving, made by doing repetitive folds and weaving together four long strips of paper or ribbon to create a three dimensional, 16- pointed star.
The Butler County Spinners and Weavers Guild, one of Penn's Colony's first exhibitors 25 years ago, will demonstrate the fine, traditional craftsmanship of hand-spun woven knitting and felting, spinning and weaving, locker-hooking and drop spindling.
Free demonstrations and hands-on learning activities in creating weavings from weeds, flowers, feathers and yarn will be offered during the festival.
For its 25th anniversary, Penn's Colony has created a program celebrating the region's French and Indian history, beginning with the 1753 journey of 21-year-old George Washington, as an officer in the Virginia Colony, through this region with a mission to deliver a message from the British to the French.
Entertainment has also been planned this year to be more "in the street" like the original Publick Tymes fairs of the 18th century, so the music, dance and comedy aren't always at a scheduled time on the stage.
Groups to perform include: Highland Reign, NaGaels, Scottish Country Dancers, The Bagpipers and Brigadoon Highlanders, The Dr. Is In and The Medicine Show, The Dr. Goes on the Road and Watch for the "Barber" Pole, and re-enactment camps with field and battle demonstrations
The festival will take place weekends only Saturday and Sunday and Sept. 27 and 28. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Admission is $6.50 for those ages 16 to 59, $5.50 for those age 60 and older, $4.50 for children ages 8 to 15, and free for children younger than 8. Group rates and educational field trips are available. On-site parking is free.
The Penn's Colony Festival grounds are off Saxonburg Boulevard, just outside Saxonburg in Butler County.
For more information, call 724-352-9922 or visit the Web site, www.pennscolony.com.
