PORT ANGELES — The third annual Northwest Colonial Festival will interpret two landmark events that occurred April 19, 1775: the skirmish on Lexington Green and the battle for Concord Bridge.
The festival starts Thursday and lasts through Sunday, Aug. 13. The hours for each day are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $30 for a four-person family and can be purchased at www. colonialfestival.com. Children 12 and younger will be admitted free.
More than 70 period re-enactors will descend on the grounds of the George Washington Inn, 939 Finn Hall Road, for four days with such colonial notables as Ben Franklin, John Adams and George Washington.
Re-enactments of “Skirmish at Lexington Green” will occur daily at 10:30 a.m., and “Battle for Concord Bridge” performances will occur daily at 2:30 p.m.
Colonial dance and music, 18th-century sword fights and 18th-century fife and drum performances will highlight each day.
Two major presentations have been added to the event this year: Washington State University’s heritage grain research and historian Jeff Dacus.
WSU professors Steve Lyons and Richard Scheuerman will speak Friday, Aug. 11, about the university’s efforts to return heritage grains dating back to 1770 to prominence in the United States. The George Washington Society, the Inn and WSU are teaming up for this ambition.
Then, Dacus, a military and Revolutionary War historian, will speak Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11-12. Dacus frequently contributes to the Journal of the American Revolution.
History education and patriotic displays will be provided by the Washington State Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) and Sons of the American Revolution (S.A.R.).
Roger Gary of Onalaska, taking on the role of Capt. McGary, gives a rable-rousing speech against British rule at last year’s Northwest Colonial Festival. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
