Blueberry Festival July 20 and 21!

Join Historic Bethlehem Museum & Sites for a weekend of live music, history, crafts, and delicious food at the annual Blueberry Festival at Burnside Plantation, our 6.6 acre Farm in the City of Bethlehem! Experience a tour of James Burnside’s colonial home and barns, summer kitchen and stroll through the colonial gardens. Young and old can catch the hoop in a rousing game of graces, tackle Jacobs Ladder and take in the sweet smells from the Dessert Tent. Kids can enjoy crafts and colonial costume dress-up, make a bluebird house and of course, the Blueberry Pie-Eating Contest for all ages. The annual Blueberry Festival is a great special summer treat for the whole family!

The festival includes more than 30 crafters, including wood carvings, pottery, jewelry, homemade blueberry specialties, and festival tee-shirts in the Corn Crib. Items purchased at the festival support local vendors and our mission to preserve 20 historic structures including two National Historic Landmarks and 300+ years of history. Demonstrations include wood turning, painting and, new to 2013, is Horses for Hope and a lecture on the newest National Historic Landmark District in PA, Historic Moravian Bethlehem.

Children can experience life on a farm through colonial crafts and games, a petting zoo, and pony rides. Keep an eye out for strolling performers, including Phydeaux’s Flying Flea Circus and Wahoo Medicine Show. All young participants will have the opportunity to participant in Back to Your Roots hands-on activities and will receive a complimentary member card for future programs.

Guides in period dress will be available for tours of the James Burnside colonial house, barns and garden. The tours share the stories behind colonial farming and James Burnside, a Moravian missionary and county representative.

Watch colonial cooking in action at the Summer Kitchen. The Foodways team will be cooking and sharing the experience of chocolate and farm-to-table practices in the 1800s.

New to 2013:

The Heritage Performance Stage located in the upper meadow of Burnside Plantation will feature Native American Folk Tales, Native American Hoop Dancing, Indian Flute Performance and music by Dave Frey and Jack Murray. A full entertainment listing is at www.historicbethlehem.org

In growing response to the popularity of the Blueberry Pie Eating Contest, a timeless festival tradition, a youth and adult competition will featured twice daily at 1:00 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the guests who eat their pies the fastest!

For an additional $5, guests ages 21 and over can enter the Pints of the Past Tasting tent to enjoy the taste and texture of a variety of historic beers locally crafted by Brew Works in Bethlehem along with the colonial brewing demonstration by award-winning local brewer Chris Bowen. Guests will also be treated to tastings of Blueberry Bliss Wine and other favorites by Franklin Hill Vineyards. The tasting tent is located in the upper level of the Orchard. Guests can enjoy the music of Rodger Latzgo and Jack Murray.

Sweetest Festival of the Summer: Blueberry pies, strudel, coffee cake, ice cream and more will be for sale in the popular Dessert Tent, a staple of the annual festival. Sweet tooth satisfied? Returning by popular demand is Bechdolts Orchard with fresh produce from their family farm. Bite into the area’s most delicious peaches, corn and veggies while supporting a local farm.

Festival hours are 11am to 7pm on July 20 & 21, 2012. Burnside Plantation is located at 1461 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem. Parking is available in the shadow of Martin Tower, entrance off 8th Avenue.

2013 Festival pricing as follows: Adult $8.00 (1 day), $10.00 (2 days)

Adult General Admission and Entrance to Pints of the Past Tasting Tent $12 per day Senior $7.00 (1 day), $9.00 (2 days) Youth, 6-16 $4.00 (1 day), $5.00 (2 days) Children ages 5 and under Free Active military / reserves $3.00 off HBP member w/ card $1.00 off

Credit cards accepted throughout the festival.

For those who are not members of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, we are offering a special incentive that allows families to support historical preservation while enjoying an annual event. Subscribe to a new family membership at the Blueberry Festival Admissions Gate and get Two Adult Admissions to Blueberry Festival free – a $16.00 savings. Subscribe to a new individual membership and get Your Admission to Blueberry Festival free – an $8.00 savings.

Historic Bethlehem Partnership t/s Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is a not-for-profit institution that brings to life three centuries of American history. Historic Bethlehem tells the story of a small town of great influence, home to some of our nation’s earliest settlers, to America’s first municipal water pumping system, and to one of the world’s greatest industrial companies. Historic Bethlehem is located in eastern Pennsylvania, only a 1.5 hour drive from Philadelphia to the North and 2 hours west of New York City. Historic Bethlehem is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a National Historic Landmark District. For more information please call 1-800-360-TOUR or visit www.HistoricBethlehem.org.