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Due to unforeseen circumstances, the 44th Colonial Day, sponsored by the East Berlin Historical Preservation Society (EBHPS) that was to be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018, sadly, has been cancelled. However, the East Berlin Area Community Center (EBACC) along with other non-profit organizations in the community, including the EBHPS, will be sponsoring a community event called "East Berlin Fall Festival" on September 8, 2018. See statement below:
The East Berlin Area Community Center (EBACC), in conjunction with the Borough of East Berlin and many of the non-profit organizations which serve the community, including the East Berlin Historical Preservation Society, will be sponsoring a community event, The East Berlin Fall Festival, on September 8, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. EBACC has taken the lead in organizing this event and additional information regarding it may be found on the EBACC web-site and the EBACC Facebook page. This coalition of community groups has come together understanding the disappointment many felt about the cancellation of Colonial Day. While smaller in scope than Colonial Day, the East Berlin Fall Festival will offer a wide selection of specially prepared foods, a craft show featuring hand made articles, and a book sale. Other attractions are under active discussion and when plans are finalized a complete listing will be found on the EBACC web-site. EBACC facebook page is located here: https://www.facebook.com/East-Berlin-Area-Community-Center-246577545371008/
Here is the statement from the EBHPS Board of Directors: FOR PUBLIC RELEASE, JULY 18, 2018 EAST BERLIN’S COLONIAL DAY CANCELLED FOR
2018 IT IS WITH PROFOUND REGRET THAT THE EAST
BERLIN HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY HAS DECIDED TO CANCEL THE
PLANNED SEPTEMBER 8th COLONIAL DAY. THE EBHPS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE THIS DECISION RELUCTANTLY, AND NOT
WITHOUT SOME DISAGREEMENT, GIVEN THAT COLONIAL DAY HAS BEEN
THE PRINCIPLE FUND RAISING EVENT OF THE HISTORICAL
SOCIETY AND AN ICONIC ANNUAL EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY. MANY
FACTORS WERE CONSIDERED IN MAKING THIS DECISION AND
MANY ALTERNATIVES WERE DISCUSSED WITH THE HOPE OF
CONTINUING THE EVENT; HOWEVER, THE OBSTACLES WERE
OVERWHELMING. THERE IS NO SINGLE CAUSE OR PERSON OR EVENT
WHICH PROMPTED THIS DECISION, AND THE HISTORICAL
SOCIETY HOPES TO MOVE FORWARD, WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AS IT
CONTINUES TO KEEP THE HISTORY OF EAST BERLIN ALIVE FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS. Our
43rd Colonial Day was held on Saturday, September 9, 2017 When the second Saturday in September approaches each
year, some of the country’s finest crafters rise long before dawn and set up
their booths in East Berlin’s National Historic District. By 8 a.m. another
Colonial Day is underway in this 18th century town, as it has
been for 42 years. Early shoppers fill the street and the hunt begins for
special items made in “the olde way” by juried vendors. Handforged iron,
floorcloths, handloomed textiles, scherenschnitte, rag and hooked rugs, fine
antique reproductions, watercolors, redware, metalwork including tin and
copper, painted boxes, toleware, stoneware, dried flower arrangements,
handwoven baskets and much more fill the booths. West King St. is closed to
traffic, allowing plenty of space for crafts, food and
lively entertainment.
Free entertainment is always a big hit. The Central York Middle School Fife and Drum Corps amazes the crowd with their parade and performance. Deborah Brower, Becky Ross and Elaine Newhall of Tasker’s Chance will appear near the Studebaker House, blending 17th-19th century music of America’s past on guitar, fiddle, flute and tin whistle.
No need to go hungry while shopping. Delicious foods await the crowd including the Society’s pig roast sandwiches, funnel cakes (made from scratch, fried in individual pans), hot dogs, apple dumplings, sausage sandwiches and old fashion root beer and birch beer. A full food court also offers pretzels, ice cream, kettle corn, caramel apples, crab cakes, smoothies, fries, Asian selections, shaved ice, baked goods and much more. For many years the East Berlin Historical Preservation Society quilters have worked through the winter to complete special raffle quilts, highly prized by the winners. Stop by the quilt demonstration booth to see the quilt for the following year--always a beautiful piece of artwork!
The log cabin will be open 10-2 on Colonial Day for a hearth cooking demonstration by our Hands at the Hearth cooking group.
Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 259-0822 or on Colonial Day at the Society’s information booth. The drawings will be held at 3 p.m. the afternoon of Colonial Day You do not have to be present to win. All proceeds benefit the non-profit East Berlin Historical Preservation Society, a very active, all volunteer organization which maintains five early buildings in town: Swigart’s Mill in York County (1794), the log house (1832), the log Church Schoolhouse (ca. 1800), Liberty No. 1 Engine House (1892) and Red Men’s Hall, which houses the Society headquarters and museum. Several of the buildings are used for the Society’s hands-on education program, run by member Karen Shaeffer and her wonderful volunteers, where groups of school children learn about weaving and spinning, hearth cooking, and a typical school day.
Here's the link to a website called Colonial Sense showing photos and
information about our Colonial Day back in September, 2009. COME AND JOIN THE FUN: Our next Colonial Day Celebration will be held on September 8, 2018. If you are interested in being a vendor please send the completed forms below to: East Berlin Historical Preservation Society Post Office Box 73 East Berlin, PA 17316 or email us at ebhps@comcast.net or call us at 717-259-0822.
Below are the information and applications for 2018:
We are sorry to say that Colonial Day for 2018 has had to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances |
