Whiskey Rebellion Festival will take over downtown Washington
The second weekend of July is here, and that means it’s time for the Whiskey Rebellion Festival in downtown Washington.
It commemorates the 1790s conflict that pitted farmers in western Pennsylvania against a young federal government that wanted to impose a whiskey tax in order to pay off Revolutionary War debts. It’s an important part of local lore, and the festival has historical reenactments, heritage displays, food, music and more.
The festival gets going Friday with a Whiskey and Spirits Walk starting at 6 p.m. Registration starts a half-hour before at the Meeting House on Main Street. Participants will get a wristband, walking maps and a sampling glass that can be used at 18 different spirit and wine vendors who will be on hand.
Also on Friday, the Washington Symphony Orchestra will be playing at 8 p.m., leading off a weekend of musical performances that will include the beloved Pittsburgh band the Clarks, jazz guitarist Dan Baker and Nashville-based singer-songwriter Rooster Blackspur.
The festival continues Saturday, with a history parade getting underway at noon, followed by a day of street theater, reenactors roaming through the festival, children’s activities and more. Tours will be happening from noon to 6 p.m. at the Bradford House, the Whiskey Rebellion Education and Visitor Center and the LeMoyne House. Tours of the Washington County Courthouse are set from noon to 4 p.m.
A new addition to the festival is the American Spirit Hall, on Maiden Street across from the LeMoyne House. It will have Washington County’s America250 Liberty Bell on display, art by local artist James Sulkowski, a “Spirit of Rebellion” game and a needlework demonstration.
For more information on the festival, go online to bradfordhouse.org.