Brilliant weather boosts Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Observer-Reporter
A tax collector, played by Kevin Hough, is tarred by a rebel farmer, played by Andrew Armstrong, and feathered by Joseph Crispin, played by Joe Pisczor, during the street theater of the Whiskey Rebellion Festival in 2018.
Observer-Reporter
Reenactors walk past the Washington County Courthouse during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival parade in this photo from 2018.
Gabriella Ellis, 9, of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, hangs a ribbon on a tree during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Albert Gallatin, right, played by Jeremy Trabuco, argues with Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, played by Pete Fernbaugh, during a street theater scene at the Whiskey Rebellion Festival.
Members of the Federal Army walk by an American Flag during the parade of the Whiskey Rebellion Festival
100 proof whiskey is guarded in the bed of a truck as it passes by spectators during the festival community parade of the Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
David Bradford, played by Jason Dille, during the 2018 Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
In this 2018 photo, Rebel farmer Joseph Crispin, played by Joe Pizcor, is held by Federal Army members as General Henry Lee, played by Clay Kilgore questions if Crispin wants to join the side of the Federal Army and live, or to refuse to join and die during a re-enactment of the Allegheny Valley Uprising at te Frontier History Center at Washington Park during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Whiskey rebel farmer, played by Andrew Armstrong, waits to fire a gun upon the Federal Army during the Allegheny Valley Uprising at the Frontier History Center at Washington Park during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Tom Carson of Claysville casts round balls during a demonstration at the Frontier History Center at Washington Park during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Members of the Federal Army fire upon rebels during a scene at the Schneiders Fort location at Washington Park during the Whiskey Rebellion Festival Saturday.
The Whiskey Rebellion Festival celebrates Washington County’s forefathers, but this weekend it has received a powerful boost from Mother Nature.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Owen Clancy, 7, of Washington, waves during the community parade at the Whiskey Rebellion Festival.
Picturesque blue skies, a gentle breeze and afternoon temperatures in the upper 70s were tailor-made to bring visitors out Saturday, where they could sample music, food, historical re-enactments and plenty more at the festival, which commemorates the 1794 uprising against the federal government over an excise tax placed on whiskey.
Attendance at the festival “gets better every year,” said Joe Manning, a Washington city councilman and the festival’s co-chairman, and he acknowledged the superior weather played a part in luring people to Washington for the festival Saturday.
The festival got going Thursday, but Saturday was its busiest day, with a parade snaking down Main Street in the morning, street performers entertaining visitors, walking tours and musicians playing at the pavilion on South Main Street. The Frontier History Center at Washington Park had cannon demonstrations, woodworking, flint-knapping and blacksmithing demonstrations, and an “Allegheny Valley Uprising” battle re-enactment.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Observer-Reporter
Young visitors to the 2018 Whiskey Rebellion Festival try their hand at a colonial hoop game.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
John Cunning of Washington cleans a grasshopper canon during a demonstration at the Whiskey Rebellion Festival. Cunning made everything but the wheels and the barrel on the canon.
A historic community church service is scheduled for today at 11 a.m. at Washington’s Main Street pavilion, followed by music from 2 to 4 p.m., and heritage crafts on display on Main Street and Strawberry Alley from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In portrayal of the town crier, Tony DePalma, a Canonsburg resident, has attended several Whiskey Rebellion festivals. Decked head-to-toe in period garb, he acknowledged wearing it was made much easier thanks to the absence of the brutal heat that blanketed the region over the Fourth of July holiday.
“I love to interact with the festivalgoers,” he explained, adding “the weather’s been perfect.”
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Dante Bartolotta teaches Whiskey Rebellion Festival attendees how a 17th century whiskey still would have worked at a demonstration behind the Bradford House