Weather forecast prompts change in wagon train schedule
A forecast of heavy rain Friday has prompted a change in one portion of the coming weekend’s National Road Festival.
Bill Glowacki Sr., a wagon master, said the National Pike Wagon Train schedule has been altered to eliminate Friday’s departure from Claysville Park. Instead, the wagon train will start Saturday at Washington Park and traverse toward Scenery Hill.
“They’re really concerned about the field down there with all of this rain we’re getting,” Glowacki said of the Claysville site. “I just canceled out starting Friday night. I don’t want to tear that field up.”
Accuweather is calling for an 80% likelihood of a thunderstorm Friday.
“Hopefully, we’ll pull out around 9 (a.m.) and go to Scenery Hill,” Glowacki said. “We should get there at around 2 (p.m.) and sit down there for about a half an hour.”
The wagon train will then travel to the old Scenery Hill School.
“That’s where we’ll be Saturday night; then Sunday morning, we’ll pull out and head toward Brownsville and go to the (National Pike Steam Gas and Horse Association) Steam Show,” Glowacki said.
The wagon train is part of the annual National Road Festival, held the third weekend in May. It is known as the “world’s longest festival,” taking place along 90 miles of the Historic National Road in Pennsylvania (Route 40) through Somerset, Fayette and Washington counties.
An authentic wagon train makes its way from town to town while people line the streets to get a glimpse. Many communities and towns along Route 40 hold their own activities ranging from festivals to arts and craft shows.
Glowacki expects about six to 10 wagons to participate this year. That is less than previous years as Glowacki said younger people have not been as apt to participate as the older generation.
As the Washington County wagon train contingent makes its trek on Saturday, its Fayette County counterpart will journey from Farmington Volunteer Fire Department through Hopwood and eventually to Mount St. Macrina in North Union Township.
Glowacki, who has been taking part in the wagon train since 1978, finds the trek to be relaxing.
“You get out there and just drive them horses and move on down the road,” he said.