The festival is slated for Sept. 17 and 18.
WASHINGTON TWP. -- Organizers hope this year's Harvest Festival will go off with a bang -- or in this case with cannon fire.
More than 500 people are expected to attend the historically-based Harvest Festival on Sept. 17 and 18 at Washington Township's Olde Stone House on Egg Harbor Road, according to Nicholas Appice, chairman of Washington Township's Historical Preservation Advisory Board.
This year's event will allow patrons to experience traditional fall festivities such as pumpkin painting and basket weaving to more historical activities such as open-hearth cooking demonstrations and Civil War reenactments with the added gusto of cannon fire.
"We really want to incorporate history for the kids," said Appice, "to have events like this means a lot. I just want to see the future appreciate things like this (Olde Stone House)."
This year's festivities run from 10 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, with Civil War reenactments held on both days and a special cannon firing at dusk on Saturday night.
"It's a good start to fall... I think it's awesome. Every year more and more people get involved and it's really about the kids... They're the future of this and we want to pass it on to them someday," said Appice.
A $1,200 cultural and heritage grant from Gloucester County allows the Historical Preservation Advisory Board to hold the event and garner the proceeds to make necessary repairs or upgrades to historical locations throughout the area. In the past, the money has been used to fund a new roof for the Olde Stone House.
"Without these events we have no money to preserve the buildings, preserve any of this great history or host any future events so these events are very important," said Appice.
The Harvest Festival is one of four annual events and the second largest event held by the Historical Preservation Advisory Board in order to raise money and awareness for ongoing projects and other events, according to Appice.
For more info, email TownshipHistory1836@gmail.com