August: A Great Month for Heritage Events
By Dave Hurst
© 2015 Hurst Media Works
Redcoated soldiers advance through the grove as the sulfur stench of discharged black
power fills the air. Elsewhere, 19th century ironworkers walk between massive stone iron
furnaces with the beautifully rustic Seven Mountains rising in the background.
American Indians chant to the beat of a large drum while seated in a circle around it. And
people celebrate rural life in tents with all the comforts of home, set within a fairground
crammed with exhibits, livestock, a variety of competitions, concessions and musical
performances.
The Allegheny Mountains brim with heritage events, including many that celebrate the
region’s dramatic 18th century stories, its dynamic industrial past and its demanding but
satisfying agricultural life. While this heritage is on display all year long, some of the
best of it gets presented during multiple-day events in August.
Bushy Run Battlefield, near Jeanette, in Westmoreland County was the site of a pivotal
battle between British and native forces during what was known as Pontiac’s Rebellion in
August of 1763. The resulting British victory broke a siege of Fort Pitt and the
momentum of the rebellion.
On August 1-2, hundreds of re-enactors will gather to commemorate the 252nd
anniversary of the Battle of Bushy Run and present one of the region’s largest and best
re-enactments. For more information, visit BushyRunBattlefield.com.
The Fort Armstrong Folk Festival in Kittanning recognizes the same period in our
region’s history, a time when this Allegheny River community was a Delaware Indian
village and the destination of a daring rescue mission led by John Armstrong in 1756.
But the July 30-August 2 festival mixes heritage with the delights of a community
celebration that features an artists’ market and show, entertainment, kids’ activities and a
lot of food. To learn more, visit ArmstrongFestival.com.
Old Home Days began as a reunion for Greenwood Furnace ironworkers and their
families. But 24 years later it has morphed into a laid-back weekend that celebrates the
natural and cultural heritage of a gorgeous state park in northeastern Huntingdon County.
Scheduled for August 1-2, the event includes demonstrations of 19th-century iron-making
crafts but also offers opportunities to compete in volleyball and horseshoe tournaments,
go for a 38-mile bicycle ride around the park, watch old-time baseball, learn how to
kayak and make sand castles on the beach. Of course there will be music and food. Visit
events.dcnr.pa.gov and click on August 1.
One of the region’s newest events presents some of the Alleghenies’ earliest heritage. On
August 15-16, the second annual Laurel Highlands Native American Gathering will take
place in Stahlstown, Westmoreland County.
Organized by a nonprofit foundation whose mission is to teach and nurture Native
American culture, the gathering will feature a dance circle open to the public, native
drumming and entertainment, vendors offering native ware, children’s activities,
educational activities and food. See lhnag.org.
August is a busy month for that annual celebration of rural heritage known as county
fairs. One of the oldest and largest is the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair
near Centre Hall. The name hints at its uniqueness. This fair has been around since 1874
and contains a camp-city of 1,000 tents set on platforms and 1,500 RVs.
From August 21-29, people can see 7,000 exhibit items, a variety of livestock, all kinds
of competitions, big-name entertainment and sample hundreds of concessions and
amusement rides. Unless you’ve camped here during fair week before, though, forget
about it. These sites are in great demand and handed down from generation to generation.
grangefair.net.
With languid days and comfortable evenings, August is a great time to be outdoors.
Spend some of it smelling black powder or stepping into a dance circle, watching a
blacksmith or strolling through a livestock barn.
You’ll be experiencing the Alleghenies’ heritage, served summer-style.