Strawbery Banke Museum presents 16th Annual American Celebration for Independence Day Holiday

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Strawbery Banke Museum Presents 16th Annual American Celebration for Independence Day Holiday -- July 1, 3 & 4, 2018 Portsmouth, New Hampshire (May 30, 2018) -- “An American Celebration,” now in its 16th year, is Strawbery Banke Museum’s annual salute to American Independence Day and the joys of summer. Multiple generations make this weekend full of events a Fourth of July tradition, given the opportunity to enjoy the living history museum at a time that American history takes a special spotlight. Offering something for everyone, from a huge assembly of re-enactors and living history performers on July 1st to a 1940s-style swing dance on July 3rd and patriotic family celebrations on July 4th, each day’s events add something new to Independence Day traditions.
 
More information and tickets for paid admission events are available at StrawberyBanke.org/events. As a Blue Star Museum, Strawbery Banke admits active duty military and their families FREE. Strawbery Banke also admits veterans free. Sponsors include: BAE Systems, Exeter Hospital and the Fuller Foundation, as well as annual sponsors R.M. Davis and Proulx Oil & Gas. Marshall Rental provides in-kind support.
 
SUNDAY, July 1st, 10 am to 5 pm. Included with regular admission.
Timeline of American History
Nowhere else but Strawbery Banke offers such a tremendous range of historic interpretation, presented by re-enactors and living history performers, gathered on the campus for interactions all day long. Made possible with assistance from the Fuller Foundation.
•        Strange and Farre, portraying early North American settlers in the year 1602
•        Salem Trayned Band, showing off 17th Century pike and shot weaponry in the year 1637
•        Bloody Historical, portraying sailor merchants and privateers in the year 1723
•        42nd Highlanders, portraying French and Indian War soldiers in the year 1754
•        Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People, teaching Native American culture and arts in the year 1750
•        Strawbery Banke Train Band, demonstrating a 1775 Military training day with ladies’ cooking demonstration
•        His Majesty's Tenth Regiment of Foot, portraying British occupied tavern life in the year 1775
•        Piscataqua Rangers Fife and Drum Corp, is our local Fife and Drum Corp performing songs from 1778
•        Dr. Jackson, Portsmouth’s famous physician teaching 18th Century Medicine in the year 1776
•        The Federal Ladies, demonstrating women’s life in 1798
•        Woventales Productions portraying Oney Judge Staines, describing colonial slavery from the year 1845.
•        What Remains, civilian unit of Civil War reenactors portraying daily life in the year 1861
•        2nd Rhode Island Signal Corps, portraying Civil war telegraphy in the year 1861
•        Sankofa Travelher, portraying Harriet Jacobs, an African American writer from 19th century.  
•        Corbin’s Battery , an American Civil War artillery reenactment group
•        Yesterday's Gentlemen, portraying late 19th Century lighthouse keeping in the year 1885
•        NE Woman Suffrage Association: Puddle Dock Chapter, portraying Women's Suffrage in the year 1916
•        Edwardian Elegance, demonstrating support efforts for WWI
•        Tammy Denease Williams as Bessie Coleman, an African American aviator from the 1920’s.
•        Pine Tree Chapter Model A Club, bringing Model A Ford Automobiles from the 1930s
•        1st Women’s Army Corps Battalion, representing the contributions made by members of the WAC during WWII, with special focus on those who served in the European Theater of Operations.
 
TUESDAY, July 3rd, 6-9 pm. Admission $20.
1940’s Style Swing Dance
Jump, jive and swing to the music of the Beantown Swing Orchestra at a 1940s-style swing dance. Dance Lessons (free instruction with ticket to the dance) starts at 6 pm, and the band boogies from 7 pm to 9 pm.  Then watch the Portsmouth fireworks display from the vantage point of Strawbery Banke. Presented with assistance from the Fuller Foundation.
 
WEDNESDAY, July 4th. All admission FREE thanks to BAE Systems.
Naturalization Ceremony, 11 am
Celebrate America by welcoming new citizens at the US Naturalization Ceremony. A Museum favorite, come feel reinvigorated by the joy and patriotism shared by those who make their own special day on their new nation’s birthday.
Old-Fashioned Field Day, 10 am - 2 pm
Learn games played throughout the centuries as part of Strawbery Banke’s Old Fashioned Field Day. Visitors are invited to play a round of croquet, test their skill at marbles, have fun with hula hoops, and collect ribbons at 10 different games all over the museum grounds. Patriotic parade around the museum grounds at 2 pm. Kids are invited to decorate their bikes, wagons, or hats from 10 am until the parade starts. Bike parade presented with assistance from Exeter Hospital.
For more information, visit StrawberyBanke.org