Brownsville offers events to celebrate National Road Festival
BROWNSVILLE – The Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation (BARC) in collaboration with the Brownsville Historical Society and Chef Kieran McVey from the Thompson House Restaurant invites the community to celebrate the National Road Festival at historic sites throughout the town. Special activities are also scheduled on Saturday and Sunday at the Monongahela Wharf Riverside Park. Bus shuttle will be available throughout Brownsville.
Weekend celebration activities will be held from:
– 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Flatiron Building Heritage Center and Frank L. Melega Art Museum.
– 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the New Monongahela River Wharf.
– 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Nemacolin Castle.
This year, the public will again be able to tour important local historic sites including Nemacolin Castle, the Flatiron Building, the Church of St. Peter as well as other significant sites. Activities include historic re-enactor Emily Lapisardi as Jenny Lind, “The Swedish Nightingale,” and Concert from the American Tour Repertoire at 1 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.
Special art exhibits are also scheduled in the historic Flatiron Building’s Frank L. Melega Museum. This year’s “Artist of the Pike” is Cassandra Vivian. Vivian’s works, which will be featured, are photographs along the National Road.
On Saturday, Vivian will conduct a book signing for a newly released photographic collection of “The National Road in Pennsylvania.”
On Sunday, Frank R. Melega, the artist’s son, will conduct a special tour of the museum highlighting exhibits featuring illustration advertising by Frank L. Melega, the artist. This exhibit will feature design and drawing depicting more than 20 different local businesses, many which no longer exist. Some of these advertising pieces date back to 1930.
Music abounds during this year’s celebration. George Petrosky will play acoustic guitar from 2 to 4 p.m. each day.
On Saturday from noon to 1 p.m., the Pike Boys will entertain the audience with a very special performance.
The Pike Boys will play in period clothing featuring the “Ballad of the Old Pike” with lyrics and music written by Ken Hall. On Sunday, Frank Melega, Darrell Smith and Oliver Stockdale provide a musical performance at noon at the Flatiron Building.
At Nemacolin Castle on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m., the Acoustic Shadows of the Blue and Gray (Civil War era band) will entertain the audience.
The Monongahela Wharf Riverside Park will feature the Mon Valley Divers at 3 p.m. Saturday. The band will entertain the audience with diving maneuvers. The Mon Valley Band will perform from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday on the Wharf.
Special children’s events at the Flatiron building include Baltimore Life Co. sponsoring an opportunity to get children’s photo IDs taken in the Flatiron Building’s Heritage Center on Saturday and then at the BARC booth at the castle on Sunday. The IDs will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. both days.
Festival food and crafts will also be offered in booths at the Nemacolin Castle.
To compliment the weekend’s activities, the Thompson House Tavern, located on Water Street in Brownsville, will feature National Road Era lunch specials from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For directions to any of the Brownsville event locations, call BARC at (724) 785-9331.
Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation.
The schedule of activities is as follows:
Saturday
– 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Flatiron Building Heritage Center, Frank L. Melega Art Museum and Gift Shop will be open for visitors.
– Noon to 1p.m., Pike Boys
– Noon to 4 p.m., Bob Lent of Baltimore Life Insurance Co. will offer free photo ID to children 17 and under.
– 1 p.m., Emily Lapisardi as Jenny Lind.
– 1 to 5 p.m., “Artist of the Pike” reception, Cassandra Vivian at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum, The National Road in Pennsylvania book signing by Cassandra Vivian.
– 2 p.m., Guided tour of Brownsville.
– 2 to 4 p.m., George Petrosky, acoustic guitar.
– 3 p.m., Mon Valley Divers diving exhibition, Brownsville Wharf Riverside Park.
Sunday
– 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Flatiron Building Heritage Center, Frank L. Melega Art Museum and Gift Shop will be open for visitors.
– Noon, Frank R. Melega, Oliver Stockdale and Darrell Smith, musical performance.
– Noon to 4 p.m., Bob Lent of the Baltimore Life Insurance Co. will offer free photo ID to children 17 and under at the BARC Booth at Nemacolin Castle.
– 1 to 5 p.m., “Artist of the Pike” Cassandra Vivian Exhibit at the Frank L. Melega Art Museum.
– 1 to 5 p.m., Guided tour by Frank R. Melega and New Advertising Exhibit of Frank L. Melega which features illustrations, designs and drawings depicting more than 20 different business, many which no longer exist. Some of the advertising pieces date back to 1930.
– 2 p.m., Guided tour of Brownsville.
– 2 to 4 p.m., George Petrosky, acoustic guitar.
– 5 p.m., Conclusion of drawing/raffle.
– 6 to 7:30 p.m., Mon Valley Band Concert, Brownsville Wharf Riverside Park.
Bus shuttle will be available through Brownsville.
Other activities in Brownsvillare as follows:
– George Petrosky, acoustic guitar, noon to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the castle.
– Thompson House Restaurant and Tavern, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, National Road Era Recipes and lunch specials.
– T.J. Enterprises, flea market free to sale, special at drive-in and miniature golf course open on Saturday.