Jul 10, 2025 By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 4 min read

“Those who don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it,” said philosopher George Santayana, a sentiment that remains deeply relevant today.

Yet, for many students, history becomes tedious when it’s reduced to memorizing dates and names. The Bradford House Historical Association is working to make history fun with its annual Whiskey Rebellion Festival, which is returning to Washington’s Main Street Friday and Saturday.

The event, designed to educate and entertain, features street theater, historical reenactments, food and drink vendors, a whiskey and spirit walk, shopping opportunities, and historic site tours, including the Bradford House Museum, the home of David Bradford, one of the key leaders of the Whiskey Rebellion.

Music will also be a highlight of the festival starting with a children’s group from the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts. They will be followed by local bands performing Americana and bluegrass music.

“This year’s headliner will be The Commonheart, a soul-rock band from Pittsburgh,” said Tracie Liberatore, Executive Director of the Bradford House since 2011. She added that the festival proves that history need not be boring.

“It was a pivotal moment in American History that lasted from 1791-1794 and it happened right here,” Liberatore said. “Visitors will learn that it wasn’t just about the whiskey, but also about the government, the use of soldiers and bartering. “

Liberatore also credits a group of retired teachers and volunteers who help keep the experience educational and authentic

The event started in 2010 and each year organizers offer something new to keep people coming back.

“New this year is Felix the Magician,” said Liberatore. “And a crowd favorite, Bob the Juggler, who performs on stilts, is returning,” she said.

Learn history from the experts

David Scofield, director of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village outside Avella, has been with the festival since the beginning.

“We set up a table to share information about Meadowcroft and encourage people to visit,” he explained.

Scofield said that both adults and children are often inspired to visit Meadowcroft after discovering it at the festival.

For the young: Lil’ Rebels area

Liberatore said that kids also enjoy the Lil’ Rebels area where they can write with a quill pen, or on a slate, build model log cabins and play with 18th-century toys. At the Bradford House’s garden, children can try period games like rolling hoops, stilts and quoits. Every quarter hour, kids can participate in militia drills and enjoy hourly storytelling sessions by musician Robert Mouland, who brings the past to life.

Other activities include 18th-century broom dancing, fiddler performances and learning about the role that children played in domestic chores, like beating rugs and washing clothes in a tub with a washboard. “Parents are often shocked at how enthusiastic their kids are. They comment, ‘We can’t even get them to do chores at home!'” she said, with a laugh.

For the Adults: The Whiskey and Spirits Walk

Older folks can avail themselves of a tipple or two at the Whiskey and Spirits Walk, all while getting to know local businesses. For $50, guests will be given a wristband, a walking map and a sample glass. “It’s my favorite event because it’s a collaboration with the community,” said Liberatore, adding that the businesses on Main Street participate free of charge and the local wineries and distilleries set up there.

“This year we have 17 participating businesses and vendors and sometimes vendors bring along more than one product, so if they like what they try, they can purchase it on site,” she said.

A Celebration of Local History

The Whiskey Rebellion Festival continues to grow in popularity.

“We’ve been tracking the crowds during the last three years and last year was the biggest yet, with 7,000 people attending.”

What Liberatore hopes is that people leave with a deeper appreciation of history.

“Everything seems to be focused on STEM these days and that’s very important, but history tends to get overshadowed, so we’re hoping people walk away with a little more insight into the rich history we have right here in our own backyard,” she said.

For more information go online to www.bradfordhouse.org

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger is a freelance writer.