Sep 30, 2002 By Josh Krysak 3 min read

With large shade trees casting autumn shadows across the lawn at Friendship Hill National Historic Site, visitors to this years’ FestiFall celebration gathered around booths and food stations for a glimpse and a taste of 18th century life. People tried their hand at candle making, watched as volunteers demonstrated rug braiding, listened to traditional music and sampled various foods from the time period.

The Friendship Hill Association in cooperation with the National Park Service sponsored the festival, which began in 1982. The event gave people an opportunity to experience life as it was during the time of Albert Gallatin, and to tour his home, which is at the site.

According to Mary Ellen Snyder, assistant superintendent at Friendship Hill, people attend the event for the relaxed atmosphere, the beauty of the park and for the great food.

“People are happy to have an inexpensive activity to do with their families,” she said.

“They like to see food cooked over an open fire because people just don’t do that anymore and everyone likes the Lewis and Clarke beef vegetable stew and the roast beef sandwiches.”

Snyder said that this year the event featured musicians from Uniontown Area High School and Albert Gallatin Area High School.

Snyder also said that this is the first year that the festival had live entertainment, something she said was done to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the event.

This year, visitors to the festival enjoyed the many talents of Signora Bella, the Great Italian Equilibrist. The Italian native, who performs regularly at Colonial Williamsburg, walked the slack rope while juggling various items, entertainment that was popular during the 18th century, and, apparently, today.

“She was really good,” said 13-year-old Rebecca King of Ohiopyle. She came to the event with friends and volunteered to help make wildflower braids for head garments.

“I like volunteering. It’s fun,” she said.

Barbara Brado, while not a volunteer, has attended the event for six years and agrees with King’s assessment.

“We just enjoy the day. It’s just lovely,” said the Connellsville resident. “It makes you feel that you are right back where it all began and everything is all from nature, the decorations the food… it just makes you feel good.”

Smithfield resident John Catlett said he simply enjoys seeing how life has changed.

“It’s just interesting to see how things were done in the past,” he said.

According to Leroy Reninger of the National Park Service, 3,203 people attended this year’s FestiFall, just short of last year’s total of 3,300.

But despite the numbers, president of the Friendship Hill Association, Joyce McCune, said that this year’s event was a great success and that the volunteers who worked the festival, deserve all the credit.

She said that this year there were approximately 125 volunteers and that preparation for the event began in March, but she thinks, it is worth the work.

“It’s been a steady stream of people and just a beautiful day, so I don’t think we could have asked for anything better,” she said.