An evening of Halloween traditions and historical folklore will be hosted by Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Historic games, crafts, and folktales from the different cultural groups that worked at Hopewell Furnace will be featured. All activities will take place near the park’s historic village. Admission and parking are free.
“We are excited to share cultural traditions of the fall harvest and All Hallows Eve, better known as Halloween today, from families that lived and worked at Hopewell Furnace” said Site Manager, David Blackburn.
Family friendly activities will begin at 5:30 p.m. when the park will be opened for games and crafts at the village tenant houses. Play puicini, paint a pumpkin, practice your apple peeling skills, or learn the art of Scherenschnitte all while learning about the cultures that brought these activities to North America.
At 7 p.m. the activities will stop and visitors will be treated to a collection of spooky stories about the iron history of southeastern Pennsylvania. Some may be fact, some may be folklore, it’s up for the listeners to decide.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight to find their way safely to their vehicles and down the hill to the village activities. Also encouraged are drinks to keep hydrated throughout the evening, insect repellent and proper shoes and clothing for outdoor evening activities.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets an early American industrial landscape and community. Showcasing an iron plantation and its surrounding countryside, Hopewell Furnace was active from 1771 to 1883. The park’s facilities are open Wednesday through Sunday (excluding federal holidays that fall on those days) after Oct. 10. Hopewell Furnace is located five miles south of Birdsboro, off of Route 345. Admission to the park is free. For more information stop by the park’s visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu.
