Sunday, June 21, 2015

MUSIC, WINE, SONGS AND MORE IN JUNE AND JULY!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SUMMER!  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE EVENTS LISTED IN THIS BLOG, PLEASE SEE THE HUNTERDON 300TH'S WEBSITE AT www.hunterdon300th.org.

Celebrate the Summer Solstice this week with the kick off of the FREE Thursday Night Summer Concert Series presented by the Hunterdon County Parks Department at Deer Path Park.  All concerts start at 7 pm and you are encouraged to come early with a picnic and dine al fresco.  JUNE 25TH's concert presents the Air National Guard of the Mid-Atlantic which was originally formed in 1942.  The band has received many awards, including the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the Pennsylvania Governor's Unit Citation and they have performed all over the world.

On Friday, JUNE 26TH, the Readington Museums present Remembering Dorothy:  An Oral History Respective, about the Broadway actress, Dorothy Stickney, the former owner of the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead.  The event will be held in the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead Barn in Stanton from 7 to 8:30 pm.

Make sure you come to the Concert Under the Stars on JULY 2ND to hear the Hunterdon Symphony.  The Hunterdon 300th (formerly the Hunterdon Tricentennial Committee) will be there with a SPECIAL GIFT while they last -- If you were at their performance last year during our 300th celebration, you remember the world premiere of "Balloon Flight" -- the Hunterdon Overture the 300th commissioned for our celebration.  Well, we recorded the Hunterdon Symphony's November, 2014 performance of the Overture and made cds out of it with accompanying music notes.  We'll be handing cds of out for FREE until we run out -- come early and find our table then sit back and enjoy the symphony!  

Additional FREE concerts in July include the Hunterdon Harmonizers on JULY 9TH, Tracy Lee and the Ravine Road Band on JULY 16TH, the Jersey Four on JULY 23RD, and the Jazz Lobsters Big Band on JULY 30TH.

And if you love FREE events like we do, on JULY 4TH celebrate Independence Day with the Union Forge Heritage Association in Union Township.  Enjoy FREE entertainment, FREE food and more!  Prize Raffle Drawings and Museum Tours between 1 and 5 pm.  Bring your own chair and celebrate the Happy Birthday American and Happy 255th Anniversary of the 1760 Joseph Turner House located at 117 Van Syckel Road in Union Township (gps as Hampton).  It's a perfect way to celebrate after you've enjoyed the always fabulous Lebanon Borough 4th of July Parade at 10 am.

Monday mornings in July (JULY 6TH, 13TH, 20TH, AND 27TH) sees the return of Monday Mornings at the Museum for children ages 5 to 12.  This wonderful weekly education children's program allows children to have the chance to make a historical or nature inspired craft with a new theme each week.  The programs run from 10 am to noon and are held at the Bouman-Stickney Farmstead, 114 Dreahook Road in Stanton (gps Lebanon).  Call the museum at (908) 236-2327 for further information.  The programs are $3 per session -- a bargain that cannot be beat!

The Hunterdon 300th is having our own FREE official event on JULY 12th which we affectionately call WINE AND SONG:  WINE MAKING IN HUNTERDON COUNTY AND DRINKING SONGS OF THE 18TH CENTURY.  Join us for a delightful summer afternoon at Unionville Vineyard on Rock Road in East Amwell (gps Ringoes).  At 2 pm, you will be treated to a stroll through the vineyards and a discussion on grape growing in Hunterdon County by Unionville's Assistant Winemaker, Steven "Zeke" Johnsen.  At 3 pm, Zeke will take you for a tour inside the facility and you will learn about the wine making process.  At 4 pm, guests will be able to relax outside under the tent.  The 300th is supplying non-alcoholic beverages and cheese and crackers; you will be able to purchase Unionville's award winning wines by the bottle or glass.  Our good friends, Anne and Ridley Enslow will play a repertoire of historical (and sometimes hysterical) drinking songs from the 18th century.  The Enslows play on period instruments in period attire.  This event is FREE but RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED by calling us at (908) 788-2030 or via our event calendar on our website www.hunterdon300th.org.  You are welcome to come for any or all segments of this spectacular event celebrating Hunterdon's Agricultural Heritage.

BUT if grapes, wine and song is not your idea of a fun afternoon, the DELAWARE VALLEY HERB SOCIETY PRESENTS "THE STILLROOM GARDEN IN THE 1600S" at 1:30 pm at the Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead at 1605 Daniel Bray Highway in Lambertville.  Following the presentation, you can tour the Herb Garden, as well as the grounds and Farmstead's buildings all for one low fee/suggested donation of $15.  Contact the Farmstead or check out our website for futher information.

One of the most popular events the Hunterdon Tricentennial Committee organized last year was the Hunterdon County Museums Open House Days.  We are please to announce that we have requested that our County's local, county, municipal, and not for profit museums open again on both Sunday JULY 19TH and JULY 26TH.  Hours and availability will vary, and most but not all will be free.  Organize your afternoon around visiting a few special selections, or try and cover more by geography.  Booklets with the museums hours and history will be available throughout Hunterdon's special museums.

And bringing us right up to the end of the month of July, as part of the Readington Museums' summer lecture series, enjoy a talk entitled "THE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF ROWLAND MILLS, A 19TH CENTURY ROADSIDE VILLAGE BESIDE THE SOUTH BRANCH" on JULY 31ST.  Richard Hunter, President of the Trenton-based historical and archaeological consulting firm, Hunter Research, presents the results of excavations and research for the New Jersey Department of Transportation before the dualization of Route 31 between Flemington and Clinton.  In particular, Dr. Hunter will talk about Rowland Mills and the fascinating use of daybooks of a Ewing Blacksmith Shop.  If you don't know where Rowland Mills was, you can note the location from the blue sign marking it provided by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission and researched by John Kuhl.  The talk and following refreshments are free, but donations are gratefully accepted.   Check out our website or call (908) 236-2327 for further information.

And make sure you check out our website for more great Hunterdon Heritage events coming in August!