In 1864 three ladies from the village of Boalsburg walked to the village cemetery to decorate the graves of loved ones who had died in the on going Civil War.  This simple act of remembering, which then became a local tradition, ultimately became the national holiday of Memorial Day.  This year Boalsburg will continue the tradition it started 147 years ago when it celebrates A Day in Towne Memorial Day Festival on Monday, May 30, 2011.  This year’s celebration will include music, food, crafts, and exhibits in Boalsburg village and at the Boal Mansion Museum.  Boalsburg’s history will also be celebrated with tours of the Boal Mansion Museum and the Boalsburg Heritage Museum. 

The Maypole Dance led by the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop will take place at 12:30 pm on the Diamond.  There will also be a North-South Civil War skirmish twice during the day at the Boal Mansion Museum.

The highlight of A Day in Towne will be the traditional 6:00pm Service.  This service is an expression of the community’s gratitude to all those who have contributed to the defense of our country and those who have served the community of Boalsburg and Harris Township. The service gets underway at 5:45 pm with the walk from the Diamond to the cemetery.  The Service starts at 6:00 pm. Colonel Clifford S. Thomas, USAF retired, a resident of Boalsburg and a diplomatic courier for the US Department of State, will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies.  Following the Colonel's address, the soldiers’ graves will be decorated. 

Memorial Day on Church and Main Streets

Memorial Day activities will provide just about anything guests can imagine. From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm there will be craft sales and demonstrations along Church and Main Streets, with 140 dealers on Main and Church Streets participating. Demonstrations include chair caning, whittling, wood-working and jewelry making. Village shops and restaurants in the Diamond area will be open during their normal hours, as will the restaurants on nearby Boal Avenue.

Harris Township’s service organizations will hold food sales featuring special food items and baked goods. Contact Margie Tennis at 466-6311 for more information.

Schedule of Events 

ON THE DIAMOND – MAIN & CHURCH STREETS

 8:30 am Blue Spring Park: Start – “Run for Fun”

8:00 am – 11:00 am Pies accepted for 28th Annual Fruit Pie Contest

9:00 am – 5:00 pm Village Shops Open

Sidewalk Sales: Crafts, Foods, Beverages, Plant Sale

10:15 am – 11:15 am State College High School Jazz Band

The State College Area High School Jazz Band is among the finest in the United States. The band has toured Europe five times and has performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, at Disneyland Paris, at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, at Jazz a Vienne and Jazz a Juan in France, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. They have been finalists four times for the prestigious Essentially Ellington Competition sponsored by Jazz at Lincoln Center and were finalists this year for the Swing Central Jazz Festival held in Savannah, Georgia. For more information go to www.scasd.org/music.

11:45 am – 12:45 pm Little German Band (Maypole Dance) -- featuring the Maypole Dance by the Central Pennsylvania Dance Workshop

This year the Little German Band is celebrating its 49th year of “Oompah Music.” Since the band has played for 40 plus Memorial Days in Boalsburg, we look at this event as a highlight of the year and the beginning of several months of outdoor concerts throughout Central Pennsylvania. Watching the young people participate in the May Pole (12:30 pm) exercise is a great experience for those watching as well as those dancing. Come and join in the fun. For more information, visit www.thelittlegermanband.com.

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm The Deacons of Dixieland

The Deacons of Dixieland is an 8-piece traditional jazz band based in central Pennsylvania. They have been providing entertainment since 1988, playing various musical styles including Blues and Country, but specializing - of course - in lively Dixieland Jazz. For more information see their website at www.deaconsofdixieland.org.

2:45 pm – 3:45 pm The Screaming Ducks

Classic rock with Johon Cunningham, Andy Tolins and more.

4:15 pm – 5:15 pm The Second Winds Jazz Band

The Second Winds Jazz Band is a 7-piece combo of experienced musicians on their "second wind." The Band - which also includes two vocalists - has great fun playing swing/jazz songs of the 30s, 40s & 50s - the timeless tunes of their youth. The Band also features polkas and novelty tunes. Come, listen, and ENJOY!!! (Contact Ted Fuller @ tef4@psu.edu or 814-238-9638)

5:45 pm 147th Walk to Boalsburg Cemetery from The Diamond

6:00 pm 147th Cemetery Service

(Will be held inside St. John’s UCC in case of inclement weather)

BOALSBURG HERITAGE MUSEUM - 304 East Main Street      

10:00 am – 4:00 pm Boalsburg Heritage Museum open to the public.

12:30 pm Essay Contest

2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Dan & Galla

The Dan & Galla Musical Show features "feel-good music" of many styles. Dan plays keyboard, accordion and trumpet and Galla plays guitar, flute, uke and balalaika. They are interactive and fun for all ages. For more information visit their website www.gallaanddan.com.

HARRIS TOWNSHIP OFFICES, Rear – 224 East Main Street

10:00 am – until gone  Ham & Bean and Vegetable Soups, Homemade Bread Sale

BOALSBURG CEMETERY – Route 322 & Church Street

6:00 pm                        147th Service at Cemetery. Janice Sweet McElhoe, speaker

BOAL MANSION GROUNDS –300 Old Boalsburg Road

9:00 – 5:00

• Historical re-enactments on site:
  • Hampton’s Legion Artillery, Capt. Stephen Harter, CSAltart@csrlink.net
  • 148th PA Volunteer Infantry, Co. C., Capt. David Felice, contact: pa148dave@juno.com, dfelice@centreregioncode.org
  • Dan Lucas, 18th century surgeon, doctor and apothecary, revwarman1776@aol.com
  • Women of the Civil War period including Mary Todd Lincoln, by Linda Estupinan
• Guided tours of the internationally-recognized Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum. Details: http://boalmuseum.com
• Dominion Science Center: Interactive art and science display for kids of all ages: http://dominionsciencecenter.org
• Hand-made craft demonstrations and sales
• Food, drink and dessert booths, including an Amish food booth

Special event! Civil War battle between Hampton’s Legion (South) and 148th PA Volunteers (North). 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM on the pond field.

Music from 9:30 AM to 5 PM on the porch of the Boal Mansion

Boal Mansion Schedule:

9:00 am           Cannonade by Hampton’s Legion Artillery

9:30 Coburn Brass: 19th century brass band music, Vonnie Henninger eeh1@psu.edu

This 19th century brass band presents the familiar music of the Civil War era when music was live. Some familiar numbers are SHENANDOAH, JENNY LIND POLKA, LISTEN TO THE MOCKING BIRD, AURA LEE, DIXIE'S LAND, HOME SWEET HOME, etc. Formed in 1996, the group has performed in Gettysburg, Danville, Centre Hall, and McClure. Coburn Brass can be reached at eeh1@psu.edu.

10:30: Civil War battle between Hampton’s Legion Artillery (Confederate) and Company C of the 148th PA Volunteer Infantry (Union). On the pond field

11:00: Ellen Siberian Tiger: acoustic folk rock. Ellen Schultz

11:45: BMX Ramp Stunt Show: Dialed Action Sports, Brian Cunningham. By the pond. www.DialedActionSportsTeam.com

12 Noon: Christopher Kent, singer/songwriter/tall teller of tales. http://christopherkent.com chris@christopherkent.com

Christopher Kent is a singer-songwriter who spent 20 years in New York City writing, playing the clubs, recording and teaching songwriting; he now lives in Centre County. His third album of original music, packaged with his forthcoming self-help book "Getting Your Life Back," will be released later this year. Stylistically, his upbeat music follows in the steps of the artists who inspired him, including Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and Billy Joel. chris@christopherkent.com

1:00 PM: Boal Awards Ceremony, on the porch of the Boal Mansion:

1. The Ambassador Pierre Boal Award for Historic Preservation to the Joe and Gladys Hart Family

2. The Colonel Theodore Davis Boal Award for Community Service to Michael de Paulo

3. The Judge George Boal Award for Education to Ellen McHenry and the Dominion Science Center

1:15: “Not Frail Flowers - Six Pennsylvania Women Who Made a Difference:” about Victorian women by re-enactor Linda E. Snook. malynda@dejazzd.com

1:30: Civil War battle between Hampton’s Legion Artillery (Confederate) and Company C of the 148th PA Volunteer Infantry (Union). On the pond field

2:00: OverheaD: classic rock, jazz, blues and originals, Eileen Christman, http://www.overhead.org eac@transcend.com

2:45: BMX Ramp Stunt Show: Dialed Action Sports, Brian Cunningham. By the pond. www.DialedActionSportsTeam.com

3:00: “Mary Todd Lincoln:” a first-person presentation by Civil War era re-enactor Linda E. Snook. malynda@dejazzd.com

3:15 KCM: progressive rock, Marshall Biever, raynetheband@gmail.com

K.C.M. is a progressive rock band based out of the State College Area High School. We have been playing together for a couple of years and have a wide range of influences. You can find us on facebook. Contact Marshall Biever at raynetheband@gmail.com

4:15: Curbside Shenanigans: modern rock, Panic at the Disco, the Killers, etc. raynetheband@gmail.com

5:00: Final Cannonade by Hampton’s Legion Artillery

PENNSYLVANIA MILITARY MUSEUM – Route 322 & Boalsburg Pike

9:00 am – 4:00 pm                Allegheny Region Antique Automobile Club of America:

                                             Pre-war and classic antique cars on the Shrine parade grounds

9:00 am – 5:00 pm               Military Museum Open for Tours (fee)

What you need to know before you go:

The Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival is May 27, 28, 29 & 31 (closed Sunday). The parade is on Saturday at 5pm.

STREET CLOSINGS: Closed Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday : East Pine Street, from Church Street to Academy Street, is closed for the Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival, starting at 5:30 pm each day of the Carnival and opening when it closes. Parking is PROHIBITED on both sides of Old Boalsburg Rd. during the Boalsburg Fire Co. Carnival.

Monday, Memorial Day - May 30: The following streets are closed from 6:30 am. – 5:00 pm. Rockey Alley, Loop Road, from Chambers Alley to East Main Street, Main Street, beginning east from Bus. Rt. 322 to Tennis Alley, Academy Street, from Chambers Alley across E. Main to Pine Street, Church Street, from Chambers Alley to Bus. Rt.322, Pine Street, from Bus. Rt. 322 to Tennis Alley and Old Boalsburg Road, between N. Church St. to  the Boal Mansion.  From 5:30 pm until the end of service, Church St. between Old Boalsburg Rd. and Rt. 322 also will be closed.

PARKING and SHUTTLE BUS INFORMATION: Free Parking is available at a number of locations served by the Shuttle Bus, including the Medical Center, Heritage Run Office Building, and across from the Car Wash on Business Rt. 322 East. There is a charge for parking on the Military Museum grounds and on the Boal Estate Grounds.

The Shuttle Bus will run at approximately 20-minute intervals, stopping near each parking lot to pick up passengers. Shuttles will make three stops on Bus. Rt. 322 to discharge passengers:  Boal Mansion, North Church Street at the traffic light, and East Main St. There is no charge to ride the Shuttle Bus. 

Please Remember: No vehicles will be allowed in most of the Village.

A Handicap Parking Only Site is available in the front of the Tennis Lamp Shop, which is across from the Kwik Fill gas station. Please make sure your placard is displayed.

THE INFORMATION BOOTH is located on the Diamond. Maps and lists of activities are available at the Information Booth, as well as at locations throughout the Village area.

RESTROOM and HANDICAP RESTROOM FACILITIES are available at various locations in town, including Zion Lutheran Church.

For additional information, please visit the official event page at http://boalmuseum.com/memorialday.village.htm