Courtesy of Billings Farm & Museum
Historic baseball is one of the many traditional events featured during Billings Farm & Museum’s “Old Vermont 4th” celebration.
Monday, July 4 at 10 a.m. — WOODSTOCK — Celebrate the Billings Farm & Museum’s “Old Vermont 4th” on Monday, July 4 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., featuring historic baseball, traditional music, flag-making, hand cranked ice cream, horse-drawn wagon rides, and patriotic speeches. A special feature will be the screening of “Island of Hope, Island of Tears,” a 28-minute documentary by the late internationally-recognized filmmaker Charles Guggenheim.
Throughout the day, families can participate in an exciting game of historic baseball, make 43-star flags and Uncle Sam bookmarks, and compete in sack races, crank fresh strawberry ice cream, and enjoy a wagon ride.
Debates and speeches have played a key role in the Independence Day observance, as was the reading of the Declaration of Independence, which will occur at noon.
At 1 p.m., there will be a men’s debate on the topic, “Should the Electoral College be continued?” Adults and older students can test 19th century vocabulary skills in spirited spelling bees.
The dramatic documentary “Island of Hope, Island of Tears,” which tells the story of Ellis Island, the port of entry for millions of European immigrants from 1892 to 1954, will be shown on the hour in the visitor center theater.
Admission to an “Old Vermont 4th” includes all activities and programs, plus the operating dairy farm, farm life exhibits, and the restored and furnished 1890 Farm House.
The Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution.
The Farm & Museum is located one-half mile north of the Woodstock village green on Vermont Route 12.
For more information, contact 802-457-2355 or billingsfarm.org.
