Historical society looks to turn back the clock on July 29

Warwick - The George Washington Day Parade and Picnic planned by The Historical Society of the Town of Warwick on July 29 will recreate the date in 1782 when the Revolutionary War general visited Warwick, but the many great events planned will make for anything but a slower pace. A parade will line up at Baird’s Tavern at 1:45 p.m. so the marchers - many in colonial attire - can step off at 2 p.m., led by George Washington played by Dean Malissa of the American Historical Theatre Workshop, one of only two actors sanctioned by Mount Vernon to portray the first president. The New York City Mounted Police will be among participants. The parade route will be down Main Street to Railroad Avenue, following that to South Street where it will turn left onto South Street. Washington will take his followers on South Street to Main Street from which all will turn right on Church Street and into Lewis Park. Once in the park, Washington and the others will pose in front of the Old School Baptist Meeting House for the 2006 official Historical Society photograph to be taken by John Stage. A Lost Arts Festival will take place in Lewis Park from 3 to 5 p.m. where activities will include homespun games, furniture constriction, basket weaving, pottery making, quill pen writing, construction of flags with stars and stripes, candle dipping and spinning. There will also be a May Pole Dance and tales by the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild. Tables, chairs, paper products and utensils will be provided by the Society for a covered dish picnic from 6 to 7 p.m. under the trees in Lewis Park. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share and their own drinks. At 7 p.m., George Washington will make remarks and answer questions at the Old School Baptist Meeting House. Washington Day events will end with square dancing in Lewis Park from 8 to 11 p.m. to music by The Glory Bound Band. The Historical Society’s vision is to bring history alive for families and the parade and picnic are a way of doing that. It also offers educational programs that are outlined under the education tab at www.warwickhistoricalsociety.org. During the summer the Society’s buildings offer free tours from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays. All the parade and picnic events on July 29 are free and the Historical Society invites all the residents of Warwick and their friends to come. There will be a charge for refreshments at the Lost Arts Festival. Items offered will include lemonade, watermelon and other fruit, hot dogs and ice cream. Businesses donating food include Rogowski Farms, Bobolink Dairies, A&P Historical Society, Quaker Creek Deli, Bellvale Creamery, FD Catering Company, Pennings Farm Market and Ochs Farm Market. The Society will benefit from the proceeds of the refreshment sales and items for sale from its Homespun Country Store, including to books: Days Gone By Photograph Book and People of the Valley Revisited. Heirloom lilac trees, gift ornaments, Historical Society wine glasses and homespun toys.