Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Launches“Saturdays at Burnside” Monthly Event Series

June 10th, 2024

The public is invited to visit Burnside Historic Farm for free on the first Saturday of each month from June to October.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (May 23, 2024) — Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) announced its “Saturdays at Burnside” event series, taking place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month from June 2024 to October 2024. Next month’s Saturday at Burnside is on June 1, 2024.

“We are delighted to present our “Saturdays at Burnside” event series and offer visitors a unique opportunity to journey back in time and learn about the Burnside Historic Farm,” said LoriAnn Wukitsch, president and CEO of HBMS. “It is our hope that the cost-free program connects more people to our organization’s mission and the rich history of our community. From  ice cream-making and ketchup surveying to flower-picking and nature walks, “Saturdays at Burnside” promises to delight and educate guests of all ages.”

“Saturdays at Burnside” is a free, family-friendly event that invites guests to explore the history of the Burnside Historic Farm, which has been a part of the Moravian community since 1748. Visitors of all ages can tour the Burnside House and barn, experience colonial cooking demonstrations in the Summer Kitchen and enjoy crafts and interactive activities, including storytime and hands-on history lessons.

The following schedule outlines activities taking place each Saturday at Burnside:

• June 1: Make your own Weathervane
  • Learn more about the tools farmers used in the 18th and 19th centuries to determine how to plant crops for the best harvest and make a weathervane.
• July 6: Make your own Bee Hotel
  • Learn about bees’ crucial role in pollination and make a bee hotel to provide nesting space for these insects.
• Aug. 3: Create your own Walking Paper Horse
  • Learn how horse-powered machinery impacted colonial farming practices and create a walking paper horse.
• Sept. 7: Make your own Corn Husk Doll
  • Corn played an important role in colonial agriculture. Learn about corn’s important role in colonial agriculture and create a corn husk doll to celebrate the harvest. This popular 19th-century toy dates to the beginnings of corn agriculture over 1,000 years ago.
• Oct. 5: Make your own Decorated Bird Feeder
  • Colonial farmers were very resourceful. Instead of throwing out certain materials, they found additional uses for those products. Upcycle a tin can to make a decorated bird feeder.

Guests can also participate in HBMS’s “You Point, We Pick” program at Burnside Colonial Farm, a one-of-a-kind initiative that allows visitors to select their own organically grown vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers in exchange for a donation. 

The Burnside Plantation is a historic 6.5-acre farm-in-the-city that opened doors to early American agricultural life. The property includes a restored 1748/1818 farmhouse, two 1840s bank barns, a large kitchen garden and orchard, a corn crib, and a wagon shed. The site is home to one of the country’s only working High Horse-Power wheels. In 1990, Burnside Plantation was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

The full list of “Saturdays at Burnside” activities is available at www.historicbethlehem.org/experience/saturdays-at-burnside/2024-07-06/.

Share This