The Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek offers a 19th century holiday program in preparation for Independence Day from 3 to 7 p.m. June 13 on the lawn at 10051 Township Road 47, West Liberty.
Activities begin with an Independence Day Cake contest between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. At 3:30 p.m., voting will begin for the citizens’ choice. Each vote costs a dollar.
Prizes will be awarded for the most popular (citizens’ choice), most historically accurate 1800 style cake, and for the best Independence Day theme. Starting at 4:30 p.m., attendees can taste the cakes by donating a “hefty price for a slender slice.” All cake receipts help to fund the program. Register to enter a cake by contacting Margaret or leaving a text or message at (937) 844-3902.
The following activities also are planned:
• 3 to 4:30 p.m. — Play popular 19th century games including: cricket (once our national pastime), Hoops, Graces, shuttlecock and Battledore, and a red, white and blue game of Toss; make 1880s daylight fire crackers (with no explosives); interact with a living history interpreter representing a Civil War veteran; 4:15 p.m., 1820s style militia muster with sticks (no weapons) and at 4:30 p.m., watch a 1860s musket firing demonstration.
• 5 to 7 p.m. — Performance of “Peter Pepperton’s Fourth o’ July Triumph” a story about a West Liberty Independence Day Celebration in 1840 written by Donn Piatt in 1888; 5:45 p.m., listen as a distinguished gentleman in 19th century attire reads the Declaration of Independence followed by awarding prizes for the best cakes; 6:30 p.m. watch “flying fancies” sail from the castle then join around the cannon at for a 19th century send-off.
Take a picnic or purchase food from vendors at the Liberty Fair sponsored by the West Liberty Business Association located near the barn next to the lawn. Interpretive self-guided tours of Mac-A-Cheek Castle offered as usual between the hours of 10 am and 5 p.m. at the regular prices.
This event is sponsored by the Mac-A-Cheek Foundation for the Humanities. Additional funding came from the Mary Eleanor Morris Fund of the Columbus Foundation with additional support from the West Liberty Business Association and the Piatt family.