The Carroll County Farm Museum will hold its annual Old-Fashioned July 4 Celebration starting at noon Friday.
Visitors can spend the day picnicking on the 140-acre grounds, listening to music, shopping for handmade crafts, learning about life in the 1800s and enjoying the food available for sale.
The day will begin with the Explorers youth group raising the American flag on the pole by the stage.
Ray Owens will perform from noon to 12:45 p.m., the Old Line Statesmen Barbershop Chorus at 1 p.m., the Back Pages Band from 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., the Carroll County Cloggers at 4 p.m. and the Stillwater Band from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
In keeping with the farm museum's 19th-century setting, old-fashioned games such as hoop rolling and jacks will be held for children from noon to 2 p.m., followed by competitive games such as sack races and a lemon relay race from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
For those who prefer more modern fun, a new Kids' Corner will be set up with bounce-and-play inflatables provided by Fun Events LLC of Taneytown. Children can play at the Kids' Corner from noon to 8 p.m. for a one-time fee of $6.25 per child.
Included in the Kids' Corner will be a 50-foot sea serpent obstacle course; a 30-foot rock climbing wall; a 40-foot fun zone with a combination moon bounce, climbing wall and slide; a 40-foot "jungle rumble" obstacle course; and a 30-foot super slide.
Jimmie Saylor will offer rides around the grounds on his mule-drawn wagon from noon to 6 p.m. for $1.50. Uncle Sam will visit from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., on stilts so that he can't be missed.
Farm life as it was in the late 1800s will be on display in the farmhouse, where tours of six period rooms will be offered from noon to 6 p.m. Exhibits will include A Sea of Blue, a display of cobalt blue glassware, pottery, medicine bottles and tableware; and Glass and China Treasures, featuring pieces from the museum's collection.
In the Living History Center, museum volunteer artisans will demonstrate 19th-century traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, tinsmithing, spinning and quilting from noon to 6 p.m.
All of the museum's exhibit buildings and gift shop will be open. New exhibits this year include the Apparel Shop, the General Store and the Broom Shop.
Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. at a new location, the ball field at Landon Burns Park at Gist and Center streets. The site was moved because of construction at the Agricultural Center.
Radio station WTTR-AM 1470 will broadcast from the festivities throughout the day.
The farm museum does not allow personal fireworks, smoke bombs, sparklers, pets or alcohol on the grounds. The daytime celebration will be held Friday, rain or shine. In the event of rain, the fireworks will be postponed until Saturday.
No parking will be allowed at Landon Burns Park this year because of the fireworks set-up. Parking will be available at the farm museum and the Agricultural Center, but because of the recent heavy rain, some areas that are too wet might be roped off. Visitors are asked to pay attention to signs and people directing traffic.
General admission is $3 for adults; $2 for ages 7 to 18 and 60 and older; and free for age 6 and younger.
Free parking is available until 5 p.m., when the farm museum general admission will end. A $5 fee per car will be collected to help defray the cost of the fireworks.
The farm museum needs volunteers to help throughout the day in various capacities. Anyone interested in volunteering should call the farm museum before Friday.
The farm museum is at 500 S. Center St., Westminster. Information: 410-848-7775 or 410- 876-2667.
Traffic restrictions
To facilitate the flow of traffic, these traffic patterns will be implemented Friday:
Center Street and Kate Wagner Road will close at 8:30 p.m. to incoming traffic, so those going just for the fireworks are encouraged to arrive early.
No parking along Center Street, Gist Road, Smith Avenue or Kate Wagner Road will be allowed.
All traffic leaving the farm museum lot will use two lanes and be directed out Center Street toward Route 140. Vehicles will be allowed to turn left on Green Street and Main Street or go straight to Route 140. East Main and East Green streets will be closed to through traffic between South Center Street and Washington Road.
All traffic leaving the Agriculture Center parking lot must use Smith Avenue to Gist Road toward Kate Wagner Road. Starting at Gist Road and Smith Avenue, both lanes of Gist Road will be one way only to Kate Wagner Road. Traffic then will proceed right to Route 27 or left toward Route 32 (Old Washington Road).
Traffic leaving the Farm Museum will have priority.
State and Westminster police will enforce the traffic patterns and parking restrictions. WTTR radio will provide traffic reports before and after the fireworks.
