Farm museum gears up for 2012 edition of Old-Fashioned Fourth

The annual Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration at the Carroll County Farm Museum will begin at noon on Wednesday, July 4, and last into the evening for the traditional fireworks show over Westminster.

The fireworks, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Westminster, are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.

The farm museum, located at 500 S. Center St., will host activities and entertainment from noon to 5 p.m., leading up to the fireworks display.

Residents are invited to come for a day of picnicking on the grounds while entertainment is provided on stage by The Elderly Brothers, the Carroll County Cloggers and the Standard Delivery Combo.

The schedule is as follows:

Noon — flag raising by the Young Marines

1-1:45 p.m. — Elderly Brothers Barbershop Quartet

2-2:45 p.m. — Joey Dundore with JoeyDCares Rock Orchestra

3-3:45 p.m. — Carroll County Cloggers

4-4:30 p.m. — Debate: Should the Colonies Declare Independence from English Rule?

4:30-7 p.m. — Standard Delivery Combo

There will also be Uncle Sam on stilts and the "Monkey Man" with his friend, Django, strolling the grounds to entertain visitors. The afternoon will include food items and handmade craft items for sale. There will be a moon bounce obstacle course for a small fee, and local Boy Scouts will provide free games for children as well.

The museum farmhouse features six rooms depicting 19th century farm life, and guided tours will be given by costumed guides from noon to 5 p.m. Also, the Living History Center, exhibit buildings and the Museum Gift Shop will be open.

Artisans will be demonstrating their skills, and visitors can also enjoy an old-fashioned tour around the museum grounds with wagon master, Jim Saylor, and his team of mules. Wagon rides will be available from noon to 6 p.m., for a fee.

New this year, there will be a fee of $5 per car for the events at the farm museum, and a $1 per person walk-in admission at the gates.

After 5 p.m., a $5 per car parking donation at the farm museum will be collected by the Kiwanis Club to help offset the cost of the fireworks display.

Officials of the farm museum are reminding residents that Center Street and Kate Wagner Road will be closed down to incoming traffic at 8:30 p.m. Those coming to the fireworks must be on the grounds and parked by that time.

No personal fireworks, smoke bombs or sparklers will be permitted — and no pets or alcohol are allowed on the farm museum grounds.

Jim Joyner