Next month, the 17th Annual Flag Festival will be in full swing at the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch St.,) and what locals can expect out of this annual weeklong activation is a series of interactive events, free family programming and a finale concert to wrap it all up.
From June 9 to 15, activities will start at 10 a.m. with an interactive flag raising, and then different experiences will be peppered throughout each date of the festival.
On Sunday, June 9, visitors will be able to partake in a new experience for the Betsy Ross House and hear the story of the first flag from George Washington, who will be onsite at 11 a.m. that day. As a release notes, guests will meet the general and first President and hear his thoughts about what it was like in the fledgling days of our nation while there.
Philadelphians can also partake in the popular Meet the Flag Makers activation from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that Monday through Friday (June 10 to 14) and each day, guests will have an opportunity to meet 18th century Philadelphia flag makers, including Margaret Manny, Ann King and Cornelia Bridges and try their own hands at the craft.
After the Meet the Flag Makers event, visitors can stick around for the Curator’s Corner from 3 to 4 p.m. where they’ll get an up-close look at some objects from the House’s collection including items belonging to Betsy, like her Bible, glasses and snuff box.
On Friday, June 14 (Flag Day), sewers from the Defense Logistics Agency’s flag room will also be on-site to demonstrate techniques they use to embroider Presidential flags. The day will additionally feature an annual naturalization ceremony at 1 p.m. featuring a concert of patriotic tunes by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet. The next day on June 15, festivities will wrap up with ‘An American Music Celebration’ featuring the Philadelphia Heritage Chorale directed by J. Donald Dumpson at 3 p.m.
“We are using Flag Fest, our celebration of National Flag Week, to shine a light on Philadelphia’s rich tradition of flag making,” said Lisa Moulder, director of the Betsy Ross House in a statement. “Betsy Ross may be a household name, but flag making was a thriving industry in the colonies and during Flag Fest we will introduce visitors to lesser-known 18th century flag makers and tell their stories.”
Moulder continued, “We will also highlight modern flag makers, including those from the Defense Logistics Agency, who have been stitching Presidential flags here in Philadelphia for decades.”
This 17th annual celebration pays tribute to the tradition of Flag Day commemorations that began at the Betsy Ross House more than 100 years ago, resuming with the first modern Flag Festival in 2008, the release notes. The House hosted its first Flag Day event on June 14, 1891 and has long been the site of the city’s official observance.
Visitors can also head to the venue (open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily) for self-guided and audio tours as well. Tickets and more information on Flag Fest and the Betsy Ross House are available online at historicphiladelphia.org
