“Thanks to Service CU, admission is free for everyone,” explained Jennifer Carr, executive director of the American Independence Museum (AIM), which organizes the event.
Regarding the role of the Traditional Arts at the Festival, Carr referred to it as a highlight. “We recreate a colonial village right on our grounds with more than a dozen Traditional Artisans, each of whom demonstrate their craft and share stories associated with it,” she said.
Sponsored by NH State Council on the Arts, the Festival’s Traditional Artisan Village will feature shoe-making, coopering, millinery, fiber arts, dancing, tinsmithing, brewing, and more.
According to AIM’s Alena Shellenbean, Festival organizer, the Traditional Arts served as a vehicle for communication, storytelling, and cultural exchange in colonial times. “By presenting Traditional Arts at the Festival through performances and exhibitions, we can promote dialogue, understanding, and respect among diverse groups of people,” she said. “The Traditional Arts reveal aspects of ourselves that are important to cherish and carry forward.”
In addition to the Traditional Artisans Village, the Festival will feature military exhibits, special performances, vendor Marketplace, games, beer garden, food, and more. Presented by Service CU, the 33rd American Independence Festival is sponsored in part by NH State Council on the Arts, New Hampshire Humanities, and Kennebunk Savings.
The Festival takes place on Saturday, July 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in historic Exeter, NH. Admission is free.
Event Details
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: American Independence Museum, 1 Governors Lane., Exeter, NH
Cost: FREE!
On the grounds of the American Independence Museum, visitors can experience life in colonial New Hampshire and celebrate the founding of the United States.
Presenting Sponsor
About American Independence Museum
Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.