Historic Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC) will host its 2025 Historic Barns Tour on Saturday, September 20, inviting the public to explore five historic Pennsylvania barns and enjoy family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The tour begins, rain or shine, at the Round Barn, 298 Cashtown Road, Biglerville, PA 17307; check-in opens at 10 a.m. and closes at noon. Participants will receive a booklet and a map showing the locations of the other barns and may visit each site in any order and remain as long as they like until the tour concludes at 4 p.m.
Advance tickets are $35 for adults and $40 on the day of the event; all children under 18 are free but must be accompanied by an adult. Advance tickets may be purchased online through Eventbrite until September 19 or by visiting HGAConline.org and clicking the Barn Tour link. HGAC encourages parents, grandparents, and photographers to attend and see inside these great old barns.
Activities and entertainers scheduled for the tour include a Civil War living history encampment and field music by the 2nd Maryland Fife and Drum; Sheila Fees of Woodcrest Farm selling handmade, homemade, and homegrown herbs and botanicals; storyteller and musician Christina Shrewsbury performing period stories and music; and noted Civil War author Ron Kirkwood selling books and speaking with visitors. Children can enjoy a scavenger hunt, HGAC Preservation Specialist David Maclay will demonstrate timber framing, Victorian carriages will be on display with demonstrations of hitching and unhitching draft horse teams, members of the Foothill Artists and other painters such as Bobbi Becker will display and offer works for sale, the Pennsylvania Apple Queen Evangeline Hollabaugh will hand out apples, Paul Kirsch of Stone Ledge Joinery will sell artisanal woodenwares while Ed Coughenour demonstrates chair caning, the Penera Tatters will present the art of lacemaking, and Civil War seamstress Jackie Greer will display and demonstrate Civil War–era sewing machines.
Food vendors will include Justin and Melissa Hamilton of 65 South BBQ offering pulled pork and sliced beef brisket sandwiches with homemade sides and beverages; Martha King of Willow Haven Farms serving Amish homemade soup, assorted pies and baked goods, and homemade ice cream; Berenice Solalinde of Victoria’s Casita Bakery selling fruit-filled empanadas; and Ben Wenk of Ploughman’s Cider selling canned hard cider. Food items will be cash sales only.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the award-winning HGAC Barn Preservation Project and Grant Program, which has provided matching grant funding to more than 70 owners of historic barns in Adams County since 2013.
Organizers hope to see you at the tour. For questions, contact Barn Tour organizer Steven Boggs at sboggs@hgac-pa.org.
If you like barns, come to the Daughters of Union Veterans Civil War Barn Dance on Saturday October 4th. Dancing begins at 5 pm, all dances are taught by Dance mistress Rebecca Kesler, band is Susquehanna Travelers. Tickets are $25, $10 for under 16. Includes light refreshments. Checks to Pat Meyers, Secretary, 2300 Emmittsburg Road,Gettysburg,Pa, 17325 or Paypal to pattypaws50@yahoo.com, Period attire appreciated but not required.Benefits DUV scholarship program.