It’s hard to believe, but we’re already in the last quarter of the year. October has arrived. And with it comes some awesome fall activities. One of these, the Lord Stirling 1770s Festival, takes place this weekend in Basking Ridge.
What: Lord Stirling 1770s Festival
Where: Stirling Manor Site, Environmental Education Center (190 Lord Stirling Rd, Basking Ridge)
When: Sunday, October 7th, 11:30 am to 4:30 pm
Admission: $5 per person donation suggested
Contact: Stirling Manor (908) 766-2489
Lord Stirling 1770s Festival

In the mid-1700s, Major General William Alexander settled in the Basking Ridge area. He built a magnificent estate using money he inherited from his father, the Earl of Stirling. George Washington stayed at the estate several times during the Revolutionary War. On his estate, Alexander grew wine grapes which helped win a gold medal from the Royal Society of Arts. A national and state registered historic site, all that remains of the Lord Stirling estate are two small buildings that were believed to be used by servants to run the farm located on the estate.
To honor Lord Stirling and early his contributions to the Basking Ridge community, the manor will be hosting their annual Lord Stirling 1770s Festival on-site. See what everyday life was like for people in the 1770s. Environmental Education Center staff dress up in period costume as do exhibitors. Here’s your chance to view military uniforms as they appeared during the Revolutionary War as well. Play with clay and create your own unique artwork. Learn how to make toys of the era. Try your hand at quill writing or stenciling, too. Try on period costumes, if you’d like. Don’t forget to take a hayride around the apple orchard.
At the Lord Stirling 1770s Festival in Basking Ridge, the entire family can enjoy a trip back in time. Learn about our city’s roots in a very visceral way. You can’t learn history like this from any book. Experience it for yourself.
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Chantal Konicek, The Konicek Group, Your Basking Ridge Real Estate Experts