Sunday, September 19, 2004
MCCONNELL'S MILL
The 12th annual Heritage Festival, as well as a program about fossils and a hike, is on tap for this weekend and next at McConnell's Mill State Park, near Portersville, Pa.
Women's Day Trek: This six-hour program is part of Get Outdoors Pa., and will start at 10 a.m. today. It is designed to help women learn from experienced outdoorswomen how to be comfortable in the wilderness and competent and aware in the outdoors. A hike is included.
Stories in Stone: A naturalist will be on hand from 2-3 p.m. today in the Kildoo picnic area to explain what fossils are, how they form and what can be learned from them. Participants will also have an opportunity to make various types of fossils, and a limited number of field guides will be available.
Twelfth Annual McConnell's Mill Heritage Festival: This two-day event will celebrate the operational years of the Old Mill, 1852-1928, and will feature artisans and crafters. Other offerings will include mill tours, corn-grinding demonstrations, musical entertainment and food vendors. Sack races, a cakewalk, crafting and a variety of games will be included among the activities. The festival is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and next Sunday in the Kildoo picnic area. The Old Mill will close for the season after next Sunday.
The park has two half-hour corn-grinding demonstrations starting at 1 and 3 p.m. and two 45-minute historic grist mill tours beginning at 2 and 4 p.m. The tours take participants through the history of how grain has been made into flour. Both are on Saturdays and Sundays at the Old Mill. For more information about McConnell's programs, call Jackie Kline, park naturalist, at (724) 368-9320.