The Clay County Museum is hosting a heritage-focused celebration in Celina this weekend to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Museum Director Beverly Hollyfield the festivities are designed to bring the community back to the basics of American life through historical demonstrations and traditional games.
“Our freedom and recognizing the fact that we have had 250 years of freedom,” Hollyfield said, “And the reason we’ve had that is not only because we’ve worked to keep it, but also because of our veterans.”
Hollyfield said the courthouse square will feature exhibits of homemade toys that do not require batteries, such as a button on a string. Hollyfield said attendees can participate in classic activities including hopscotch, cornhole, horseshoes, and sack races.
“Well, the reason I find it different is because we’re trying to bring people back to some of the real what we were brought up with,” Hollyfield said. “How we developed things, like for instance we’ll have someone that has a spinning wheel and they will be spinning thread. It’s to show people that it didn’t just happen today that you have all these things that are mechanical and easy to get to.”
Hollyfield said the event will showcase historical labor through demonstrations of thread spinning and washing clothes on a scrubboard. Hollyfield said local food traditions will also be represented with offerings of sauerkraut and fried apple pies.
“Things like the washboard and things like that are to show people again that things weren’t always easy but because of the freedom that people lived in they were able to develop and find better ways and faster ways to produce product,” Hollyfield said. “I’m hoping it brings them back to their roots and to appreciate the freedom that they have.”
Hollyfield said the museum is currently developing a dedicated room to honor Clay County veterans. Hollyfield said the celebration also includes a fundraiser where a $10 donation offers a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Henry 22 long rifle engraved with the America 250 logo.
“Well, I hope people take away the fact that they’re their freedoms are not to be taken for granted,” Hollyfield said. “And that there are so many things that we tend to take for granted today. And to learn some of the basic things like the spinning and like the washing clothes and like the toys that are made with a button and a piece of string to say that you don’t have to have electronic device to find happiness or to find something to play with.”
The event begins at 10:30 with a children’s parade featuring wagons and flags circling the courthouse. The celebration will conclude later in the evening with the Rumble on the River event at Donaldson Park, which features food and a fireworks display.