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Annual Heritage Days event next weekend

June 3rd, 2015 by WCBC Radio

 In a city loaded with history beginning long before the American Revolution, creating a festival to celebrate its heritage was a logical step in 1968. Now 47 years later, Cumberland’s official summer street festival, Heritage Days is still going strong. The festival offers something for everyone from children to history buffs to arts and crafts collectors and to those who love festival food. Always the second full weekend in June, this year’s Heritage Days is Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14. The festival is located on historic Washington Street, known for its magnificent Victorian homes and Downtown Cumberland.

 

History buffs will enjoy visiting the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, located on the site of the original Fort Cumberland and the festival’s base for the mini-encampment of the Maryland Forces from Fort Frederick who will be practicing military drills and answering period inquiries. The Army of Potomac, 3rd MD Co. B, Vincent’s Brigade will have a living encampment of Civil War soldiers on the church grounds. Tours of the tunnels under the church will be available. The tunnels date back to the mid-18th century and were part of the original Fort Cumberland. During the Civil War they served as part of the Underground Railroad.

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