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Washington's 279th Birthday Celebration at Valley Forge National Historical Park

Presented by Valley Forge National Historical Park at Valley Forge National Historical Park

February 19-February 21, 2011

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Valley Forge was the first place George Washington ever celebrated his birthday, and the party continues there this Presidents Day weekend, February 19-21. The festivities include free slices of birthday cake, Colonial singers and an appearance by the General, himself.

Members of the local Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America will kick off the commemoration on Saturday, February 19, with the 99th Washington’s Birthday Encampment and Pilgrimage – the oldest continuous annual scouting event in the world. The scouts will march to various spots in the park featuring themed vignettes of Marquis de Lafayette, Washington’s trusted young French aide de camp at Valley Forge.

On Sunday, February 20, Continental Army re-enactors from the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment will encamp from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Park’s Muhlenberg Brigade area. Three living history programs, at 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., will be preceded by ranger-led walks and talks at 10:50 a.m., 12:20 p.m., and 2:20 p.m. The re-enactors will demonstrate and discuss muskets, artillery, colonial cooking, and army life.

Kids can design birthday cards for General Washington, play with colonial toys, learn to weave and make tri-cornered hats at the Visitor Center on Monday, February 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Outside, they’ll learn the same drills and maneuvers taught by German Baron von Steuben at Valley Forge in 1778. After their rigorous training, General Washington will inspect the "troops."

No birthday celebration’s complete without cake, so at noon, inside the Visitor Center, guests will enjoy free pieces of a cake baked from Martha Washington’s own recipe.

Washington marked his 46th birthday at Valley Forge, an event noted with a serenade by his officers and his wife, Martha, during the otherwise sobering encampment. Valley Forge National Historical Park has celebrated the day with canon firings, camp life demonstrations and cake for the past 31 years.

For more information about Presidents Day events at Valley Forge National Historical Park, please visit www.nps.gov/vafo or contact the Visitor Center at 610-783-1099. To learn about affordable Presidents Day weekend hotel packages and getaways, area attractions, shopping and dining, visit www.valleyforge.org