TUNKHANNOCK — Founder’s Day on Saturday, June 25, will be chock full of opportunities to celebrate the borough’s history, feast on local food, purchase all kinds of artisan goods from the many vendors, support local merchants, and end the day at Riverside Park with Shakespeare in the Park and the Gamut Group production of “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”
The Dietrich Theater is displaying a Historic Downtown Tunkhannock exhibit, hosting a Historic Downtown Tunkhannock Comes Alive presentation, holding sign-ups for a one-and-a-half-hour walking tour, and offering freshly made strawberry cake. Guests can also take their chance to win one of many baskets filled with all kinds of goodies. One-of-a-kind handmade market bags will be offered for sale, to benefit children’s programming at the Dietrich Theater.
For information or reservations, call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500.
The Earnshaw Gallery’s Historic Downtown Tunkhannock exhibit brings history alive with photos and memorabilia, highlighting historic homes, the Triton Hose, the Wyoming County Courthouse and the Tunkhannock Methodist Church. With the help of the exhibit committee, including Rick Hiduk, Sarah Carr, Mark Mitchell, Diane Turrell, Margie Young and Kent Ward, materials have been gathered to take the viewer back to the turn of the last century when Wyoming County was created from Luzerne County, the streets were not paved, when fortunes in lumbering, tanning, witch hazel, iron foundries, and agriculture, enabled citizens to build state-of-the-art Victorian style homes and thriving businesses and churches.
The exhibit is open to the public through Aug. 15 and can be viewed anytime movies are shown or by appointment.
The exhibit features just six of 40 of the historic buildings that are featured in the Historic Tunkhannock Walking Tour that can be self-guided with a brochure available at the Dietrich Theater or by reservation to take a guided tour on Founders Day or Thursday evenings in July. Allow one-and-a-half hours for the two-mile tour through downtown and residential Tunkhannock. Learn about Frances Slocum, Sullivan’s March, our Tewksbury Olympian, and more. Volunteer tour guides have been studying and practicing to make sure their tours will be fact-filled and fascinating.
During the free Historic Tunkhannock Comes Alive presentation at 11 a.m. June 25, Gere Reisinger will enlighten the audience about the area’s Native American history, Charles Petrillo will discuss canal history, Bob Baker will take guests back to the Civil War era, Alex Fried will focus on industries that thrived in the area and Lou Divis will tell tales of life after World War I.
The strawberry shortcake stand at the Dietrich will be another destination for Founder’s Day attendees. Last year the Tunkhannock Tree Association passed on its recipe to the Dietrich Theater Fundraising Committee.
Riverside Park is the final destination of the day for Shakespeare in the Park at 7 p.m. A free performance, sponsored by the Overlook Estate Foundation and the Dietrich Theater, will be at the pavilion bringing Gamut Theatre Group of Harrisburg back to perform Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” a comedy featuring sassy wives, jealous husbands, and the famous Sir John Falstaff, a bawdy, carousing knight who needs to be put in his place. A hilarious tale of fantastical humors and jealousies, it is recommended for ages 12 and up. The production is 80 minutes long. Attendees should bringing their own blankets or lawn chairs to sit on the grass and enjoy a Shakespeare in the Park experience at Riverside Park.
For more information about any of these Founder’s Day activities presented by the Dietrich Theater, call 570-996-1500.
