Happy Spring! As you stroll the streets of the town, you can expect to start seeing all of the beautiful spring blooms opening up. You can also find the orchards in Gettysburg National Military Park beginning to bloom, including in the infamous Peach Orchard. Our tulips here at the Swope are starting to poke up above the soil and soon you will be able to enjoy a riot of color in our courtyard while relaxing on the back deck. Just as the flowers are returning after the cold of winter, we here at the Swope Manor are eagerly anticipating all of our spring and summer guests coming back to your home away from home.
In April, you will be able to find live music in the square at Reid’s Cider House from 7-10 PM on the weekends. For those with an artistic flair, you can find the History Meets the Arts Show and Sale from 10AM-6PM on Friday, April 11th, and from 10AM-5PM on Saturday, April 12th, at 35 Stratton Street (through the rear entrance). The featured artists specialize in early American history and a variety of mediums. To add to an artful weekend, the perfect opportunity awaits if you’ve ever wanted to spend more time with the famous Gettysburg cyclorama at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center. Also on April 12th, you can have the opportunity to receive a special behind-the scenes program on the cyclorama called, “An Evening with the Painting.” If you are interested, you may want to call the Visitors Center in advance before the tickets sell out.
If you find yourself hungry after a few hours of touring and shopping, you may want to stop in at some of the food-related events in the area. Coming up on April 6th from 11AM-2PM, the Adams County Winery will be hosting “Wild Yeast and Wine: A Sourdough Workshop.” Attendees will receive a complimentary beverage from the winery in addition to two loaves of dough that you can take home and bake. You will also get to taste test samples of sourdough during the class. This could be a fun opportunity for some of our more local guests. If you are interested, you should contact the winery for your tickets, as they do have a limited number of sourdough kits. A short drive from the Swope Manor is Hollenbaugh Bros. Fruit and Farm Market in Biglerville. On April 26th, the market will be holding its second annual Spring Blossom Event from 10AM-3PM. The event will boast of wagon rides, a food tent, the wares of local artisans, and some children’s activities.
For all of the history buffs in the family, Gettysburg is beginning to ramp back up to its spring and summer tour schedules. As of March 1st, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitors Center returned to its summer hours of 8AM-5PM. Located only a couple of minutes away, the Visitors Center hosts the Gettysburg Foundation’s comprehensive museum on the battle and the cyclorama. The National Park also operates some of its programs from the building. If you are interested in more of a lecture-style event, the Adams County Historical Society’s discussion on Lydia Hamilton Smith and Thaddeus Stevens (led by Dr. Mark Kelley) might appeal to you. The event is on Saturday, April 5th, from 2-3PM and you can get tickets for it through the historical society. It is also only about a five minute drive away depending on the time of day. While there, you just might also explore their Beyond the Battle Museum. In addition, the Adams County Historical Society is hosting a discussion on the “Life and Death of Jennie Wade,” which will be led by the ACHS’s own historian, Tim Smith. This event will be on Saturday, April 19th, from 11AM-12PM.
If you are interested in checking out additional exciting events happening in Gettysburg this month as you plan your stay, be sure to check out Destination Gettysburg’s website for more information. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Swope Manor!