Patriots Hall Veterans Museum and the Oconee Heritage Center, both located in Walhalla, will be celebrating the second annual HeritageFest on Saturday May 16 (Armed Forces Day). Short Street between the Museums will be filled with music, activities, food, dancing and special exhibits relating to our Patriotic and Cultural heritage.

The festivities will begin at 9:00 Saturday morning and continue through the afternoon. Both Patriots Hall and the Oconee Heritage Center will be open for tours of the museums.

At Patriots Hall, there will be food served (for a donation) from 11:30-1:00. The Poverty Ridge Band will play bluegrass in the morning, and The Dixie Keys Brass Ensemble will play patriotic music from lunchtime into the afternoon. Also, there will be a static display of military vehicles, re-enactors, and children’s activities.

The Natural Natives will again be in front of the OHC from 10:00 until 3:00 selling plants that are native to this area. Also, in honor of Armed Forces Day, the OHC will be showing The Great Escape in the activity room beginning at 4:00 pm. The movie will be shown on a large screen with surround sound and comes with free popcorn and drinks. Immediately following The Great Escape will be the regularly scheduled “Movie Night at the Museum” which features the original version of King Kong this month. Movie night begins at 7:00 pm and again, free popcorn and drinks will be provided.

The Moving Company, directed by Caroline Hoadley, Folk Dance Arts Partner with OHC, will be performing a German Maypole dance and Polka after lunch, as well as offering Shag dance lessons open to the public throughout the afternoon. Shag is the state dance of South Carolina and Beach Music is the official state music.

For more information, contact the Oconee Heritage Center at 864-638-2224

Patriots Hall Veterans Museum at 864-944-5112

Nicholas Gambrell Director / Curator Oconee Heritage Center 864.638.2224

www.oconeeheritagecenter.org