Historic Bristol Day Returns To Riverfront Borough

Historic Bristol Day returns this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event put on by the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation returns throughout the borough. The free event is rain or shine.

A highlight of the day’s festivities:

• 9:45 a.m. – Dedication Ceremony at the Lions Park Gazebo on the Bristol riverfront
• 10 a.m. – Keynote speaker Capt. David Christian at the Lions Park Gazebo. Christian is the youngest, most decorated officer of the Vietnam War. His speech is entitled “Honoring the Rich History of Bristol and the Significant Role of Volunteerism in the Community,” and will be followed by the presentation of colors by the U.S. Paratrooper 82^nd Airborne Honor Guard.
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Tenth Annual Bristol Day Car Show, at the Snyder-Girotti School, 450 Beaver St.  This year, the Car Show will honor First Responders (military, firefighters, police, EMTs and frontline worker).  A First Responder Display Field will feature emergency vehicles, the military vehicles of the 304^th Civil Affairs Brigade, and the Armed Forces Heritage Museum’s mobile museum.  At noon, car engines will rev and sirens will blast for two minutes to honor those who lost their lives to COVID-19, the three Historic Bristol Day volunteers – Carol Mitchener, Mary McIlvain, and Sheree Napoli – who passed, and the 13 U.S. Marines who recently lost their lives in Afghanistan.  
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Boat Show by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of Antique and Classic Boat Society at the Bristol Wharf
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – House and Garden Tour
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Tours of the recently-renovated Margaret R. Grundy Museum, 610 Radcliffe St. Masks are required.
• 11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Riverfront Tea, featuring Harpist Gloria Galante
• 11 a.m. -1 p.m. – Guided Walking Tours by the Bristol Cultural and Historical Foundation, along tree-lined Radcliffe Street, known as the King’s Highway in Colonial days
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. – Children’s Corner on the grounds of the Margaret R. Grundy Library, 680 Radcliffe Street, including a “Living Wax Museum: Past, Present and Future” by the gifted & enriched students of Snyder-Girotti Elementary School, Bristol, from 11 to noon; a display of Bristol archaeological artifacts; Cops ‘n’ Kids book give-away; display of student art contest entries
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Concert by the Bracken Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps Alumni Corps of Bristol.  Bracken was the first junior & bugle corps to be organized in the U.S. and was 12-time PA State American Legion Champion and 3-time runner-up for the National title.
• Noon-2 p.m. – Tours of Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey Distillery, 925 Canal Street
• 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. – Sailboat Regatta on the Delaware River, beginning in the area of the Bristol Wharf

Historic Bristol Day will include entertainment at the Lions Park gazebo on the waterfront. There will be food vendors, bakers, art, vendors, crafters, and exhibits along Radcliffe Street near the central business district, organizers said.

Wristbands are needed for the House and Garden Tour and for the riverfront tea. A minimum donation of $5 per person is requested. Wristbands and Historic Bristol Day programs will be available in advance at the Bristol Borough Tax Office at 250 Pond Street, Mignoni Jewelry at 200 Mill Street, and Great IDs at 257 Radcliffe Street. On the day of the event, the wristbands will be available at the Historic Bristol Day information tables at the corner of Radcliffe and Market streets and Radcliffe and Walnut streets.

There will be free parking at the Mill Street Parking Lot and in the Lenox lot at 1414 Radcliffe Street. A free shuttle will transport people between the Lenox parking lot and the central business district.

Last year’s Historic Bristol Day was conducted virtually due to the pandemic.

More information is available at BristolHistory.org.

Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies

---

---