TOWSON, MD - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hampton National Historic Site’s annual Harvest Day event will be virtual this year. The public is encouraged to join the park for a series of online programs hosted on the park’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages on October 17 and 18.
Harvest Day traditionally commemorates the day that agricultural communities would harvest their crops and store them for the winter. Large plantations, such as the Hampton Estate, for many years relied on enslaved and indentured labor in order to make this happen. Neighbors would also work together to ensure everyone's crops were cultivated. The work was grueling and difficult, especially for those forced to labor on land that they did not own, to gather food and materials that they would not benefit from. Hampton NHS's Harvest Day is typically filled with hands-on activities including period crafts for kids, demonstrations such as cider making and corn husking, and ranger led programming that explores the history of the farm and the families that lived there.
The Hampton Rangers and Living History staff will be bringing the experience to you at home this year. Look for a supply list for the craft activities to be made available on Saturday, October 10th. Throughout the week the park team will provide social media posts about artifacts in the park collection related to Harvest Day. Stay connected for further details! A schedule of events, including full details of the weekend’s programs, will soon be available on the park website and Facebook page.
The National Park Service (NPS) is working servicewide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and is using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis. Based on guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Hampton National Historic Site has closed the Hampton mansion, visitor center, restrooms, and other historic buildings; its grounds and parking lot are open for recreational visitors. There are no on-site public programs or visitor information and services. Park gates will open at 8:30am and close at 5pm.
A return to full operations will continue to be phased, and services may be limited for some time. For more information, please visit the park’s website.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
