NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - Area museums and educational organizations are again bringing local history to life with a free event this weekend at New Towne Mall. The Dennison Depot Museum System is hosting its 10th-annual History Patriot Youth Rally there on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm with demonstrations, games and costumed re-enactors. Director of museums Jacob Masters says dozens of local historical sites will be there as well with activities and information. 

“It’s very cool because you have all types of history represented. You have colonial when you talk about Schoenbrunn and Fort Laurens, but then you start talking about World War II when you go to the Depot table, so you can see everything.” 

Masters says they’ll also have the look-a-like contest where kids dress up like their favorite historical figures and a scavenger hunt for a chance to win some great prizes (like an iPad or museum tickets).

“The prizes are really cool. We have some iPads, some Kindle Fires, and we have museum tickets. We have a basket full of museum tickets, so you can go visit all the museums there.”

The theme for this year is History: Your Gateway to the Future. Masters says the first 300 children through the doors will also receive a complimentary lunch bag stuffed with goodies. The event is open to the public and free to attend.

WJER