The Gloucester Township Historic and Scenic Preservation Committee is preparing for spring events to begin next month at the Gabreil Daveis Tavern House.
Like previous versions, the spring events will feature Colonial reenactments and free open-house tours of the Tavern House, located in the township’s Glendora. Attractions will include an on-site blacksmith, Colonial crafters, archery and campfire cooking. Guests will be able to fire a replica Flintlock rifle and try tomahawk throwing.
Committee President Sharon Mickle noted that spring’s warmer weather will allow participants to walk trails around the tavern.
“The reenactments always bring something a little different each year, (but) one crowd (favorite) is the cannon firing,” she said, “so I asked if we were going to get that this year. We went one year without it and it was a disappointment.”
The reenactments are family and children friendly, and Mickle pointed out that much of the two-day event’s entertainment is geared to the younger generation.
“They are going to have children’s games from Colonial times and musket drills where they recruit children to join in and learn about how life might have been back then,” she explained.
Before the open house and Colonial weekend, the Gloucester Township Rotary Club will conduct a cleanup around the tavern on Saturday, April 1, from 9 a.m. to noon. The weekend events will be rain or shine, since many of the reenactments can take place inside the tavern.
“We do 10 to 15 people per group (tour), hold a brief discussion inside the house, then move to the next room and cycle through the four rooms on the first floor,” Mickle explained. “We also invite the people to come back for a full tour if they are interested in that.”
The spring events at Gabreil Daveis will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 15 and 16. The tavern will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 15 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 16th.
