Germantown Gears Up For Months-Long 330th Anniversary Celebration
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The city's Germantown neighborhood will turn 330 years old in October, and groups in the area are counting down to the big celebration beginning this Saturday.
At 329½ years old, Germantown -- with its cobblestone streets and stone buildings -- is one of the most historic communities in the country.
"If you just look around you can see the history here," says Angela Miles of the Friends of Vernon Park. "But there is also a ton of really cool things happening as far as creative arts, performance, community service, and outreach work."
She says groups that include Historic Germantown, Center in the Park, the Germantown Artists Roundtable, elected officials, and many others are all coming together this Saturday for the "Countdown to Germantown Day," in Vernon Park.
Miles says the event marks the kickoff to six months of celebrations until Germantown's birthday.
"We're created a map inside the park of various organizations, historic sites, arts demonstrations, and activities," says Miles, "so people can come into the park, receive a little map, and sort of 'treasure hunt' their way around a little Germantown in the park."
She says there will be performances and activities for people of all ages.
"We are honoring the first lady's 'Let's Move Campaign,' " says Yahneh Indigo Baker of Friends of Vernon Park. "We are going to have young people as well as seasoned folks come out here and dance and just have fun together."
Saturday's event runs from 1pm to 5pm in Vernon Park, and is just one in a series that will lead up to Germantown Day on October 6th.
For more info, go to friendsofvernonpark.org.
