Redcoats will invade and 'burn' city today
The biennial re-enactment of the British attack on Kingston is being held this weekend.
The event, known as “The Burning of Kingston,” commemorates the Oct. 16, 1777, assault in which the Redcoats set fire to more than 300 local buildings in the state’s then-capital shortly before the end of the Revolutionary War.
The first re-enactment was held 20 years ago.
This year’s event began Friday evening. The Saturday-Sunday schedule is as follows.
Saturday
1 p.m.: Bucket brigade contest and museum exhibit, Volunteer Firemen’s Museum, 266 Fair St.
2:45 p.m.: American colonists flee Senate House, 296 Fair St.
2:50 p.m.: British troops arrive at Senate House, replace colonists’ flag with British flag, “dispatch” colonial resisters, prepare to march through Stockade District.
3 p.m.: British troops advance up Fair Street, turn on Main Street, face attack by remnants of local militia, march up Main Street to Green Street, then Crown Street, arrive at the historic four corners (Crown and John streets) for final battle.
3:45 p.m.: Redcoats victory ceremony.
6:30-8 p.m.: Re-enactor camps at Forsyth Park open to public.
7 p.m. Colonial Grand Ball, City Hall (in Common Council chamber), 420 Broadway. Includes live music, dance lessons. (Shuttle buses will run from Forsyth Park to City Hall and back, with stops along the way, continuously from 6:15 to 11:30 p.m.)
Sunday
9:30 a.m. to noon: Militia and Redcoat camps at Forsyth Park open to public.
11 a.m.: Military camp tour and drill demonstration at Forsyth Park.
12:30 p.m.: Battle of Upper Forsyth Park (live-action demonstration showing how American and British troops battled in 1777).
Online: burningofkingston.com