The Strasburg Heritage Society will celebrate its 50th anniversary with Heritage Fest on Saturday, Oct. 8. Activities will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Heritage Society building, 122 S. Decatur St., Strasburg. Admission will be free for those who live inside the borough; for those outside the area, there will be a set admission price.

Attendees of Heritage Fest will have an opportunity to take a guided tour by carriage through historic Strasburg and learn about the town's history through different displays and activities. Food trucks will be vending meals at the event and children's activities will be available, including face painting and craft projects. A silent auction will be held for smaller items.

"We are so looking forward to having the community come together and enjoy our beautiful town," said Lorna Mentzer, a member of the Strasburg Heritage Society for over 20 years. "We want to remind people what a treasure Strasburg is, with its beautiful homes and lovely gardens. It's one of the greatest towns in the county."

Heritage Fest will feature several displays from the Heritage Society's collection that offer a view into Strasburg's history. Pictures of Strasburg natives who fought during World War II, the old high school that burned down in the 1940s and various other images relevant to the history of the town will be shown. The Heritage Society invites locals to bring any old photos or stories relevant to Strasburg's past to be scanned and added to its collection.

Several lectures will be held on topics relevant to Strasburg's history, such as the fountain formerly located in the town square and the house of John Shroy, a poet and author who lived in Strasburg. Shroy's home, built circa 1793, will be open to Heritage Fest attendees and is in the process of being restored to its original state by the Heritage Society.

Tickets for the guided carriage tour will be available in the fellowship hall of the First Presbyterian Church of Strasburg, located at 101 S. Decatur St., across from the Heritage Society building. The tour will take guests on an educational ride through the town, highlighting buildings that have served Strasburg in multiple ways over the centuries. "There is so much history in this town," said Mentzer. "Some of the houses used to be taverns over a hundred years ago. At one time, the building that is now Speckled Hen was actually a blacksmith's shop."

For more information, visit https://strasburgheritagesociety.org/events.