Randy Conover, a member of Grassy Run Historical Arts Committee, speaks to students who attended the Grassy Run Heritage Rendezvous on April 29, 2016 at the Williamsburg Community Park.

Randy Conover, a member of Grassy Run Historical Arts Committee, speaks to students who attended the Grassy Run Heritage Rendezvous on April 29, 2016 at the Williamsburg Community Park.
By Kelly Cantwell
Editor

Despite rain on Saturday, the annual Grassy Run Heritage Rendezvous saw about 500 people that day, high numbers for bad weather.

“It went surprisingly well considering it rained just about all day Saturday,” said George West, president of the committee.

Rain is typical for the event. During the battle it rained and it was rained during the event every year in the past 12 years except one, West recalled.

Not much was different from last year at the 25th annual event, but there were a few new vendors and some expanded displays. This year, the Grassy Run Historical Arts Committee wanted to focus on the arts, West said.

With that, the event featured many musicians this year, as music was a big part of the culture when the Battle of Grassy Run occurred. There was also a woman showing how to dye fabric, which was an art as well as a necessity, West said.

Visitors could also try their hand at tin punch, where they poke holes in tin to create a cover for food that also ventilates, and they could see a demonstration on writing with a quill and spinning and weaving, West said.

The event is also enjoyable for the committee because they come and camp for the whole weekend, a yearly chance to taste what life was like more than 200 years ago. The members of the committee have been together so long it’s like an extended family, West said.

April 29 was school day. About 250 students from five different schools and some homeschooled students came on Friday. Most arrived around 9 a.m. and stayed until 1 p.m. or later, West said.

Sunday saw between 100 and 150 people, West estimates. There are typically not very many attendees on Sunday. All the attendees West talked to seemed to enjoy themselves and learn something.

“That’s the whole point of it for us, is for people to learn about what people went through to settle this part of the country,” West said.

Matt Delaney, of Newport, runs a store at the event with a variety of merchandise. He has loved reenacting since he was 6 years old. Grassy Run is one of the first events of the year, so it allows Delaney to see friends.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Delaney said.

He also appreciates how easy it is to get his wares in and out, which means a lot to sellers like him.

Delaney enjoys that a lot of students come and see the event.

“It’s a lot easier to see it and understand it then to try to read it out of a textbook and get something out of it,” Delaney said.

Randy Conover, a member of Grassy Run Historical Arts Committee and a retired Clermont Northeastern teacher, feels the event and events like these are important because it keeps local heritage alive and because history is not taught well in schools today, he said.

“We are not teaching our heritage any longer, and that’s what it means to be an American is your heritage. That’s a big part of it and it’s a shame,” Conover said.

Megan Menscite, Emily Burger, Ava Royse and Taylor, who declined to give her last name, are all fourth grade students from St. Thomas More. They attended the event on April 29 and enthusiastically showed off their tails that they got.

The four enjoyed various aspects, such as seeing the reenactment, the woodcutting and the hatchet throwing.

“It’s awesome here,” Royse said.

Next year is the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Grassy Run, which took place on April 10, 1792 in Jackson Township. The committee wants the event to expand more on the history of the battle and the people involved, West said.