Traditional approach

STAUNTON — For families looking for an atypical Independence Day festivity, many turned to tradition Saturday at the Frontier Culture Museum’s historical celebration.

With a historical reading of the Declaration of Independence and a slew of old-timey games, hundreds of families frolicked in the American frontier farm area, making a break from their normal holiday endeavors.

“Normally we’d be at home,” said JoEllen Benson, of Maryland, who traveled with her family to Monticello, Lexington and the museum this weekend.

Benson won a watermelon seed spitting contest by launching hers about 6 feet and nearest to the target line.

“We decided to be adventurous this year,” she said, laughing. “I’ve never been in a watermelon competition before.”

Maggie Roberts, 21, of Staunton, said she usually doesn’t do much of anything on the Fourth. But as a museum devotee, she took the opportunity to see its holiday offerings with friend Rin Barton, 21. The pair tossed a wooden ring back and forth by manipulating two wooden hand sticks.

For Barton, it was her first glimpse of the museum.

“It was silly that I’d never been before,” she said.

Families tried their hand at a two-person saw, grinding away at a log, and listened to fiddle music. Some played with the hoop and stick. Others jumped rope and tried tug-of-war.

At noon sharp, a four-man militia unit in period garb blasted its first musket volley, and historical interpreter Alex Tillen introduced the day’s program: a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a series of toasts from an 1814 Shepherdstown event.

The reading of America’s most rebellious document brought a call of, “to hell with King George!” from one listener, and the toasts that followed brought hoorays and hurrahs in support of the Constitution, Congress, the president and free speech.

Muskets blasted shots again.

The day’s activities showed “the trend of a lot of these celebrations,” Tillen said.

Famous war heroes would often host such events in the 1800s, allowing for games, drink and merriment, he said.

“I like that they have both adults and kids playing,” said Cristina Mullally, of Wisconsin, who visited the museum for the first time.