2019 Colchester Muster
The 14th Annual Colchester Muster will be held on Saturday, July 27, 2019 from 10am to 4pm on the Colchester Town Green in Colchester, Connecticut, with a rain date of the following Sunday. Enjoy an afternoon of martial music performed by Fife and drum corps from Connecticut and surrounding states who will join the Colchester Continental Fife & Drum Corps who is hosting the event.
Colchester Muster
The Colchester Continental Fife and Drum Corps Muster will kick off at noon with a short parade on Norwich Ave, beginning at the town hall and ending at the green. Opening ceremonies and the Muster will follow. At a fife & drum muster, each corps marches onto the “muster field,” plays a selection of tunes, (usually a 5 minute medley or two) and marches off. When all corps have performed, it is custom for willing members from each corps to amass for “jollification” or the playing of common fife & drum tunes of yesteryear.
Martial Music & More!
Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on and enjoy the different corps attending this year’s parade and muster. The Colchester Muster occurs at the same time and place (and as part of) the annual Colchester Historical Society Festival on the Green. Together, both feature events and activities for the whole family including a Fife and Drum Muster, music by the Colchester Regional Chamber Orchestra, a quality Craft Show, craft demonstrations,and freshly prepared food.
Exhibitors from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island bring a variety of arts and crafts including, woodworking, painting, pottery, clothing, jewelry and stained glass. The Colchester Lion’s Club will offer freshly prepared food for both breakfast and lunch.
Colchester Muster & Festival on the Green Schedule include:
10:00 am: Colchester Regional Chamber Orchestra
12:00 pm: Historic Fife and Drum Muster hosted by the Colchester Continentals Fife and Drum Corps
All day: Food Court
All day: Raffle offered by the Colchester Historical Society. Take a chance on an array of valuable prizes!
Location
Colchester Town Green and Softball Field
98 Hayward Ave
Colchester, CT 06415
About the Colchester Continental Fife and Drum Corps
The Colchester Continental Fife and Drum Corps comes to you from Colchester Connecticut. The Corps formed in the late 1800s, disbanded around the time of the second world war and was reformed in 2004. The uniforms, consisting of military overalls, dull green waistcoats and haversacks, represent clothing of the late 18th Century.
This non profit group maintains a busy schedule, performing in parades, musters, re-enactments and large events throughout the New England and the east coast. In the 10 years since the Colchester Continentals reorganized, they have traveled to perform in places such as Leesburg VA, Bar Harbor ME, Philadelphia PA and Fort Ticonderoga NY. They have opened for the US Soccer team, performed at Valley Forge and Disney World, and were featured on ABC’s syndicated hit, Extreme Make Over – Home Edition.
Historical Note: You may be wondering about the Steer inked into the calf skin heads of the bass drums. For centuries, Colchester was widely famed as the home town of Revolutionary War hero, Colonel Henry Champion, whom was credited for bringing livestock and rations to Washington’s starving troops at Valley Forge. It is believed that the original Colchester Continentals used the charging steer on their drums to symbolize the strength, courage and perseverance exhibited during Champion’s journey.
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Colchester Muster on the Green in Colchester, Connecticut.
Tags: Colchester Muster, Colchester Fife and Drum Muster, Drum and Fife Corps, CCFDC Muster on the Green, Muster on the Green