2019 Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster
Join us for the Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster on September 28, 2019 at historic Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts for a full day of music, muskets, history, and fun. The Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster opens at 10:00 am with a Colonial encampment, militia and crafts demonstrations, and contradancing. We expect dozens of colonial and craft vendors and 25 fife and drum corps.
Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster
Participation in the fife and drum muster is sought after by companies throughout the northeast. These groups include the host Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie, local groups including the Middlesex County Volunteers, William Diamond Jr. Fife and Drum Corps, Middlesex 4-H Fife and Drum Corps, Lincoln Minutemen, Stow Minutemen and Regimental Music of Saintonge and other groups.
The grand parade of fifes and drums will begin at noon and will be followed directly by a performance by each of the corps attending. The Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster is a celebration rather than a competition. The corps appear by invitation, and attend to share their music and friendship with other Fife & Drum Corps.
In the days preceding the Revolutionary War, militia would usually muster to drill twice each year, once in the spring and the other in the fall. Following their drill, the militia would be joined by their families and celebrate with good food and drink, music and games.
Admission & Hours
Admission: $2 (donation) for adults in contemporary dress
Hours: 11:30 pm – 5:00 pm
A Day at The Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster
The Sudbury Companies of Militia & Minute and the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companie host this full day of Revolutionary War era living history. The militia will execute its manual of arms. Then contra dancers will entertain the morning crowd in the main muster field. Soon after that, the Sudbury militia will call for an assembly, the town crier announce that the town of Sudbury had formed a local militia and then introduce the newly elected officers of the Sudbury Companies. Shortly after the colonel begins drilling his militia, British Regulars will arrive to arrest the newly installed colonel. The militia watch as their colonel is put in stocks and later taken away. They then pursue the Redcoats and exchange musket fire along the service road. When the musket fire ends, the Redcoats surrender.
Day at The Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster
Fifes and drums will then be heard in the distance as they assemble for their parade from the Grist Mill to the muster field. After the parade, each fife and drum company returns to play a stand piece. Throughout the day, militia and regiments can be seen and visited in their encampments. Living history demonstrations will include a blacksmith, tinsmith, potters, bakers and ladies working a kitchen. Vendors and sutlers will be selling their wares to participant and specators alike.
Location
Longfellow’s Wayside Inn
72 Wayside Inn Road
Sudbury, MA 01776
Parking: Available in three areas, entered off The Wayside Inn Road service road, Route 20 itself, and Dutton Road.
Camping: Entrance to the participant camping grounds is by the “service entrance” road. The Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster parade will assemble at the Grist Mill. Please be off the camping grounds by noon on Sunday. A area hotels are also available.
Parade: Begins promptly at 12:00 at the Grist Mill. The Muster will immediately follow.
[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”2018 Order of March”]
1. Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum Co.
2. Westbrook Drum Corps
3. Landcraft Fife & Drum Corps
4. Menotomy Minute Men Fife & Drum
5. Kentish Guards Fife & Drum Corps
6. Connecticut Patriots
7. William Diamond Jr. Fife & Drum Corps
8. Prescott’s Battalion
9. Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes & Drums
10. 4-H Jr. Fife & Drum Corps
11. Americlique
12. Stow Minutemen Fifes & Drums
13. Uxbridge/25th Massachusetts
14. Ancient Mariners
15. Milford Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps
16. Bluff Point Quahog Diggers Band
17. Colonial Navy of Massachusetts
18. Adamsville Ancients Fife & Drum
19. Middlesex County Volunteers
20. Fifes & Drums of the Lincoln Minute Men
21. Grand Republic Fife & Drum Corps
22. Pawtuxet Rangers
23. Lighthouse Brigade[/su_spoiler][/su_accordion]
Alcohol Consumption
It is important to remember that we are guests of the Wayside Inn. All muster activities are held on its property. The consumption of alcohol on the muster field is limited to within a roped area around the Sudbury Ancients food tent as part of the muster meal served to our guests. At the request of the Inn, all alcohol must be consumed in a mug or “colonial” style drinking cup. No plastic cups will be provided. Some mugs may be available for purchase.
Firing Muskets
Any Corps hoping to fire muskets must notify the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute (SCMM) at safety@sudburyminutemen.org by August 31, and follow their firing instructions which will be sent to those who reply. Failure to do so will result in removal from the parade and future invitation lists.
Mark your calendar today so you won’t miss the next Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster at the Longfellow’s Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts on the last Saturday of September.
Tags: Sudbury Colonial Faire and Fife & Drum Muster, Sudbury Colonial Faire, Sudbury Fife & Drum Muster, Revolutionary War Reenactment