July 11 and 12, 2025
mark the Whiskey Rebellion Festival 14h
After all the rain and the forever spring, it is hard to believe that it is time for the Whiskey Rebellion Festival. The festival committee has been working hard for months and we can not wait to see everyone on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12.
In 2024, we welcomed roughly 7,000 visitors to the festival. It was by far, the biggest crowd we have ever seen and we hope those same people and more come to this year’s awesome event, where we celebrate history.
The main thing I am asked is, what is new at the Whiskey Rebellion Festival this year? So, here you go, this is what is new at the 2025 Whiskey Rebellion Festival:
1. Come get your FREE 5x7 silhouette within minutes. Sweet Silhouettes will be set up in front of the ObserverReporter courtyard from 1-5 p.m.
2. The George Washington Hotel is once again part of the fun. From noon till 6, needlepoint and weaving demonstrators will be in the hotel’s English Room, as well as the Soldiers and Sailors historic gaming group. This nonprofit group is committed to increasing interest in history. The game would be from the French and Indian period.
3. The mercantile area setup is flipping from vertical to horizontal. Also, there will be TWO demonstrators in this area. They will demo and sell their products.
4. The history and heritage group area (in the Washington Financial employee lot) will include over a dozen history groups and a demonstrator. The Historic Fort Cherry Association will show you how to make corn husk dolls.
5. Felix the Magician will be strolling around the festival, as well as returning favorite, Bob the Juggler.
6. Festival T-shirts sales will be right in the heart of the festival at the Patriots Pavilion.
7. The memory ribbon table will also be the information table, manned by Rotarians.
8. Forlini Kitchen and Ash Kris Kitchen’s food trucks will be located on the upper level of the Pavilion.
9. The Blue Eagle Tavern has moved to the back of the lower level - much more space!
10. New Whiskey & Spirits Walk vendors include Mingo Creek Cellars, Inspired by Spirits Distillery and Bones Distillery. You can still buy tickets to the walk.
11. New businesses participating in the Whiskey & Spirits Walk include 180 S Main Street, Puskar Law and Big Shot Bobs.
12. Children’s activities will be in the Bradford House gardens AND in the Meeting House. This allows a place to take a break from the heat.
All of these new things are in addition to the festival norms: history and heritage displays, historic street theater, living historians, demonstrators, Lil’ Rebel area, courthouse tours, food trucks, music, shopping and libations at the Blue Eagle Tavern!
I have been working on keeping the website updated, so please check it out: whiskeyrebellionfestival.com. Remember this publication goes to print weeks before the actual festival, so things may change!
Let’s Rebel like it’s 1794!
Please know that this magazine goes to print a few weeks before the actual festival, therefore everything is subject to change. Follow us on Facebook for the most current information.
Tracie Liberatore, Executive Director of the Bradford House Historical Association and Program Director of the Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Go Things to know before you
Street Closures
Main Street will close from Wheeling Street to Maiden Street on Friday starting at 3 pm.
Main Street will close from Wheeling Street to Maiden Street on Saturday starting at 9 am.
Accessible parking spaces
The Observer-Reporter employee parking lot on Wheeling Street
Friday Parking
After 5 p.m., all metered parking on the streets free
Saturday Parking
Parking Building on Franklin Street.
Citizens Library Parking Lot
All metered parking on the streets is free.
Restrooms
The Main Street Pavilion restrooms will be closed, per City orders.
Porta johns are located on the west side of Strawberry Alley.
★ ★ Schedule of
Friday, July 11
4:30 - 9:30 p.m. Blue Eagle Tavern & Food Trucks Main Street Pavilion
5:30 p.m.
6
& Spirits Walk Registration Meeting House at 182 S. Main St.
6 - 8 p.m. WJPA on-site for a live remote Main Street Pavilion
SATURday, July 12
Open All Day Blue Eagle Tavern and Evening Food Trucks
Noon History Parade Main Street Street Theatre Act ONE Main Street
Noon - 4 p.m. Courthoue Tour 1 S. Main St.
noon - 6 p.m.
History and Heritage Displays Washington Financial Employee Lot (Wheeling Street)
Demontrators in the English Room at the George Washington Hotel 60 S. Main St.
Children’s activities in the Meeting House 182 S. Main St.
Lil’ Rebels Area Bradford House Garden
Shopping Area Strawberry Alley
Bradford House Museum 175 S. Main Street
Whiskey Rebellion Education & Visitor Center 184 S. Main St.
Bob the Juggler Roaming
home and rest up for a full day of activities on Saturday!
Magician Felix Riba Roaming Silhouette Portraits
In front of the Observer-Reporter courtyard
Whiskey Rebellion Festival ★ ★
Councilman Joe De Thomas
Joe is the festival’s logistics guy that keeps things straight regarding road closures, contracts and permits. Joe is also the guy that knows everyone and can get things answered as needed. Joe is one of the hardest working guys, before, during and after the festival.
Kathy Sabol
Kathy is the Executive Director at the Washington County Bar Association and the President of Washington Rotary. At the festival, Kathy manages the food trucks. She has developed a great relationship with the vendors and can squeeze them into our tight layout.
Denise Cummins
Denise, a retired teacher, is a Bradford House board member, and she is very knowledgeable of our local history. Denise manages the festival’s history aspects and gift shops.
Michael Robinson
Mike is the Bradford House’s Board Chair. Mike manages the Blue Eagle Tavern at the festival. Mike, along with the Bradford House campus committee and Joe D. are instrumental on setup and takedown.
Melissa Mega
Melissa is the owner of the Ivy Green Floral. Melissa is in charge of the mercantile area. The shopping area is a nice mix of history and variety. Most vendors want to come back year after year.
April Betzner
April is the Treasurer for the Bradford House overseeing the festival’s income and expenses. You will also find April volunteering at different areas of the festival.
Stephen Rydzak
Stephen is the Marketing Manager at Brandmotives. Stephen and his crew manage the marketing aspects of the festival, concentrating on social media coverage.
Tracie Liberatore
Tracie is the Executive Director of the Bradford House Historical Association which includes the Bradford House Museum, the Whiskey Rebellion Education and Visitor Center, and the Meeting House. Tracie is the festival’s program manager.
This group of magnificent eight have been working together for years and everything runs very efficiently. They are a nice mix of Bradford House board members and community members. Several others play an important part in the festival: Terri Perry with the street theater performances; Tara Gleason with the history and heritage groups; Stacey Till with the musicians; John and Dorthy Tecklenburg with the memory tree ribbons; Kristen Fredrickson with the courthouse tours; the Washington Rotarians with the information booth; and the Bradford House’s Education Committee with the Lil’ Rebel area. In addition to this crew, there are over 80 volunteers on Saturday at the festival.
If you want to get involved with the festival, contact Tracie at info@bradfordhouse.org.
★ ★ Whiskey & Spirits
Friday, July 11 • 6-9 p.m.
Registration starts at 5:30 pm at the Meeting House 182 S. Main Street
$50 per ticket
Be a Rebel! Join the Walk!
Participants are given a wristband, a walking map and a sampling glass at the Meeting House. The wristband identifies you to the vendors. Spirit and wine vendors are set up throughout the footprint within businesses. You walk from place to place, sampling different libations.
If you like something you sample, you can purchase a bottle. Some runners collect all the bottles purchased, and at the end of the walk, you go back to the walk registration and collect your bottles. This way, you don’t have to walk around with your bottles. Participants will be given a pretzel snack bag and bottle of water. This is the perfect way to kick off the Whiskey Rebellion Festival. Participating businesses around town will host a vendor.
Participating Distilleries
Bones Distillery (new for 2025)
Burgess & Burgess Distillery
Crooked Creek Distillery
Country Hammer Moonshine
Jack Daniels (no bottle sales)
Heist Spirits
Inspired By Spirits Distillery (new for 2025)
Iron City Distilling
Lucky Sign Spirits
MHL Distillery
Mingo Creek Cellars (new for 2025)
Old Overholt (no bottle sales)
Ponfeigh Distillery
Red Pump Spirits
Still Mill Distillery
Washington Winery
Participating Businesses
180 S. Main Street (new for 2025)
April Ryan’s Thistledown Boutique
Big Shot Bobs (new for 2025)
Burgess & Burgess Distillery
Bones Distillery
Bradford House Museum
Bradford House’s Kitchen Cabin
Main Street Brewhouse
Enchanted Alchemy
Krave Hair Studio
Once in Time Vintage
Pretzels Plus
Puskar Law Firm (new for 2025)
Vocelli Pizza
Washington Winery
Whiskey Rebellion Education and Visitor Center
Historically, the festival kicks off on Friday night with a performance by the Washington Symphony Orchestra starting at 8 p.m.. Then on the main stage at the Main Street Pavilion, musicians perform beginning at noon, and all day and night until 10 p.m. Saturday.
For more information on the Symphony contact Cassandra Muhr, General Manager, 412-512-1662, washsymgm@gmail.com | info@washsym.org.
MVAA fife & drum band
MVAA Fife & Drum Band will not only be in the history march at noon, but they will take the main stage at 12:30 pm on Saturday, July 12th to kick off our music lineup! Mon Valley Academy for the Arts, Inc.
Friday, July 11, 2025
• 7 p.m. - Friday’s music lineup starts with Dominque Theodore singing the National Anthem.
• 8-930 p.m. - The Washington Symphony performs in the Main Street Community Pavilion.
• The food trucks and Blue Eagle Tavern will be open!
Saturday, July 12, 2025
• 12:30: MVAA Fife and Drum Band
• 1:30: Dan Baker
• 2:30: Wolf Tones
• 4:30: Knob Road
• 6:30: Amanda Fish
• 8: The Commonheart
DAN BAKER
Dan Baker performs unique instrumental guitar arrangements of songs ranging from John Coltrane to John Mayer. He earned a BFA in Music Performance from The New School and attended Graduate Studies at New York University. Dan is currently based out of his hometown of Washington.
The Wolf Tones
The Wolf Tones are a four-piece hurricane of brain-bending bluegrass out of Pittsburgh. Blending a love of old-school ‘grass with some heady jamming and a penchant for exploring a wide variety of genres, The Wolf Tones always put on a high-energy show. All in a night’s work for your favorite bluegrass band without opposable thumbs — The Wolf Tones. The band: Joe Dep, banjo; Dave Nemo, bass; Archie Cortez, mandolin; Patrick Varine, guitar.
Amanda Fish
Amanda Fish’s music has been described as “a from-the-gut vocals belting out impassioned lyrics over swampy guitar and rock-heavy drums, with a driving bassline that locks in a groove the audience can’t help but dance to.” and it currently has more than 220k streams on Spotify, with over 4k monthly listeners worldwide and growing.
Knob Road
Knob Road a SWPA Outlaw Country/Southern Rock Music Band performs music hits from the 60’s,70’s and 80’s. Knob Road consists of 6 members who are Mike Triplett (lead vocals) formerly of Southern Discomfort and The Toast Band , Dave Hixon (guitar and vocals), Mark Knapp (drums) , Tom Hollowood (bass and vocals), Reese Slater (lead guitar and harmonica) and Joe Laabs who is our full time soundman.
The Commonheart
The Commonheart’s latest album, Pressure, is both rugged and refined. The 10-song album showcases raw-nerve soul musicianship pristinely recorded. The opening track boasts soulful sandpaper-y lead vocals, swoops of cosmic slide guitar, a driving Sly Stone groove, and rousing female backup vocals. It’s an up-against-a-wall tune about making a living while raising a family, and it speaks to the album’s title. The bluesy ballad title track, replete with pleading emotive vocals, drips yearning and melancholy redemption.
SUNDAY PRIX FIXE $40
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
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STARTER
SIDE SALAD / SOUP
Jacksons Signature Greens Caeser Salad
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Home-Made BBQ Sauce, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Roasted Potatoes, Roasted Carrots
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Vanilla Ice Cream, Candied Walnuts, Chocolate Sauce
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OR MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS ON OPEN TABLE
History, History, History, History,
Saturday, July 12 • Noon to 6 p.m.
Living History on Main kicks off with a history parade from the Courthouse down Main Street. All of the historians have been asked to participate. In 2024, we had about 100 marchers.
• The Bradford House, located at 175 S. Main Street, will be open for walk-throughs of the first floor. We encourage you to return another day for a full tour.
• The Whiskey Rebellion Education and Visitor Center, located at 184 S. Main Street, will be open for walk-throughs.
• Courthouse Tours - 30 minutes. Courthouse open for tours from noon to 4 pm.
Demonstrators and Living Historians: From noon till 6 p.m.
• Meeting House (182 S. Main St.) for Lil’ Rebels
• Bradford House gardens (175 S. Main St.)
o Bryan Cunning with his militia armory display
o Kate Cunning and Jorma Borish cooking demonstrations in the outdoor kitchen cabin
o Children’s muster drills
• History and Heritage Area (Washington Financial Lot, at the corner of S. Main St. and Wheeling St.)
• Mercantile Area (Strawberry Alley): Blacksmith and looming demonstrations and product sales
• English Room (George Washington Hotel). New for 2025, there will be demonstrators in the George Washington Hotel
o Brenda Applegate’s Needleworking
o Kathy Wells’ weaving
o The Soldiers and Sailors historic gaming group. A nonprofit group committed to increasing interest in history. The game would be from the French and Indian period.
History and Heritage Area
Saturday, July 12, from noon to 6 pm —
Washington Financial employee parking lot
History groups and associations are invited to display their materials during the day on Saturday in the Washington Financial lot, at the corner of S. Main Street and Wheeling St. History and Heritage Area participants are sponsored by Range Resources.
A.D. White Research Society
Daughters of the American Revolution- National Pike Chapter
Elizabeth Township Historical Society
Fort Henry History, Art and Publications
Historic Fort Cherry Association
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village
National Pike Trail
Oliver Miller Homestead Associates
Old Saint Luke’s Church
PA Trolley Museum
Peters Township Public Library Archives
Rivers of Steel
Sons of the American Revolution - George Washington Chapter
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation
Woodville
Whiskey Rebellion Festival Street Theater
Street Theatre Performance Schedule:
Scene I: General Neville’s Announcement (noon)
General John Neville announces to the crowd that he was recently appointed as Regional Tax Inspector by President George Washington. This announcement is met with outrage from the farmers as their survival depends on the trade of whiskey.
Scene II-Trouble in the Tavern (1 p.m.)
Tension rises and tempers flare as the tax is instated. Patrons of the Black Bear Tavern discuss the recent tar and feathering of excise officer, Robert Johnson. A heated debate ensues between a local farmer and a federalist supporter, resulting in a challenge to a duel.
Scene III-The Duel (2 p.m.)
Local farmer, Allegheny Turhane, and federalist supporter, Charles Higgins, take to the streets to defend their honor in a duel.
Scene IV-The Whiskey Wagon (4 p.m.)
Leaders of the Rebellion, David Bradford and John Holcroft, talk to the town drunk, Samuel Clayton, about cleaning up his act and joining their cause. The women commiserate over a recent loss, their lack of help at home due to their husbands’ involvement in the Rebellion, and their fears over what the future holds. David leaves for Philadelphia to speak to lawmakers and to serve as the voice of the western farmers.
Scene V-The Quiet Rebel (5 p.m.)
Elizabeth Bradford reads a letter from her husband, David, who is in Philadelphia. David urges the farmers to remain calm, to trust in his leadership, and to hold fast to the hope of a peaceful compromise. John Holcroft’s temper flares when General John Neville enters the Tavern and defends the tax. Samuel Clayton, now cleaned up, interrupts their argument and speaks to the group about what he thinks should happen next.
Scene VI-And What is Appropriate, Mr. Clayton? (6 p.m.)
The fury of the farmers has reached its boiling point as John Holcroft seals the fate of local tavern owner and federalist sympathizer, Alan Bedillion. Samuel Clayton calls for an “appropriate” punishment. Much to the dismay of David and Elizabeth Bradford, that appropriate punishment involves tar.
Cast of Characters:
• Town Crier: Pete Fernbaugh
• David Bradford: Noah Hilton (Pennsylvania State Representative)
• Elizabeth Bradford: Karissa Martin (David Bradford’s Wife)
• John Holcroft: Clay Kilgore (Rebellion Leader and Distiller)
• Rachel Holcroft: Terri Perry (John Holcroft’s Wife)
• Samuel Clayton: Dave Zanieski (Town Drunk turned Rebel Badass)
• Shezbezzar Sebastian Turhane aka Allegheny: David Gaudio (Rebel)
• Maude Turhane: Laura Pollanen (Allegheny’s Wife/Tavern Worker)
• General John Neville: Robert Gaudio (Regional Inspector for the Excise Tax)
• Charles “Duke” Higgins: Joe Piszczor (Federalist Sympathizer)
• Alan Bedillion: John Perry (Local Tavern Owner/ Federalist Sympathizer)
Whiskey Rebellion Festival for the Kids
Children’s activities can be found in 2 locations this year: behind the Bradford House Museum and across the street in the Meeting House at 182 S. Main Street.
Lil’ Rebels Area
At the Meeting House children can experience:
• Writing with a quill pen.
• Writing on a slate.
• Building a model log cabin.
• Playing with 18th century toys.
At the Bradford House garden area:
• Try 18th-century games such as rolling hoops, stilts and quoits.
• Participate in the militia muster and drill on
the quarter-hour.
• Enjoy storytelling and entertainment by Robert Mouland on the hour-hour.
• Join in 18th century broom dancing and a fiddler performance on the three-quarter hour.
• Learn about the role of youngsters on the frontier, trying their hands at the types of domestic chores required of children, such as beating rugs and washing clothes in a tub with a washboard.
Who says learning can’t be fun?
Bob the Juggler and Felix the Magician will be strolling throughout the festival.
The Lil’ Rebels area is sponsored by Washington Financial Bank.
Mercantile/Shopping
The mercantile area will be located in Strawberry Alley.
There will be “period” items, such as those made with techniques or materials generally available during the late 1700s, historical or festivalthemed items.
New for 2025 - there will be two demonstrators in the mercantile area who will not only demonstrate but also sell their goods! Come see the blacksmith and yarn looming.
Couldn’t Bee Better Honey
Cross Creek Cigars
Chocolate Moonshine Fudge & Truffles
Dorthy and DeWayne Blacksmithing
DW&C Co. Leathers
Isaiah 54 Gifts
James Josephs Designs
Laurel’s Leather
Opossum Pouch Soft Good
River Valley Gourmet Dips
Searchlight Kitchen Items
Small Batch Gifts LLC
Stag and Spindle
Thorned Rose Gifts
Vintage Grace Boutique
Westerwald Pottery
Additional Shopping: Festival Specific items on Saturday Festival merchandise (T-shirts and more) will be available for purchase in the Patriots Pavilion (139 S. Main Street).
The Bradford House Museum (175 S. Main Street) and the Whiskey Rebellion Education and Visitor Center (184 S. Main Street) are open from noon to 6 pm, and they both have gift shops that feature 18th century inspired items, books and Whiskey Rebellion souvenirs. Purchases at these locations directly support the BHHA.
★ ★ Blue Eagle Tavern and
Located in the Upper and Lower Main Pavilion
Food Trucks
Friday, July 11 • 5:30 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 12 • 11:15 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Ash & Kris Kitchen
Chicks n Waffles
Cool Treats
Courtyard Concessions
EB&D Concessions
Forlini’s Kitchen
Gil’s Pit Beef
Hoshi Food Truck
Johnny’s Seafood Shack
DTBW Juicery
Le’s Oriental Concessions
Maw’s Country Fixins
The Rustic Lemonade
Smoke This Tambellini’s
Wild River KK
Wu’s Shave Ice
Drink – Blue Eagle Tavern
Friday, July 11 • 5:30 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 12 • 11:15 am - 10:00 pm
The Blue Eagle Tavern is one of the most popular attractions at our festival. This year, Responsible Alcohol Management Program (RAMP) certified servers and volunteers will be staffing the Tavern. There will products from J&D Cellars, Bones Distillery and other premium brands.
BAR SELECTIONS
McFarlane’s Margaritas-$10: Jose Cuervo Original Margaritas
Rebellion Smashed-$13: Maker’s Mark whisky, lemon wedges, simple syrup, mint leaves
Old Washington-$13: On The Rocks Knob Creek Old Fashioned, orange twist
Elizabeth Bradford’s Market Street Cocktail-$13: On The Rocks Effen Cosmopolitan- vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice, lemon peel
The Albert Gallatin-$13: On The Rocks Effen Espresso Martini, vodka, coffee liquor, simple syrup, garnish
Barter Whiskey-$12: Maker’s Mark neat or with cola
Rebellion White Dog-$5: Bones Distillery favorite moonshine shots
Rebel Wives’ Crushed Grapes-$10: J&D Winery Chardonnay, Niagara, Merlot and Sirah
BEER SELECTIONS (16-ounce draft pours)
Miller Lite American Lager-$6
Leinenkugel Summer Shandy-$8
Washington Brewing Rebellion Ale-$8
Peroni Nastro Azzurro-$8
Founder’s All-Day IPA-$8
NO-BUBBLES HAPPY THURSDAY SPIKED REFRESHER (12-oz. 4% alcohol)
Raspberry Dragon Fruit-$5
Black Cherry-$5
Strawberry-$5
Pineapple Starfruit-$5
Mango Passionfruit-$5
WATER-$2/bottle
Whiskey Rebellion Dinner
Friday, November 14, 2025 • 6 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Southpointe 1000 Corporate Dr, Canonsburg, PA 15317
$150 per ticket
The Whiskey Rebellion Dinner has become the must-attend Washington County event. The dinner is the Bradford House’s main fundraiser. The evening includes a reception featuring passed hors d’oeuvres and a cocktail. Dinner features a one-of-a-kind whiskey-themed meal complete with a whiskey tasting and dessert. The silent auction represents local treasures and whiskey. Individual tickets are $150. Corporate sponsorships are available. Any questions, email us at info@ bradfordhouse.org or call us at 724-222-3604.
We may not have been there for the Whiskey Rebellion, but we’ve been in the forefront of local and national news since 1808. We may not have been there for the Whiskey Rebellion, but we’ve been in the forefront of local and national news since 1809.
Congratulations on another successful Whiskey Rebellion Festival
Congratulations on another successful Whiskey Rebellion Festival!
122 South Main Street • Washington, PA 15301 • 724-222-2200
122 South Main Street • Washington, PA 15301 • 724-222-2200
Thanks to our Sponsors for their Generous Support
