The Graw Days Festival
Come join us for our annual Graw Days Festival. With a wide variety of delicious food, live foot-stomping music all day, horses from the Susquehanna State Park Mounted Patrol reminding us that horses and horse racing are the theme of the Festival, lots of kids games, a wheeled horse parade, artisans and craftspeople displaying their handicrafts and talents, pumpkin making, historic presentations and displays, and our local merchants' doors swinging all day, we can say only one thing: Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Third Annual Graw Days Festival!
The Graw Days represent a colorful time in Havre de Grace's history beginning in 1912 with the construction of the Havre de Grace Racetrack, affectionately called "The Graw." The track was considered on the of the best racing strips of the American turf and was the main training ground for owners who hoped to win the Kentucky Derby. It also made Havre de Grace a popular stop-off for travelers and gamblers up and down the East Coast.
The timeframe of the Graw Days Festival is the Roaring Twenties, with period music and costumes, a wide variety of food, beer garden, historic displays and presentations, and artists and craftspeople in booths along downtown streets closed to traffic. Havre de Grace Main Street, Inc. draws thousands of visitors to this event, which will be held rain or shine.
Family-friendly daytime events took place downtown from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Games and horse-themed activities for kids of all ages including free pony rides, a Wheeled Horse Parade and Contest and the Havre de Grace Library had fun projects for children.
Horse-drawn carriages take visitors on tours of the downtown area.
The History Tent featured speakers: David Craig Harford County Executive as well as expert on the Graw; David Pietrusza respected author and historian will speak on the notorious criminal kingpin, Arnold Rothstein (Graw owner); Mitch Shank, Havre de Grace Councilman shared the history of the street names in Havre de Grace; Ryan Kelly, MD Jockey Club historian; Dr. Ken Unruh, History of Havre de Grace; Donna Miller, Havre de Grace tales of ghosts.
There were live music performances throughout the day from the Peabody Ragtime Ensemble, Swanee River Ragtime Band, Jack Fox and Mojo Daddy.
Vendors are invited to participate in the Graw Days Festival. Please complete the online application and pay online or send print the application below and mail it to the Main Street office.
Picture memories from our Graw Festival.
In the evening. . . join us for the Graw Days Gala
At the Graw Club House, located on Old Bay Lane (now known as the Maryland National Guard), we bring the 1920's back, where you can find many famous and notorious characters hanging out just like the old days: Al Capone and movie stars like Jane Russell.
Remembering the Graw's colorful history is not only interesting but great fun and you can either dress in 1920's costume or black tie. Don't miss out! Be sure to purchase your
tickets in advance as the seating is limited!
Here are some memories!
