The public is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy Rally Round the Flag: The American Civil War Through Folksong on Thursday, July 20 at 6:30 pm in the garden of the historic Colonel Paul Wentworth House. Marek Bennett will present an overview of the American Civil War through period music such as camp songs, parlor music, hymns, battlefield rallying cries, and fiddle tunes. Funded by a grant from New Hampshire Humanities, this program is free and open to the public, and no pre-registration is required.

In this program, Bennett will explore the folksong as a means to enact living history, share perspectives, and influence public perception of events, and audience members will be encouraged to participate and sing along. A musician, graphic artist, and educator, Bennett is a 2021 recipient of the Governor’s Award from the NH State Council on the Arts, and is the author of the graphic novel The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby. In case of inclement weather, the program will be moved indoors.

Located on Water Street in Rollinsford, NH, the circa 1701 Wentworth House is maintained by the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History (ARCH). For more information about this and other programs at the Wentworth House, check the ARCH website at www.paulwentworthhouse.org.

New Hampshire Humanities nurtures the joy of learning and inspires community engagement by bringing life-enhancing ideas from the humanities to the people of New Hampshire. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.