Carlisle Is Throwing Molly Pitcher a 272nd Birthday Bash

Carlisle is throwing a birthday party for a 272-year-old woman.

There will be cake. There will be live music. There will be people wandering through a cemetery. And, for the first time this year, there will be a contest to determine who can do the most convincing impression of the birthday girl.

This feels extremely Carlisle.

On Saturday, October 10, the Downtown Carlisle Association is taking over East South Street from 2–5 p.m. for the 272nd Molly Pitcher Birthday Bash, celebrating Mary Ludwig Hays, better known around here as Molly Pitcher.

And this is less history lecture, more block party with a Revolutionary War backstory.

The afternoon includes live music, local vendors, festival food and drinks, cemetery tours, free birthday cake and the inaugural Molly Pitcher Look-A-Like Contest.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Love Carlisle

Yes, there is birthday cake

You cannot invite an entire town to a 272nd birthday party and then neglect the cake.

Helena's Chocolate Cafe & Creperie is providing free birthday cake for the celebration, which immediately moves this particular history lesson considerably higher on my kids' list of preferred educational activities.

You can also tour the cemetery

The Barefoot Historian & Co. and Historic Carlisle are offering tours of the Old Public Graveyard during the celebration. The current event graphic from Love Carlisle lists tours from 3–5 p.m. and says reservations are required.

The Old Public Graveyard is particularly fitting for the day. Mary Hays McCauley is buried there, so this is one birthday celebration where wandering through a cemetery isn't a strange detour from the festivities. It's part of the story.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Love Carlisle

And then there is the Molly look-alike contest

This is new this year, and frankly I am delighted Carlisle decided what Molly Pitcher's birthday was missing was more Molly Pitchers.

The contest begins at 3 p.m., is open to all ages and is sponsored by Molly Pitcher Award recipient Crystal Kerns. Contestants will be judged on accuracy, creativity/originality and presentation.

So if somebody in your household has been waiting for an excuse to break out a bonnet and start carrying a ramrod around downtown Carlisle, their moment has arrived.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Love Carlisle

There is plenty happening between the history lessons

The Nick Andrew Staver Trio will provide live music, and vendors will line the street with food, drinks, local businesses, artisans and community organizations.

That combination is really what makes this one feel like Carlisle. The history isn't tucked behind glass somewhere. It is sitting right in the middle of a Saturday afternoon downtown, surrounded by music, food, local businesses and families.

And cake.

Never underestimate the educational value of cake.

Event information and images provided by Love Carlisle / Downtown Carlisle Association.

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