Photo by Mark Avino/NASM, Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution.?Collecting samples with a robotic arm is just one of the activities for visitors of the annual Mars Day celebration at the National Air and Space Museum’s building on the National Mall in Washington Friday, July 16.

Published on: Wednesday, July 14, 2010

1st Annual Gettysburg 19th Century Base Ball Tournament

On July 17 and 18, six clubs will compete for the First Championship.

Visitors will get to watch base ball played the same way it was played in 1864 with the same style equipment and uniforms and clubs playing by the same rules and customs as was used at the end of the Civil War.

In the Union Division the featured clubs are the Pittsburgh Franklins BBC, the Somerset (Pa.) Frosty Sons of Thunder and the Flemington (N.J.) Neshanock. The Confederate Division features the Eclipse Base Ball Club of Elkton (Md.), the Talbot Fair Plays (Md.) and the Diamond State BBC of Delaware.

Photo courtesy of Smithsonian Institution. First Annual Gettysburg 19th Century Base Ball Tournament is July 17 and 18.

Each Confederate club plays each Union club. The two clubs with the best record will play for the championship regardless of division.

The tournament will take place at Hickory Hollow Farm, which is less than three miles from the center of Gettysburg, Pa., going west on Lincoln Highway (Route 30).

Matches will start at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. and noon Sunday.

For information, visit:

http://gvbbt.wordpress.com/.

New artifacts to be unveiled in Gettysburg

Three significant Gettysburg-related artifacts will make their debut at Gettysburg National Military Park’s Museum and Visitor Center on July 16, thanks to a contribution from a group of miniaturists and artists.

The battle flag of the 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment will go on display for the first time at Gettysburg. The frock coat and sash of Captain Isaac Nicoll of the 124th New York Infantry will go on exhibit for the first time ever.

The display of these artifacts was made possible through a donation of $7,012 from the Artist Preservation Group, historical artists whose mission is to generate capital, through fundraising and donations, to aide in the preservation and restoration of threatened historical sites and/or artifacts.

The Artist Preservation Group provided funding for conservation work on the historic objects, which was necessary before they could be placed on exhibit.

The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg. For tickets or information about how to visit call 877-874-2478 or visit www.gettysburgfoundation.org.

Future space travelers report for Mars training

The mysteries of the Red Planet will be explored Friday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a variety of fun family activities at the National Air and Space Museum's flagship building on the National Mall.

Visitors will learn about current and future missions to Mars from the director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, Jim Green.

Scientists from the museum's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, as well as presenters from the museum's Education Division will participate in a full day of educational Mars-focused presentations and displays.

Activities include maneuvering a small robotic rover, a Red Planet quiz show, a hands-on study of meteorites, the latest super high-resolution images from the HiRISE camera in the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, a children's art workshop, story time and opportunities to talk about recent discoveries with museum scientists, who are science team members in some of NASA's ongoing Mars missions.

Contact:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/.

Delaware Shakespeare Festival

Enjoy Shakespeare under the stars when the Annual Shakespeare Festival returns to beautiful Rockwood Mansion Park July 16-July 31.

The open air festival’s featured production this year is Macbeth. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Sunday performances begin at 6 p.m. and children under 10 are admitted free with a paid adult ticket. Extra craft and special activities for children are offered on Sundays.

Visit www.DelShakes.org for more details.

Blueberry Festival

Visitors to Harford County, Md.’s Blueberry Festival will enjoy homemade blueberry pies and other baked goods, plant sale and white elephant sale. Live music and children’s activities.

Delicious lunches and desserts are available. Attend the live auction of collectibles, antiques, Persian rugs and more.

Deer Creek Meetinghouse, 1212 Main Street, Darlington; July 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.

Contact: 410-688-6332; www.harfordfriends.org.

Irish Festival

The Irish Heritage Foundation of Gettysburg will present the 11th annual Adams County Irish Festival on Saturday, July 17.

The event will run from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. and will feature all things Irish – music, dance, food, merchandise and more.

Each year, the event draws thousands to the shady grounds of Moose Park for Adams County’s only Irish festival. Making their Festival debut is this year’s headliner, the Makem & Spain Brothers, who hail from New England, and bring their robust and hearty voices and instrumentation to a new generation of Irish folk music fans.

Visitors to the festival will also be entertained by regional favorites Irishtown Road, Kilshanny and Barleyjuice, and will be introduced to new regional favorites, Raining Hearts and Rigadoo.

The Coyle School of Irish Dance and the Broesler School of Irish Dance will also perform.

For a complete schedule of the day’s events, and additional information on the festival, visit www.adamscountyirishfestival.com.

Delaware State Fair

July 22-July 31 Delaware's 91st annual State Fair gets with shows, carnival rides and plenty of entertainment.

This year, see Food Network Celebrity Paula Deen, and concerts by Paramore, Brad Paisley, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Beach Boys. Fee, for info, 302-398-3269 or www.delawarestatefair.com.

For more information on Mid-Atlantic events, visit www.tripsandgetaways.com.