Ships, Fireworks, Skirmishes To Highlight War of 1812 Commemoration

The British will attack Havre de Grace on May 3, exactly 200 years after they did so in the War of 1812.

Only this time, Havre de Grace is prepared—and the outcome is bound to be one memorable party.

The city will remember the events of May 1813 with a three-day event, spanning the weekend of May 3-5, featuring First Friday, reenactments, a dinner and ball, orchestral performances, a gubenatorial visit, a 5K and a fireworks show.

Read more on the War of 1812 bicentennial here.

"It really is going to be quite a commemorative weekend, where we all can be very proud of our past, where we're at today and where we're going," said Havre de Grace City employee and War of 1812 Committee member Patrick Sypolt.

Sypolt delivered a general run-down of events slated for the weekend, which begins with the season's first First Friday event in the city's historic Arts & Entertainment District.

See the schedule below for details.

Two tall ships, the Pride of Baltimore and the Saltana, will be anchored in Havre de Grace during Saturday and Sunday festivities.

FRIDAY | May 3

• 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. » Havre de Grace Main Street's First Friday in the downtown Arts & Entertainment District

SATURDAY | May 4

• 10:30 a.m. » Flag raising at Concord Point Lighthouse British reenactors attack, leading to a skirmish.
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. » Reenactors march from Lighthouse to the Lock House, including five skirmishes on the way. One will involve the capture of John O'Neill.
• 1-3 p.m. » Fort McHenry Guard performs drills at Lock House
• 3 p.m. » March from Lafayette Square to Rochambeau Plaza, where a large flag will be unfurled.
• 4-5 p.m. » Dinner break
• 5-11 p.m. » Dinner and ball, featuring reenactors at Havre de Grace High School gym
• 6:30 p.m. » Fort McHenry Guard, APG Color Guard, American Legion Honor Guard, will present the colors on a new flagpole at Concord Point
• 7 p.m. » Gov. Martin O'Malley, County Executive David Craig and Mayor Wayne Dougherty will speak to the crowd at Concord Point
• 7:30 p.m. » Columbia Orchestra plays for 90 minutes, leading into fireworks show
• 9 p.m. » Fireworks by Fireworks Extravaganza

SUNDAY | May 5

• 7 a.m. » 5K Red Coat Run
• 10 a.m. » Kayak/Canoe Poker Run
• 10:30 a.m. » Service featuring sermons composed during the 1812 era at St. John's Episcopal Church

Patch will continue to update this story with any changes in the schedule.