Betsy Fest Slated for April 26

Daily Advance/Kesha Williams

Downtown Hertford is gearing up to host Betsy Fest, a local street festival held in recognition of the Betsy Dowdy, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 26.

Festival organizers are holding the event at part of the 250th anniversary of teenage Betsy Dowdy’s cold, rainy, night ride from Currituck County to Perquimans County to warn General William Skinner and the troops of a British advance.

Hertford Town Council members voted March 10 during their routine meeting to close select streets to prevent vehicles from roaming while festival attendees are strolling.

Betsy Fest will feature a 7 a.m. pancake breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club of Hertford at Trinity Episcopal Church, 21 N. Church Street in Hertford. Other festival events include antiques and vintage/hand-made vendors/demonstrators, food trucks, a pig picking, contests, activities, historic artifacts and speakers, music, an ale (beer and wine) garden beginning at 2 p.m. and the much-anticipated announcement of the winner of the Be A BETSY contest.

One local teenage girl will be selected by a panel of judges to represent Hertford as Betsy 2025. The winner will participate in official town events and win cash and prizes. (applications: http://www.downtownhertford.com)

Festival participants are encouraged to wear their favorite colonial attire for a chance to win a prize for “best dressed.” In addition, Kitty Griffin, author of “The Ride,” a children’s book that recounts Betsy Dowdy’s story, will be on site to autograph books.

Trish Gregory Rand, director of the non-profit Downtown Hertford said the Betsy Fest is a nod to Hertford’s rich history and a chance to celebrate the bravery of Betsy Dowdy. The 1775 teenager who rode her pony in the dark of night more than forty miles from Currituck to Hertford to warn General Skinner of the British advance.

Rand continued, “In January we started making plans for a spring celebration of the upcoming mural of Betsy that will be featured on the side of the old Perquimans Weekly building. With the 250th anniversary, the small event quickly gained interest, and we figured there was no better time to kick off a festival.”

This year will be a smaller version of what we plan to grow into an annual tradition.” The mural will be part of the NC Main Street Trail of 100 murals in 100 NC counties celebrating under-recognized heroes. For updates and information, visit their Facebook page or www.downtownhertford.com.