Old Bethpage Village Presents Brass Band Concerts, Traditional Contra-Dancing, October 11 -13

Old Bethpage Village Restoration (OBVR) will offer a fall tradition of brass band concerts on October 11 - 13, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

The musical event features the Old Bethpage Village Brass Sextet providing interpretations of mid-19th-century tunes, including a variety of quick-steps, marches, waltzes, schottisches and concert pieces, many of which remain familiar to contemporary audiences. The concerts will take place at the Noon Inn PicNic grove on the Village grounds, at 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

In addition, on October 12, OBVR will present a performance of traditional contra-dancing, a popular form of 19th-century entertainment that involved listening to fiddle tunes and dancing to the calls of the local dance-master. The Old Bethpage Village Dancers is a group of dedicated volunteers who practice a variety of contra-dances, quadrilles and reels and perform on a regular basis at OBVR.

The performers, in mid-19th-century attire, will demonstrate such dances as the Jefferson and Liberty, the Lancer’s Quadrille, and the Virginia Reel. The group will be called by accomplished dance-master Chart Guthrie. On all three days, there will also be performances of traditional fiddle tunes from noon - 4 p.m., in the School House.

Old Bethpage Village provides visitors with a unique and wonderful opportunity to step back in time and experience life in a recreated mid-19th-century American village set on more than 200 acres. Hours are Wed. - Sun., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Entrance fees are $7 for children 5 - 12 (those under 5 are free), seniors and volunteer firefighters; and $10 for adults. It is located on Round Swamp Road in Old Bethpage; for more information, call 516-572-8400.