Drought May Prevent Washington From Crossing The Delaware

WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA — Low river levels may force General Washington and his troops to remain on dry land during Sunday's planned re-enactment of Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River.

Two re-enactments are planned this year at the park - Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the second on Christmas Day, Wednesday, Dec. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. The actual crossing is scheduled at 1 p.m. on both days and is dependent upon weather conditions.

According to park manager Corey Shannon, the Friends of Washington Crossing, emergency response personnel and park officials have been closely monitoring the river levels and will decide 24 hours before Sunday's event whether the boats will hit the water on Sunday.

"The event is still going to happen regardless. We just won't do the river crossing if the levels are too low," said Shannon. "We will still have re-enactments, cannon fire, Colonial-era music, and other events going on. And Washington will still make his speech."

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

(Jeff Werner/Patch)

The river, said Shannon, has been running about six inches below what is needed to make a safe crossing using the large Durham boats. "It's going to depend on what happens in the next few days whether we get some water," he said earlier in the week.

"The Durham boats are pretty big and they run deep in the water. The dock right now is even jammed up on the shore so we couldn't get to the boats even if we wanted to. But we'll see what happens this weekend. We're keeping our fingers crossed for Sunday and we'll play it again for Christmas Day. We have some time before then to get some rain."

Shannon said he's looking forward to Sunday's event regardless of what happens with the boats. "This will be my first one as park manager and I'm looking forward to it," he said. "It's a special event. It's nationally recognized. And it's a special thing to be a part of here."

The crossing on Christmas night in 1776 marked a pivotal moment in the American Revolution. Each year, thousands gather to relive the event, featuring hundreds of reenactors in full Continental Army uniform. Visitors of all ages will be captivated as they hear General Washington
deliver an inspiring speech and watch the soldiers row across the river in replica Durham boats.

First Crossing

The First Crossing takes place on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (actual crossing at 1 p.m.). Beyond witnessing the historical reenactment, visitors can immerse themselves in the Colonial Era for the day. During the event, families are invited to participate in a range of activities:

• Smell and taste bread prepared by a period baker
• See how soldiers drilled in preparation for battle
• Hear the park's fife and drum corps perform
• Learn how cannons were loaded and fired
• Watch blacksmiths demonstrate their craft
• Browse the wares of colonial craftspeople
• Immerse yourself in a follower’s encampment
• Try your hand at colonial-era games

The guest narrator will be Charles R. Bowry Jr., executive director, U.S. Army Center of Military History. Bowery oversees the management of 29 Army museums, including the National Museum of the United States Army. He is responsible for the overall direction of historical matters throughout the Department of the Army and supervises the production of Army historical works and studies. He is also a published author and a specialist in the American Civil War.

Admission for the Dec. 8 event is $9 for adults, $5 for children aged 5-11, and free for children under 5. A special family package is available for $25 (two adults, two children). Tickets can be purchased in advance at WashingtonCrossingPark.org/cross-with-us. Proceeds from the event enable Washington Crossing Historic Park to offer the second Christmas Day Crossing reenactment free of charge.

Running in conjunction with the events on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, Washington Crossing State Park in New Jersey will be holding "The Landing," a celebration of Washington and his troops landing on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. Click here for complete details.

(Crossing a foggy Delaware River during the 2023 re-enactment. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Christmas Day Crossing

On Wednesday, December 25 the public is invited to celebrate the 72nd annual Christmas Day Crossing from 12 to 3 p.m. (actual crossing at 1 p.m.). Arrival by 11:30 a.m. is recommended to secure a good view. Admission is free, thanks to proceeds from the December 8th Crossing and contributions from many generous donors.

Both river crossings are contingent upon safe weather conditions for participants. However, even if conditions do not allow for crossing, guests can still participate in historic ceremonies, speeches, and commemorative colonial-era activities.