Although the professional baseball season is coming to an end, Boulder County Parks and Open Space events are in full swing. Walker Ranch Homestead, located at 7001 Flagstaff Road, will transport county residents to the 1800s at an Autumn Heritage Event on Sunday.
Attendees will experience a vintage base ball (baseball was two words during that time period) game, played with rules that date back to 1860. The Walker Rancher team — a team formed by Living History volunteers from all walks of life, from 16 to 80 years old — will play a vintage base ball game with rules that date back to 1860.
Baseball rules were slightly different in that time period. Balls were also larger and softer, bases were cloth bags and ballists, or players, wore no gloves.
Apart from a lively base ball game, the event will feature a butter churning station, expected to be popular with attendees.
“We never know who is gonna churn up!” said Cultural History Program Coordinator Sheryl Kippen, who has been involved with the Autumn Heritage Event for 13 years.
In addition to butter and base ball, attendees can expect to see blacksmiths at work, exhibiting practices from the time and old-fashioned laundry demonstrations.
Kippen said the time-traveling event is designed to inspire connectivity with community and history.
“It’s fun to see kids, and anybody of all ages, connecting … and a light bulb coming on, realizing that even though it seems like many years ago and that life was so different, it wasn’t really so different. It’s important to see where you’ve been so that we can know where we’re going,” Kippen said.
It’s recommended that attendees bring lawn chairs and a picnic to experience the game comfortably. The Autumn Heritage Event will be held from 12-3 p.m. on Sep. 24 and is free to attend.
