HUNTINGDON — Memorial Day weekend at Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon has always carried a certain feeling — part remembrance, part celebration, part homecoming.

It’s the unofficial start of summer in the Juniata Valley, but it’s also a moment to pause and honor the generations who shaped the country, from the soldiers who never returned home to the early American workers who built the communities we now call home.

This year’s lineup of programs at Greenwood Furnace and Whipple Dam leans into that spirit, offering families a chance to learn, explore and reflect across three days of hands-on history, outdoor discovery and time together in the parks.

Forging the past back to life

The weekend begins Friday night with the rhythmic ring of hammer on anvil. From 4 to 8 p.m., longtime park volunteer Don Maurer will open the doors of the historic Blacksmith Shop for a series of demonstrations that continue Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to noon.

Maurer’s programs have become a quiet tradition at Greenwood Furnace — a way to step back into the 1800s and watch the craft that once kept the ironmaking village running. Visitors can stand just outside the shop and watch as he heats, bends, and shapes metal the way early American blacksmiths did, explaining the tools, the techniques, and the role the trade played in frontier life.

It’s a fitting start to a holiday weekend built around remembrance. The blacksmith shop sits at the heart of the old furnace community, a reminder that the freedoms honored on Memorial Day were built on the labor, sacrifice, and resilience of everyday people.

A Walk among wildflowers

On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., the focus shifts from iron to petals as retired schoolteacher and wildflower photographer Bill Monaco leads a presentation and guided walk exploring the park’s spring blooms.

Monaco brings more than 50 years of experience to the program, weaving together identification tips, folklore, plant uses and the stories behind the species that brighten the forest floor this time of year. After the hour-long presentation, he’ll guide visitors on a half-mile walk along the Lake View Trail, pointing out the flowers that thrive in the park’s early-summer light.

The trail includes uneven terrain and is not handicap accessible, but participants are welcome to attend the presentation alone if they prefer. Both portions begin at the Blacksmith Shop, tying the natural beauty of the park to its historic center.

Fishing for all at Whipple Dam

Sunday morning brings a family-friendly tradition at Whipple Dam State Park in Petersburg, where a park naturalist will host a 10 a.m. fishing program designed for beginners and young anglers. Poles and bait are provided, and no fishing license is required during the event.

Families gather on the pier, children learning to cast for the first time while adults enjoy the quiet of the lake. It’s the kind of simple, shared experience that has long defined Memorial Day weekend in central Pennsylvania — a chance to slow down, breathe and appreciate the places that bring people together.

Walking through history

The weekend concludes Monday morning with a 10:30 a.m. historical walking tour of the Greenwood Furnace Historic District. Led by a park naturalist, the tour traces the story of the ironmaking village that dominated the area for 70 years.

Visitors will walk past the remnants of the furnace stack, the company store, the workers’ homes and the structures that once supported a bustling industrial community. It’s a reminder that Memorial Day is not only about honoring military sacrifice, but also about remembering the generations who built the foundations of the region — the laborers, families and communities whose stories still echo through the park.

A weekend rooted in meaning

Taken together, the programs offer a blend of history, nature and family-centered activities that reflect the deeper meaning of the holiday. Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer, but it also invites reflection on the people who shaped the nation — from the soldiers honored in ceremonies across the country to the early American workers whose trades and traditions are preserved at places like Greenwood Furnace.

The park’s programs are free and open to the public, making them accessible to families looking for meaningful ways to spend the long weekend. Whether it’s the spark of a blacksmith’s forge, the quiet beauty of wildflowers, the excitement of a child’s first catch or the stories carried through the historic district, Greenwood Furnace offers a chance to connect with both the past and the present.

For more information, explore the DCNR Calendar of Events at events.dcnr.pa.gov.