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The Town of Elizabethtown will kick off its yearlong celebration of its 250th anniversary Saturday, March 4 with Revolutionary War displays and a traditional Celtic music band.

The Founders Day Parade that was planned has been canceled, according to organizers. All other events scheduled for Saturday will take places at the Cape Fear Farmers Market.

Starting at 9 a.m., visitors can explore a display of Revolutionary War memorabilia, sign up as a descendant of a Patriot, and stroll through the vendors.

At 11 a.m., the official opening ceremony for the 250th Anniversary will take place. Cadets from Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy will present the colors and have a drill performance. Throughout the day and during the band intermission, the stories of the founding of Elizabethtown and the Battle of Elizabethtown will be told.

The Raleigh-based Celtic Music Band, Barrowburn, will perform from noon until 3 p.m. Barrowburn presents traditional Celtic Music on acoustic instruments and is equally at home ripping through a set of jigs or reels as they are rendering the simple beauty of a slow air or lament. They perform both legacy and contemporary ballads from the tradition as well as comical pub songs that are best accompanied by a swinging pint of Guinness. In concert, they demonstrate their love for Celtic music, but do so from an American perspective.

Barrowburn has played at numerous festivals including the Gaelic Festival in Raleigh, Celtic Fest in Cary, and the International Festival in Raleigh. They often play at both Céilí and Contra dances as well as private parties and receptions throughout North Carolina. For over ten years, they have been the house band at Tir na nOg, Raleigh’s premier Irish Pub.

Other events planned to celebrate the 250th anniversary include: May 7 with a focus on the Civil War Era, July 8 focusing on the importance of agriculture, September 23 focusing on major industry leaders and, finally, modern time will be celebrated during the annual Pork & Beats Festival on November 3-4.