Chautauqua's Patrick Henry to visit Travelers Rest

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. – Trailblazer Park in Travelers Rest has been added to this year's ​Chautauqua History Alive Festival, a ten-day, two-weekend festival of 26 free shows and other events performed by nationally acclaimed historical interpreters.

Set to run through June 22, the annual festival brings history alive with interactive performances where the members of the audience are always a part of the show.

On Wednesday, June 18, Patrick Henry will make a stop in Travelers Rest, giving festival goers a chance to debate the Constitution with one of its makers.

Henry – a failed farmer who became a voice of the Revolution with his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech – is portrayed by actor Ken Johnson. Johnson, who has performed twice previously with Greenville Chautuaquqa, has appeared on National Geographic Channel, History Channel, Food Network and PBS. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, he is currently the executive director at the National Civil War Naval Museum.

Other Chatuaqua events featuring Henry, Clara Barton, Harry Truman and Robert Smalls will be held in Greenville, Spartanburg and Asheville throughout the festival. For a complete schedule, visit the Greenville Chautauqua website here.

The Patrick Henry performance on Wednesday, June 18 at the Trailblazer Park amphitheater begins at 7:30 p.m. and is scheduled to run until 10 p.m. Food trucks will begin serving at 6 p.m. The outdoor venue is located at 115 Wilhelm Winter Street in Travelers Rest.