Historic Zoar has a lot in store this spring

On Saturday, April 3, the history of Zoar Village will come alive with the return of self-guided tours through the historic buildings. Visitors can tour on their own and at their own pace through the town.

Tammi Shrum, site director for Historic Zoar Village, is excited to see the tours begin again.

“We couldn’t hold them last year due to the pandemic,” she said. “In fact, we couldn’t even open in April. We always joke that the weather on opening day is terrible. We’ve had snow and rain. But last year we would have had gorgeous weather if we could have opened.”

Shrum said COVID protocols will be in place, and they are asking visitors to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines. One-way foot traffic measures have been established inside the buildings, and tour guides will clean the area in between tours.

There is much to see and do in the village on an ordinary visit, but the village also has quite a few special events happening in April and May to please all ages.

Brezelfest (Pretzel Day) on April 3

The Zoar Separatists made soft pretzels every year on Good Friday as a religious tradition. Even though the date falls before the official opening day, visitors can enjoy pretzels warmed in the Zoar Bakery’s original ovens and choose their favorite toppings, from mustard and cheeses to dessert toppings. There also will be special activities for kids.

Speaker Series on April 4 and May 1

On April 4 at 11 a.m., Nathan White, archaeologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will give an online presentation about recent archaeological finds during work on the Zoar Levee and the importance of the work in protecting Zoar’s residents and its unique history.

On May 1, the Speaker Series will feature a presenter from Kingwood Center Gardens. Located in Mansfield, the site features seasonal, herb, woodland and historic gardens and tours of the Charles Kelly King mansion. For additional details and a link to the presentations, email tshrum@historiczoarvillage.com. Presentations also will be posted on Facebook afterward, and DVDs of the presentation will be available in the store for people who lack internet access.