News Release

First Strike Festival at Old Slater Mill – 200 Year Anniversary

Photograph of woman dancer representing a women worker in the strike standing in front of a machine

D. Lawlor

News Release Date: April 12, 2024

Contact: Allison Horrocks, 401-318-4883

Pawtucket, Rhode Island— On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the public is invited to the First Strike Festival at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Come for a day of live music, history, and family friendly fun. Hosted at 67 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI, from 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. This is a free event.

In 1824, one hundred women weavers walked out of textile mills in the village of Pawtucket, beginning the first industrial labor strike in United States history. The National Park Service commemorates this strike with an annual festival, now in its third year. All are invited to see new mini exhibits in honor of the 200^th anniversary of this event, to tour the historic mill, and to spend the day enjoying the grounds at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark. Bring a blanket and picnic, play old time games, and relax with performances from singers, songwriters, and dancers.

Pawtucket-based singer-songwriter J. Michael Graham will serve as the MC for First Strike. He will be followed by the award-winning singer Kim Moberg, whose set will begin at 12:30 P.M. Students from the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Pawtucket, RI) will follow Moberg with a dance inspired by the 1824 women strikers at 1:30 P.M. The Mystic Garland Dancers will perform at 2:00 P.M. and rally the audience for a May Pole Dance. Connecticut State Troubadour Kala Farnham will perform at 2:45 P.M. Don’t miss live spinning demonstrations and other outdoor fun throughout the day.

Throughout the day, park rangers will offer free tours and labor history talks inside and outside of Slater Mill. Tours of the mill (limited to 25 persons) will be offered at 10:30 A.M, 12:30 P.M., and 2:30 P.M. Visitors are also encouraged to listen to a Labor History Talk with a ranger (offered on the hour, 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 P.M.) or hear a longer open-air presentation about the 1824 strike at 11:30 A.M. or 3:30 P.M. All are encouraged to check out partner tables with staff from the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Everyday Anthropology, Wedges of Time, RI Labor History Society, RI Spinners Guild, and the URI Master Gardeners.

For more information, please visit our website: www.nps.gov/BLRV or contact Ranger Allison Horrocks at [e-mail].

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