The Mabee Farm’s in Rotterdam Junction will play host to prominent 18th century citizens of the Schenectady area during a Colonial Festival Dinner, the featured event of the Schenectady Heritage Area’s Annual Schenectady Colonial Festival.

Participants are likely to meet General Schuyler, soldiers on campaign, a Sachem of the Mohawk Wolf Clan, merchants or land speculators working for the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company, and several members of the Mabee Family and their household. Part of the Mabee’s farm in Rotterdam Junction, the inn was frequented by military leaders, Native American traders, bateau men and many others traveling the Mohawk River.

This year, the dinner will benefit the Schenectady County Historical Society’s Mabee Farm Historic Site, and take place Saturday evening, February 4, 2012 from 6 pm &#8211 9 pm at the wonderful new facilities of the George E. Franchere Education Center, Route 5s, Rotterdam Junction, New York. Guests will be seated with 18th century reenactors sharing stories of their lives and travels along the Mohawk River. Participants are welcome to attend in colonial attire.

As an added attraction, concurrent with a cash bar and first plate (hors d’oeuvres), you will have the opportunity to view Light on New Netherland, an exhibit produced by the New Netherland Institute tracing the history of New Netherland from Henry Hudson’s exploration in 1609 to Schenectady’s place at its northernmost edge.