Lafayette, the young Frenchman who risked his life, his fortune and the wrath of his king to fight for American independence and freedom, will be celebrated on Saturday, July 29, at Thornbury Farm.

Randell Spackman of Thornbury Farm will host the free family event at his farm, 1256 Thornbury Road, West Chester, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. In addition to Lafayette displays, the day will include food, music, a Heritage Walk and activities for children. The Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard will mark the beginning of the celebration.

During Lafayette Day, a Heritage Walk will take place from Thornbury Farms, location of some of the fighting during the Battle of Brandywine, to Birmingham Hill, where Lafayette was wounded.

Visitors will be able to gain knowledge from representatives of the American Friends of Lafayette, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, the Masons, the Chris Sanderson Museum, Brandywine Battlefield Park, Chester and Delaware counties' 250th committees and other organizations.

Lafayette in Art and Literature will be featured. Chadds Ford artist Shay Aubrey Allen will sign copies of "Lafayette: America's Young Hero & Guest." Allen created original drawings for the book. Bruce Mowday, who authored the book with American Friends of Lafayette president Alan R. Hoffman, will also sign the books.

Additionally, Mowday will talk about his book "Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero." Downingtown artist Adrian Martinez will make an appearance. Martinez's painting of Lafayette was featured on the cover of Mowday's book.

Chadds Ford artist Karl J. Kuerner will also take part. Kuerner's new painting "Lafayette's Sword" will be discussed. Kuerner and Mowday combined for their second book, "Emotional Brandywine." The book is to be released on the anniversary of the Battle of Brandywine. Kuerner and Mowday's first book was "Emotional Gettysburg."

An announcement of an essay contest on Lafayette will be made. The contest, sponsored by the Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee, will be open to all students in Chester and Delaware counties. Winners will receive Lafayette Challenge Coins authorized by the American Friends of Lafayette.

On Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, the American Friends of Lafayette will begin the national celebration in New York City. Hundreds of events are planned during the next 13 months, tracing the footsteps of Lafayette on his tour of America as the "Guest of the Nation" in the exact order he traveled. For additional information, visit http://www.lafayette200.org.

Lafayette visited Chester for a grand dinner on Oct. 5, 1824. Delaware County is planning an event to mark the occasion on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. Lafayette visited Chadds Ford and the location of the Battle of Brandywine on July 26, 1825, and had dinner in West Chester that evening. Events are being planned for Saturday, July 26, 2025. Lafayette departed Chester County for Lancaster County on July 27, 1825.

For information on upcoming events, search for "Lafayette Bicentennial Brandywine Committee" on Facebook.