Brunswick Crossing/submitted Visitors at the 2010 Railroad Days Festival wait to board the MARC train that will take them to Harpers Ferry, W. Va. as part of the celebration of Brunswick's railroad heritage.

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Liz Ruffner/submitted Patsy Cline tribute artist Liz Ruffner will perform at Brunswick Railroad Days on Saturday and Sunday.

Brunswick Crossing/submitted Visitors at the 2010 Railroad Days Festival wait to board the MARC train that will take them to Harpers Ferry, W. Va. as part of the celebration of Brunswick's railroad heritage.

 

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For two days, the City of Brunswick will step back in time to the town’s 1950s railroad boom.

On Saturday and Sunday, “Brunswick Railroad Days: Trackin' through the 50s” will spotlight the town’s railroad history while exhibiting themed musical performances, displays, interactive activities, food and more.

“What we’re trying to do this year is really get it back to a railroad festival,” says Carrie Myers, grants coordinator and admissive assistant for the city.

Consistently a popular festival thanks to its family-friendly entertainment, organizers have worked to get the festival back on track as a heritage event celebrating all that is special about the city.

Originally called the “Brunswick River Festival,” the event was launched in 1969 by the Brunswick Potomac Foundation — now the Brunswick Railroad Museum, says Myers.

The festival is now operated by the city and has been held 28 times since its founding.

New attractions this year include four railroad-themed films and a heritage walk that will block off a section of West Potomac Street creating a trip down memory lane, Myers says. A series of photographs will compare the modern street with its 1950s counterpart, while a self-guided walking tour will point out historical landmarks.

“We’ve tried to get away from things you’d find at any fall festival,” Myers says.

Even the music was tailored to fit the tone of the festival this year, she says. Included will be classic cover bands “The Fabulous Hubcaps” and “The Rock & Roll Relics” and an “After Festival Rock Hop” dance featuring “The Shades” on Saturday evening.

One featured act not only pays tribute to a musical legend, but also showcases a bright moment in Brunswick’s unique entertainment history.

Singer Liz Ruffner will be performing a tribute act featuring songs by a country music legend who made her name in Brunswick — literally.

Born Virginia Patterson Hensley, the iconic Patsy Cline earned the nickname “Patsy” during one of her frequent performances in the city, where she often sang at the Brunswick Moose Lodge and the fire hall on West Potomac Street.

The star, who gained the last name Cline when she married a Frederick man whom she later divorced, got her start playing in music halls throughout Virginia and Maryland. She tragically died in a plane crash at age 30.

“The little time that she did sing, she made such an impact on music,” says Ruffner, 38, of Middleway, W. Va.

Ruffner began performing as a Patsy 15 years ago when she was told how much she sounded like the late star, and continued to perform her music around Cline’s hometown of Winchester, Va.

Ruffner says Cline still commands a loyal following throughout the region because of the local connection with the early days of her career.

“She really put her mark on the page when she was around,” says Ruffner, “You could only imagine what she would have accomplished if she didn’t pass away.”

Some of Cline’s classics Ruffner plans to perform include popular tunes “Sweet Dreams,” “Walkin’ After Midnight” and “Crazy,” though her personal favorite is “Lovesick Blues.”

One beloved element of Brunswick Railroad Days that will not be changing is the roundtrip MARC Train ride to Harper’s Ferry W. Va., says Fay Kaufman Sanders, special events contractor for the city.

The 25-minute scenic ride that crosses the Potomac River helps take guests back in time and remember Brunswick’s role in the growth of the railroad system.

“There is so much history in the richness of the culture,” Sanders says.

Last year, Brunswick Railroad Days was estimated to attract more than 7,000 people, and with its continued success and growth of activities, organizers are bracing for an even bigger crowd this weekend.

“We expect it to grow enormously this year,” Sanders says.

In addition to encouraging Brunswick locals to relish in the history of their city, Myers was pleased with the draw the festival has proven to have on surrounding regions.

According to the zip codes guests volunteered when they purchased MARC train tickets last year, more than 50 percent hailed from outside of Frederick County.

Growth will continue to do good things for Brunswick, such as attracting additional patrons and out-of-towners to local businesses and continuing to preserve the town’s unique heritage.

“I hope to expand on the railroading theme every year,” Myers says. “Hopefully we just keep moving forwards in a positive direction.”

ccalamaio@gazette.net