A group of Civil War veterans met in Bannerville, Pennsylvania, in 1883 to organize a Grand Army of the Republic Post, and when they served a special bean soup at their first meeting, it was such a hit that they eventually invited the public to a “real Civil War bean soup dinner” in 1891. Today, thousands of gallons of bean soup are prepared in 35-gallon kettles. The recipe is based on the original Civil War recipe, and it is served to over 70,000 people. The festival also includes political speeches, exhibits, parades, nightly entertainment, and amusement rides. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary