New London never forgets!

The community will gather around an effigy of Benedict Arnold as it is burned on Saturday. The traitor Arnold infamously led the burning of New London on Sept. 6, 1781.

This is part of an annual event held by Flock Theatre that echoes a similar tradition that took place for almost a century after the burning of New London. On Sept. 6 each year, a two-faced effigy of Arnold was marched through the Whaling City and then burned.

The modern day burning happens as part of the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival.

Among the people participating in the burning is Amanda Artsea, a New London resident and Flock actor. She will portray Abigail Hinman and has used her skills as a costumer and living historian to recreate the dress from the Hinman portrait that hangs in the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

Saturday will also feature two performances of the play “The Burning of New London” by Charles Traeger with contributions by Michael Bradford. Shows will be at 1:45 p.m. at Fort Trumbull and 6 p.m. (first half) at the Hempsted Houses and 6:30 p.m. (second half) at the Shaw Mansion.

The Burning of Benedict Arnold, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, marches from Shaw Mansion down Bank Street to Waterfront Park, New London; burning will occur at around 8 p.m.