Henry David Thoreau impersonator comes to Barnstable this weekend. Why?

Editor's note: This story was changed to correct the readathon hours (they are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and to correct Lynne Poyant's name.

Stewarding over 1,000 acres of land in Barnstable, the Barnstable Land Trust works to conserve some of the Cape's illustrious landscape.

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the trust will host a read-a-thon Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 of Henry David Thoreau’s “Cape Cod” honoring his and the trust's legacies and the beauty of the Cape.

The read-a-thon will take place over two days at the Michael R. Kramer Center, a recently constructed beam-and-post barn at Fuller Farm in Marstons Mills. Dozens of local and non-local readers will partake in bringing to life Thoreau's 1864 book about the "bared and bended arm of Massachusetts."

“[It’s a] way of connecting with more people who care about nature,” Janet Milkman, executive president of the Barnstable Land Trust said.

Barnstable Land Trust to host Thoreau Read-a-thon in celebration of 40th anniversary

More than 50 volunteer readers, including "Henry," aka Richard Smith, a public and living historian from Concord, will participate in 5- to 10-minute readings over two days of Thoreau's famed accounts of the Cape.

Smith, who has acted as Henry on the Cape before, said he’s excited to return for the celebration due to the community’s interest in Thoreau and the copy of “Cape Cod” he’s reading from, a gift from his girlfriend.

“The thing that I really like the most is the people on Cape Cod who really know Thoreau,” he said. “Obviously [people from Cape Cod] know the book ‘Cape Cod,’ [but they’re] really well-versed and well-educated when it comes to Henry, his life and writing. I'm really looking forward to interacting with people and having really great and fun conversations with folks.”

In selecting a book, “Cape Cod” was perfect not only for its obvious connection to the trust and Cape but also due to Thoreau’s influence over the modern environmental movement, notably inspiring the likes of President John F. Kennedy and marine biologist Rachel Carson.

“The amazing thing about Thoreau is that he was writing so many years ago, and yet, the issues that he was concerned about are still with us today,” said Milkman.

Outside of Smith, readers include state Rep. Steve Xiarhos, Lynn Poyant, director of communications and marketing for the town of Barnstable and Rev. Angela Menke Ballou, pastor of the Cotuit Federated Church.

“[It’s] such a wonderful way to link history and [the] nature of Cape Cod,” Milkman said. “[He was] an entertainer. Reading his work hits all of these highlights. [We get to] share his historical perspective on Cape Cod [and] see how [the] nature of Cape Cod has changed through the last couple of centuries."

The trust hopes that readers and audiences gain a deeper appreciation for their environment from the read-a-thon.

“[I hope] it helps people reconnect with the natural environment in a new and thoughtful way,” Sue Dahling-Sullivan, director of communications and programming for the Barnstable Land Trust, said. “[That they] appreciate what sometimes we may take for granted.”

“[I] hope people will be inspired by [Thoreau’s] words to stay connected to Cape Cod, to preserve it,” Milkman said.

Along with the read-a-thon, free walking tours of Fuller Farm, led by Milkman and Kelly Barber, director of land stewardship for the trust, will be at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The “Cape Cod” read-a-thon will take place on Oct. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Michael R. Kramer Center at Fuller Farm in Marstons Mills. The event is free to attend for members of the public and will also be live-streamed on YouTube for those who can’t attend in person. For more information visit blt.org/thoreau/#thoreauevents.

Parking will be available at the West Villages Elementary School (760 Osterville West Barnstable Road, Marstons Mills) and shuttle buses will take people from the school to the farm.

Frankie Rowley covers entertainment and arts. She can be contacted at frowley@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Why a Henry David Thoreau impersonator will be on Cape this weekend