Come back to the family farm during colonial times and celebrate the fall harvest at Sky Meadows State Park’s 8th Annual Fall Farm Festival Colonial Weekend October 20 and 21, 2012.
Colonial Games at Fall Farm Festival.
Each weekend in October features live music, interpretive programs, living history demonstrations, Ghosts of Mount Bleak House Tours, and a children’s play area. The pick-your-own pumpkin patch will be open daily in October 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 20 and 21 will transport you back to the Frontier and activities will focus on Colonial Life.
Its Natural Plant Dyes, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20. Stop in the Wash House to see what colors are brewing. Meet Park Naturalist Vanessa Lewis in the Wash House for a fascinating fabric dying demonstration.
Natural dyes or colorants are derived from various plants, invertebrates or minerals. The majority of natural dyes are vegetable dyes from plant sources, such as roots, berries, bark, leaves, wood, fungi and lichens. Pop on over to find out what common plants Native Americans and early European settlers used to create colorful dyes for their textiles in our region.
Spin on over on Sunday Oct. 21 to see how wool and other fibers are spun into yarn at the Colonial Style Spin Class from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Join park volunteer Marion McCoubrey in the Wash House for a lesson in colonial style spinning.
Spinning is an ancient textile art remaining a popular handcraft today. For thousands of years, fiber was spun only by hand using simple tools, such as the spindle and distaff. Spinning wheels were introduced to Europe in the mid 11thcentury becoming popular and increasing textile production.
Drop in the Log Cabin for a taste of the past; visit with the parks costumed interpreters as they prepare some traditional colonial treats. The American colonists not only consumed differently prepared foods than we do today; they also had a very different meal schedule from what we do today.
Volunteers dressed in historic attire taking a break after giving a living history demonstration on Hearth Cooking.
In the 1700s, breakfast was usually a simple meal consisting of cornmeal mush with molasses; along with an alcoholic beverage to wash it down, such as cider or beer. Dinner was the midday meal, and was usually the biggest meal of the day; it often consisted of one-pot stews with root vegetables, corn, cabbage and pork. Supper was a light meal at the end of the day, or more like a bedtime snack made up of leftovers. Visit the Log Cabin to experience some of the sounds, smells, and tastes of this bygone era, and see how food was cooked on an open hearth.
Join the Rutherford Rangers as they portray frontier life, soldier’s camp life, and French & Indian relations. Witness a recruitment and musket demonstration, and learn about the colonial uniforms.
Volunteer in historic attire demonstrating what a Civil War soldier might have done on the Farm at Sky Meadows.
Enjoy live music on the Front Porch of the log cabin by Madeline MacNeil on Saturday; on Sunday Kitchen Gorilla will entertain you with some good old Appalachian music.
Other Activities include: hearth cooking demonstrations, Natural Plant Dyes demonstration, Wool Spinning class, Native Foodways, Ghosts of Mount Bleak House Tours, and story-time.
Beware of strange happenings the next weekend at Sky Meadows on Friday, Oct. 26 and Saturday Oct. 27 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It has been said the sound of horses neighing, and soldiers marching can be heard in the still of the night. In the ante-bellum house of Mt. Bleak, former residents have been known to greet visitors with a warm smile and a cold touch! Come visit us on those nights and find out for yourself if all this is real or not! That is, IF YOU HAVE THE NERVE!
Tours will be every half hour starting at 7 p.m.; the last tour departs the Carriage Barn at 8:30 p.m. Parking is $4 per vehicle.
For details call the park at 540-592-3556, visit us online or email us. Sky Meadows State Park is located at 11012 Edmonds Lane, Delaplane, VA 20144-0710. The park is less than two miles south of Paris, Va., via U.S. Route 50 to Route 17 South; or seven miles north of I-66, Exit 23 on Route 17 North. The park entrance is on State Route 710.
Did you know our 35 state parks are open 365 days a year? You can also find detailed information about our trails including maps with GPS way points and video guides by clicking here and selecting the park of interest.
Overnight reservations can also be made by calling 1-800-933-PARK (7275) or by booking on line.
