(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – The 16th annual Country Fair harvest celebration at Hancock Shaker Village (HSV) takes place on Saturday, September 28, and Sunday, September 29, 2013. The fair will include local food, handcrafts, fresh produce, antique farm equipment, oxen demonstrations, pie contests, a bluegrass band, and more. Children will enjoy wagon rides, face painting, chicken races, farm-related games under the children’s tent, and a hay pile to play in.
“The Country Fair displays a mix of the old and new,” says Bill Mangiardi, HSV director of farm and operations. “We employ sustainable practices that long ago worked for the Shakers, and incorporate those lessons and techniques into how we operate as a farm and living history museum today. The fair has a little something for everyone.”
The theme of old and new blended together runs through each of the Country Fair’s major activities. In large tents filled with vendors, traditional crafts are offered next to contemporary artisans’ work. The Farmers Market area boasts heirloom produce from area farms as well as new. Under the Kids’ Tent, where make-and-take crafts and old-fashioned games are offered, a face painter will be on hand to turn children into their favorite modern superhero or cartoon character.
Second Annual Chicken Races: Held at 11am and 2pm daily, the event showcases HSV-raised heritage breed chickens, making their way down a straightaway to reach a tasty incentive at the finish line. Children will pick a number out of a basket of plastic eggs, and if their chicken comes in first, a coloring book prize and photograph with the chicken will be awarded.
Eighth Annual Pie Contest: Enter your own homemade pie from scratch for a chance to win. Fillings can either be the bakers own recipe, or Shaker Cranberry Pie or Shaker Apple Pie from “The Best of Shaker Cooking” by Amy Bess Miller. Members of the pie judge teams will include Berkshire Eagle contributor Judith Lerner, Berkshire Museum director of communications Lesley Beck, and Joshua Needleman of Chocolate Springs in Lenox. Guidelines for entry and registration forms are available at www.hancockshakervillage.org.
Farmers Market and Artisan Tents: Highly skilled craft vendors will offer hand-woven textiles, candles, and oval boxes as well as furniture and pottery. The farmer’s market offers both fresh produce and finished farm products, and will feature local honey, hand-made cheeses, maple sugar candy, and other treats. Best in Show awards for both areas will be announced on Saturday afternoon.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): The annual Country Fair offers the first opportunity to register for the coming season of our CSA that runs from mid-June through late October. CSA members enjoy a weekly package that includes free-range eggs, cut flowers, fresh herbs, and organic vegetables, including Kale, beets, tomatoes, potatoes, and garlic, all for as little as $275 for a half-share.
A Harvest of Quilts: A display of over 30 quilts will be featured and showcased in a section of the round barn. Quilting demonstrations will be offered throughout the day and selected quilts will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds helping to support Hancock Shaker Village programs. Viewer’s choice and Heritage Award prize ribbons will be presented on Sunday at 4:30pm. Members of the public are invited to submit a quilt for exhibit at the Country Fair. Submissions can be either owned by or made by the exhibitor, but should not have been previously exhibited at the Village. For more information, please contact Connie Logan at (413) 528-9941. Guidelines and submission forms can also be found at www.countryfair.hancockshakervillage.org.
Timber Framing: A Traditional Approach: This five-day long workshop teaches the craft of timber frame construction, using 18th and 19th century tools and techniques. The classes begin the Wednesday before the fair and finish by assembling a frame during the fair weekend. Instructional demonstrations and discussions supplement the hands-on learning activities. Participants must register directly with instructors Jack Sobon and Dave Carlon by calling 413.684.3223 or 413.684.3612.
Country Fair admission is free to Hancock Shaker Village members and children 12 and under. Fair and Village admission for adults is $18 and youth visitors aged 13 to 17 are $8.
Hancock Shaker Village, the Shaker “City of Peace,” brings the Shaker story to life and preserves it for future generations. It portrays principled living, as embodied in the faith based values of the Shakers equality, community, sustainability, and responsible land stewardship of their resources, values that resonate today. The Village is located on Route 20 in Pittsfield, MA, just west of the junction of Routes 20 and 41. For GPS purposes, the Village is located at 34 Lebanon Mountain Rd., Hancock, Mass. 01237, or enter 1843 W. Housatonic St., Pittsfield, Mass. 01201 then proceed 1/2 mile further West on Rt. 20 to the parking lot.