Have you ever seen a man play the dulcimer? How about churn butter or tinsmith?
John R Park Homestead's Lost Arts Festival is on August 11. It's a family-friendly way to immerse yourself in traditional crafts not typically seen in modern life.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the public can meet local artists and artisans with unique talents and watch them craft new works of art. Many will demonstrate their craft around the early settler farm, including blacksmiths, woodcarvers, and weavers.
"Many people explored arts and crafts during the pandemic, everything from sourdough bread making to beekeeping. This is a great opportunity to explore some additional creative fields," said Homestead Curator Kris Ives. "This festival is beloved by many in the community. Families come year after year to get hands-on in the making process. It is quite inspiring to meet the artists and artisans, to consider new hobbies, and to engage in art forms first-hand."
For the kids, there's the Imagination Station, where children can enjoy old-fashioned toys and games.
The fence post topper competition, inspired by the post box toppers crafted and displayed in the United Kingdom, is new this year.
"While we don't have post boxes like those, we do have lots of fence posts here at the Homestead that could use some ornamentation!" added Ives.
Participants can craft a family-friendly fence post topper out of any medium and submit it to the Homestead or Little Sheep Yarn Boutique in Windsor by 4 p.m. on August 7 to win a prize.
The historic home at the Homestead is currently closed for renovations, but the grounds and outbuildings are open.
