Colonial Trade Faire

Bringing the spirit of the past alive is one of the things the Oldham County History Center is best known for. The first weekend in June will showcase the 18th century in Kentucky with the 8th annual Colonial Trade Faire on June 2, 3 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in conjunction with the Arts on the Green Fine Arts and Crafts Festival. The Colonial Trade Faire will once again feature merchants dressed in period clothing, selling handcrafted 18th Century wares. Trade Faire participants will be camped on the History Center grounds adjacent to the Oldham County Courthouse where the 19th Annual Arts on the Green will take place. Admission is free to the Colonial Trade Faire. Saturday’s lineup will be full of unique events, beginning at 10 a.m. Period artisans will display hand-crafted goods such as hand-dyed yarns, loom woven items, pottery, jewelry, lanterns and beeswax candles. Day-long, on-going demonstrations of heritage skills will include spinning, weaving, cooking, flax, Militia life, 18th century cannon demonstration by the Painted Stone Settlers and the Colonial Garden. Throughout the weekend there will be children’s activities, members of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) will display historic flags and explain their significance, Stilt Walker Extraordinaire Beth Godshall, and a special children’s book reading and activity by local author Betty Stokes. A few modern artisans will have their handcrafted items for sale also, such as Rattlesnake Hill Farm (garlic products) and Singing Vine Studio (musical instruments made from gourds) . The Marquis de Lafayette and his wife will appear courtesy of Living Statues from 11-1 p.m. on Saturday. The Little Kentucky River Winery will be selling their wines as well throughout the weekend. The museum will be open throughout the weekend as well. Also included in the Colonial Trade Faire offerings will be several Kentucky authors who devote their time to writing about Kentucky’s rich history. Writers scheduled to appear throughout the weekend at this time include: Lynwood Montell (Tales from Kentucky Lawyers, Ghosts Along the Cumberland), Eddie Price (Widder’s Landing, Little Miss Grubby Toes Steps on a Bee!), Sue Kelly Ballard (My Blessed, Wretched Life: Rebecca Boone's Story), Terry Foody (The Pie Seller, The Drunk, and The Lady: Heroes of the 1833 Cholera Epidemic in Lexington, Kentucky, James Larry Hoo . Additional authors may be added.