Bidwell Country Fair

The Bidwell House Museum is inviting everyone to their beautiful grounds for a free community celebration.  There will be fun for the whole family all afternoon including:

Live music in the tent:  The Adams Brothers, Steve and Pete, start the afternoon with a mix of roots, country soul and folk rock.  Then Bonner McAllester and Joe Baker, who have been playing for New England style square and contradancing for over 40 years with their band Mountain Laurel, will play jigs, reels and waltzes from their repertoire of dance tunes. Bonner plays hammered dulcimer, and Joe plays guitar.

For the History buff: The Butler’s Rangers return this year to portray historic characters, including Quaker refugees, Loyalist soldiers and some baggage (the 18th century war term for women and children). They will set up a tent to show how they lived, dressed, cooked and spent their days during the time of the American Revolution.

For the Baker: Back by popular demand is the Pie Baking Contest!  Show off your baking skills and drop off your delicious pie no later than 2pm.  Ribbons will be awarded for the top three pies judged by local chefs. FIND ALL OF THE DETAILS HERE.  If you plan to enter the contest, please contact the Museum at 413-528-6888 or bidwellhouse@gmail.com

For the animal lover: Marilyn Fracasso will be there with two of her horses to lead children on a fun pony ride.  You can also meet some adorable goats courtesy of Gould Farm.

For the young and young-at-heart: There will be games, crafts, face-painting, a scavenger hunt and a fern maze. The Flying Cloud Institute will have a fun project.

Food: There will be sausages from the grill, SoCo Creamery ice cream and soft drinks for purchase, along with free lemonade, popcorn, and watermelon.  Gould Farm will have a table of delicious goodies for sale and samples to taste.  Woven Roots Farm will have fresh vegetables and information about their farm and CSA.  The Berkshire Botanical Garden Herb Society will showcase products made from herbs grown at the garden.

Historic Crafts:  The Berkshire Hills and Dales Spinning Guild will showcase historic spinning techniques;  Brad Morse of Uncarved Block will teach you all about timber framing; Brian and Adam Puntin will demonstrate black-smithing; Adam Paul Heller will carve stones inspired by Colonial memorials and Lou Meyerdierks will exhibit early wool applique techniques.

New in 2019 – we are having a tag sale!!  Visit the carriage barn and find a new to you treasure!

Sponsored in part by the Monterey and Tyringham Cultural Councils and Salisbury Bank