Calendar of Events - Claude Moore Colonial Farm

January February March April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Unless otherwise noted, events subject to favorable weather conditions.

Call the GateHouse Shop, 703-903-9330, to confirm the day's activities.

January 2008 top
January 25 & 26	Friday 5 pm - 9pm and Saturday 10 am-5 pm	Book Sale Browse through our large selection donated to the Farm. Includes books for travelers, gardeners, cooks and kids. We have fiction, nonfiction, first editions and some rare and special volumes. Also videotapes, CDs, records and some ephemera. Located at the Chez Puce building near the Farm office
February 2008 top
February 22 & 23	Friday and Saturday 10 am-5 pm	Estate Sale Located at the GateHouse Shop
March 2008 top
March 14 & 15	Friday 5-9pm and Saturday 10 am-5 pm	Book Sale Browse through our large selection donated to the Farm. Includes books for travelers, gardeners, cooks and kids. We have fiction, nonfiction, first editions and some rare and special volumes. Also videotapes, CDs, records and some ephemera.
March 15 & 16	Saturday and Sunday 9 am-3 pm	Spring Cleaning Help get the Farm ready for the new season! On the 18th century farm, fields and trails need to be cleared, fences rebuilt, and wood moved and stacked. Behind the scenes, there is greenhouse work, wood splitting, cleaning animal pens and even some indoor jobs. Bring work-gloves and dress for the weather. The Farm will provide a picnic hot dog lunch. Families and groups are welcome. Rsvp to jengle@1771.org
April 2008 top
April 2	Wednesday 10 am - 4:30 pm	Farm Opens The Farm ends its winter hibernation and welcomes the public for the 2008 season. The Farm is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am to 4:30pm, April 2 through December 14. The Farm is closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and during inclement weather. Weather permitting - call ahead.
April 13	Sunday 1-4 pm	Dairy Day Have you ever wondered what curds and whey look like? Do you know how to wash butter? Join in as the farm wife makes soft cheese and churns butter, and gain a new appreciation for these foods, so precious to the farm family. Weather permitting - call ahead.
April 16	Wednesday 6-8 pm	Workshop: 18th Century Clothing Come learn about the basics of 18th century clothing from our experts. You can also purchase linen fabric, trace patterns, and receive advice on your own clothing projects. $5 fee; reservations required. Contact kjackson@1771.org.
April 25 & 26	Friday and Saturday 9 am-5 pm	Spring Plant Sale Join us in the Farm's garden and greenhouses to choose plants for your yard. Plants include annual and perennial flowers and herbs, vegetables, and container shrubs with a special emphasis on heirloom plants. All sales proceeds benefit the Farm's educational programs.
May 2008 top
May 3	Saturday 1-4 pm	Salting Fish Visit the farm family as they clean and salt down their yearly catch of fish. They invite you to help scale, gut and pack the fish into jars, and to learn about the important contributions the river makes to their lives. Weather permitting - call ahead.
May 17 & 18	Saturday & Sunday 11 am-4:30 pm	Spring 18th Century Market Fair Celebrate spring at the first Market Fair of the season. Dance and sing songs. Purchase herb and flower plants and shop for the latest fashions in clothing, jewelry, potions and lotions from the Seamstress, Millinery and Stillatory stands. Bob for apples, play quoits and other games, and watch a children's puppet theatre. Order nails from the Blacksmith, or have your fortune told by the Gypsy Fortune Teller. Lunch might be fresh corn or asparagus, roast chicken, sausages and bread. Lemonade and sugar cakes from the Sweets stand and wine or ale from the Tavern provide a break from shopping and the other business of the Fair. Period food, beverages and wares are available for purchase from the many stalls. Special Event Admission applies. Get a Pass for 50% Off Admission to the Market Fair. Weather permitting - call ahead.
June 2008 top
June 7	Saturday 1-4 pm	Herbal Remedies One of the farm children has fallen ill. Help the farm wife diagnose the disease and harvest herbs from the garden for a cure. Learn the difference between decoctions, infusions, plaisters and poultices, and learn how these remedies were used to treat the dreaded maladies of the 18th century. Weather permitting - call ahead.
June 4	Wednesday 6 - 9 pm	Garden Party Put on your garden hat and join our Horticulture Volunteers at the Greenhouse to pick out plants for your garden. Light refreshments available.
June 10	Tuesday 6-8 pm	Workshop: 18th Century Dancing Dance the night away! We will teach you a few of the simpler dances of the time, plus how to bow, curtsey, and flirt in public. $5 fee; reservations required. Contact kjackson@1771.org.
June 14 & 15	Saturday 8am - Sunday noon	Colonial Living Experience This 2-day overnight program will immerse you in the 18th century. You will wear period clothes, cook the meals, sleep in cotton tents, and learn 18th century survival skills. The Wednesday evening session (June 11, 6-8pm) is a required meeting for all who will participate in the weekend overnight. Paid reservations are required.
June 21	Saturday 1-4 pm	Wheat Harvest Planted in early fall, the wheat and rye are finally ready for harvest. Watch the farm family and their neighbors cut the grain, then join them to bind and stack the crop. Find out why more and more of the neighbors are growing wheat as a cash crop in addition to tobacco. At the farm house, lend a hand churning butter, and learn how the farm wife bakes wheat bread. Weather permitting - call ahead.
July 2008 top
July 8	Tuesday 6-8 pm	Workshop: First-Person Interpretation This will teach you how to pretend to be someone else. First-person interpreters take on the persona of someone from another time period; this takes training, practice and improvisation skills, all of which will be covered at this workshop. $5 fee; reservations required. Contact kjackson@1771.org.
July 19 & 20	Saturday and Sunday 11 am-4:30 pm	Summer 18th Century Market Fair Sit in the shade and savor roast chicken and spicy sausages, enjoy summer dancing and singing, test your water color and writing skills with Mr. Andrews at the Stationer. Muster with the militia and re-outfit your home in furniture from the Cabinet Maker or have your fortune told by the Gypsy Fortune Teller. Only at Market Fair can you catch up on the latest news from the frontier and trade stories while enjoying local ale and porter at the Tavern. Try hands-on crafts such as spinning and shop for goods from the finest merchants in the colonies. Period food, beverages and wares are available for purchase. Special Event Admission applies. Get a Pass for 50% Off Admission to the Market Fair. Weather permitting - call ahead.
August 2008 top
August 16	Saturday 1-4 pm	Tobacco Harvest All summer, the farmer has carefully tended his tobacco crop, which he uses to pay the rent and to purchase goods not produced on the Farm. Now that the leaves have ripened, harvest time is here. Help the farmer clean the leaves, and watch how he cuts and splits the stems. Help gather the cut plants and hang them on tobacco sticks to cure. Weather permitting - call ahead.
August 24	Sunday 1-4 pm	Pickling Produce Salty, sour pickles from the kitchen garden will bring flavor to the farm family's meals. Help prepare vegetables for pickling as the farm wife shows you how she combines salt, water, and homemade vinegar to preserve her summer crops. Weather permitting - call ahead.
September 2008 top
September 9	Tuesday 6-8pm	Workshop: Colonial Ceramics Enjoy an interactive presentation on 18th century pottery. Learn the differences in glazes, shapes and sizes of ceramics that were used in the 1700s. $5 fee; reservations required. Contact kjackson@1771.org.
September 13	Saturday 1-4 pm Ceremony is at 2 pm	18th Century Wedding Come celebrate with the farm family on this joyous occasion! Dance with the bride and groom, witness an 18th century style ceremony, and taste the wedding cake. Weather permitting - call ahead.
October 2008 top
October 2	Thursday 6-8 pm	Workshop: Farm Animals Meet the Farm’s animals up close and personal! Learn how to correctly handle each of the animals, plus some history of each of the breeds. Clothing that can get dirty is recommended. $5 fee; reservations required. Contact kjackson@1771.org.
October 5	Sunday 1-4pm	Spinning & Dyeing Day How do you go from sheep to clothing? Come help the farm family as they card, spin, and dye wool for knitting. Compare wool processing with flax, and note the differences in how they are prepared. Weather permitting - call ahead.
October 18 & 19	Saturday and Sunday 11am-4:30pm	Autumn 18th Century Market Fair Warm yourself by the fire and enjoy the splendor of fall with crisp local apples, warm savory meat pies and hearty breads. Let Market Fair entertainers, tradesmen and the militia amuse and educate you. Have your fortune told or purchase a charm from the Gypsy Fortune Teller. Allow Mistress Barrow and Mr. John to entice you with their wares at the Dry Goods and the Gentlemen's Goods stand. Learn to dip a candle or turn a piece of wood on the carpenter's lathe. Stop by the Tavern for a cup of mulled wine before you begin your holiday shopping at the many tradesmen's and merchant's stalls. Period food, beverages and wares are available for purchase. Special Event Admission applies. Get a Pass for 50% Off Admission to the Market Fair. Weather permitting - call ahead.
November 2008 top
November 8	Saturday 1-4 pm	Fall Chores Help the farm family clear brush from their fields, stack wood for the winter, repair old fencing, and perform many other necessary farm tasks in preparation for the coming winter. They will welcome any extra hands! Clothes that can get dirty and work gloves are recommended. Weather permitting - call ahead.
November 20	Thursday 6-8 pm	Workshop: Winter Traditions Ah, a rest from farm labor! Join us as we explore the customs of 18th century Wassail and Christmas celebrations. Singing, dancing, storytelling and more. $5 fee; reservations required. Contact kjackson@1771.org.
November 25	Tuesday 5-8 pm	GateHouse Holiday Shop Open House Enjoy traditional mulled cider, butter cake and ginger cookies, the warmth of the open fire and Christmas music while you shop in the peaceful atmosphere at the Farm.
November 28 - December 21	Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm	Gatehouse Holiday Shop Avoid the craziness of the malls and enjoy easy parking. Do your holiday gift shopping at the Farm while helping to support the only privately operated National Park in the United States. Choose from a unique selection of 18th century reproductions toys, housewares, jewelry, toiletries and consumables. All sales proceeds benefit the Farm's educational programs.
December 2008 top
November 28 - December 21	Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm	Gatehouse Holiday Shop Avoid the craziness of the malls and enjoy easy parking. Do your holiday gift shopping at the Farm while helping to support the only privately operated National Park in the United States. Choose from a unique selection of 18th century reproductions toys, housewares, jewelry, toiletries and consumables. All sales proceeds benefit the Farm's educational programs.
December 14	Sunday 1-4 pm	Wassail Stand fast, root! Bear well, top! God send us a howling crop! In the dead of winter the apple trees need encouragement to bear well during the coming year. Gather in the Farm's orchard to wassail the trees with singing, dancing and chants to ensure a "howling crop." Enjoy hot spiced cider, sugar cakes, a bonfire and 18th century games. Weather permitting - call ahead.
December 14	Sunday 4:30 pm	The Farm Goes Into Hibernation The 18th century visitor site at The Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run closes for the winter months and will open to the public for the 2009 season on Wednesday, April 1 at 10 am. The GateHouse Holiday Shop will remain open through Sunday, December 21, 2008.

Events may be cancelled due to weather conditions unless otherwise noted.