Join the 38th Annual Holliston Historical Society Harvest Fair September 23

J.D. O’Gara
Issue Date: 
September, 2018
Article Body: 

Mark your calendars for the 38th Annual Holliston Historical Society Country Harvest Fair, this year scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 23 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (rain date September 30) at 547 Washington Street.
This old-fashioned country fair features handmade items such as textiles, bags, pottery, jewelry, cards, signs and many more wonderful examples of New England crafts. Artists will display their works and a fine variety of antiques and collectibles will be offered along Antiques Row.
According to Pat Pereira, who is organizing vendors this year, an array of returning and new vendors are sure to make an impact. Visitors could begin their holiday shopping with some unique gifts. Among vendors returning are the Candy Cottage, antiques and collectibles vendor Vincent Volpe, Little Beehive Farm, and Rainbow Soaps. Some of the new vendors include:
• Winchester School of Chinese Culture: A 501C3, this group will be selling unique origami lotus flowers as wearable art.
• Debbie Creates: This Acton-based artist works with recycled materials. https://www.facebook.com/DebbieCreates/
• Gordon Axtman: Creates art with wood.
• JMF Designs Exquisite Jewelry: https://www.facebook.com/JMFDeZigns
• The Leather Trunk: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sabrinagrancio
• Caroline Rose Fiber Arts: hand spun yard with local New England wool, hoop arts all hangings, https://www.carolinerosefiberarts.com/
• Fred Robinson: Makes unique, handmade banks with official post office doors
• Carole Dolan: handmade beaded jewelry, www.Facebook.comcaroledolan61
• William Gowdy, makes porcelain food grates, TheGrumpyGrater.com
• Art Neiman the Third, art vendor
• Diana Keen, of EZ Reach Jewelry Frames: creates holders for jewelry and other items
• Bobbe Awtey of Leeward Interiors, who creates silk flower wreaths and centerpieces, as well as lighted wooden trees and snow men, with sand art for kids
• Victoria Karian, of 612 Creations, who creates hand woven scarves of various fibers, handmade quilts, baby and junior size quilts with polar fleece (on Etsy, shop 612 Creations VK)
• A group of three women who together will present organic cupcakes, hand spun totes and linens and pillowcase dresses.
In the barn, lunch food and beverages will be sold along with baked goods and the Society’s famous Pie Night Apple Pies.
Pereira explains that pie assembly is a big event.
“Pie assembly night is Friday night. We make the pies in the barn. We usually have apples donated to us. We have all these peelers, like an assembly line, peeling and slicing and putting them in bowls.” In the main part of barn, says Pereira, pies are assembled using crusts purchased from Outpost Farm. Pie assembly takes between 35 and 40 volunteers, all of whom celebrate when they’re done with a wine and pizza party.
“We bake (the pies) Saturday, using the house and the barn ovens,” she says. These fresh pies will be available at the Harvest Fair for $13 apiece, or two for $25, while they last.
The Harvest Fair also always features a baked goods table, with items made by historical society members, and a Silent Auction table, which offers bargains on goods and services donated by members and local businesses. Participating vendors also donate items for this table.
The day will also include musical entertainment by Always in Season, an acoustic string band from Framingham (https://www.facebook.com/alwaysinseasonband/), tours of the Asa Whiting House from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., which will include a new exhibit on ways the Holliston Historical Society adds to its collections. All three rooms will be open, as well as the library upstairs, which will be manned by Joanne Hulbert, town historian.
For children, Facepainter “Cybil” will be on hand, and children will enjoy climbing on a tractor, the bouncy house, and games.
For more information on the Holliston Historical Society, visit https://www.hollistonhistoricalsociety.org.