In August 2008, our Annual Folk Festival will be held at the Henry Antes Plantation, Colonial Road in Frederick, PA.
The potential of the Antes Plantation, with its 18th century
backdrop is vast and so conductive to the authentic interpretation of the Pennsylvania German folk culture that it is the ideal
location to continue the tradition of the Folk Festival.
The Goschenhoppen Historians was established as an educational society dedicated to learning about preserving and teaching the Pennsylvania German folk culture. Red Men's Hall, the annual Folk Festival and the Antes House are the three primary ways the Historians accomplish this mission. For the past 40 years the authentic recreation of folk culture trades and home skills have been demonstrated at the annual Folk Festival. Red Men's Hall houses a local folk life museum, country-store museum, a research library and a blacksmith's shop. The Antes House was acquired in 1987 with one acre of land in Upper Frederick Township and in 2000 an additional 25 acres were purchased. The Antes House has been designated a National Historic Landmark as an outstanding example of Pennsylvania German architecture in the mid-18th century, and in recognition of Henry Antes'contributions to Colonial America. The restoration of the house is nearly completed and the master plan for the property has been prepared.
For years the goal of the organization was to have a place of its own to keep alive the Pennsylvania German folk culture and to educate the public. The Antes Plantation is that place. We look forward to the continued support of the members and friends of the Historians as we make this exciting move.
The annual Goschenhoppen Folk Festival,
started in 1966 is nationally recognized as an educational event to be enjoyed by the
whole family. It is always held in
August on the 2nd Saturday and the Friday before. It is a non-commercial family oriented day in Goschenhoppen.
Old fashioned foods and Pennsylvania Dutch meals are for sale on the festival grounds.
Young and old alike can leisurely enjoy more than 500 skilled and apprentice craftsmen
giving live demonstrations of more than 150 skills of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Dressed in authentic costumes of the periods (many of which are loaned from the Historian's
extensive wardrobe), they use authentic tools in recreating traditional home skills,
trades, pastimes, foods, and folk music. Stage programs and lectures both scholarly and
entertaining, serious and humorous, in the dialect and in English are
presented throughout the day in the covered bandshell.
The Historians put their own learning to work as they display the area's largest collection of traditional foods, crafts, homeskills, trades, music and folk itinerants. The Historians are purists and the Festival Committee documents as completely as possible every detail of early Goschenhoppen life including food, dress and practices. Since 1976 a Student Apprentice program has introduced and educated countless numbers of school children to the traditional ways of Goschenhoppen. These young apprentices are included each year in festival activities. It is a leisurely family event which visitors will find educational and entertaining.
The staff and workers are dressed in typical everyday working garb that corresponds
to the time frame and the type of tools used in the demonstration. Styles of
clothing seen on the festival grounds date from 1750-1820, 1810-1830, and 1880-1900.
Some 20th century "Plain" garb can also be seen which is not a recreation.
This year, the Folk Festival will take place on Friday, August 8 from 12 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, August 9, from 10 to 6:00 p.m. The historians base their demonstrations on a new theme each year. Donation is $10.00 for adults, and $2.00 for children 6 to 12. No pets are allowed in the park.
The Henry Antes Plantation, on Colonial Rd (318 Colonial Road, Perkiomenville, PA 18074), where the Folk Festival will be held beginning 2007, is located just 9 miles from our old festival location and is easily accessable just off Route 73, in Upper Frederick, Pennsylvania, by turning south on Colonial Road. Please note that that Colonial Rd will be closed on the day of the festival and parking will be accessible from Rt 73 just west of Colonial Rd
From 422Take swamp Pike to Fagleysville Road to Colonial Road. The Antes House is located at 318 Colonial Road, Perkiomenville, PA 18074.
From Philadelphia
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