Life

Spring Festival Saturday at Historic Johnson Farm

By , Published: April 23, 2012

The annual Spring Festival at the Historic Johnson Farm will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the farm at 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville.

Come to listen, learn, laugh, and relax at the major fundraiser supporting the Johnson Farm's continuing operation. This year's festival celebrates 25 years of the Historic Johnson Farm as part of Henderson County School district. Festival goers will enjoy bluegrass music, Appalachian crafts, down home food, and fun for the whole family. Farm volunteers will host a bake sale featuring buttery pound cakes, some of which are based on the original Johnson family recipe. Lots of other tasty food will be available including fried apple pies, barbecue, and more.

The on-site craft sale will feature many unique items celebrating Western North Carolina's rich local talent. The hallmark of these crafts is creative excellence and originality. The craft items make lovely gifts for that special someone, or as a special personal treat for you.

Voluteers will lead guided tours through the 1880's farmhouse, believed to be the first brick home in Henderson County. Each room fairly reeks of simple historic farm living; you can almost imagine the farm's owners sitting in the parlor resting after spring plowing.

Tap your toes to live music performed on the farm's stage some of it supplied by Henderson County students. Take a peek inside the farm's one-room schoolhouse to see how our ancestors spent their school days. Wander through the equipment shed packed with vintage farm equipment. Peek into the garage housing the Johnson brother's last car, a Buick, which they used to tend to the farm.

Enjoy a fun-filled family ride in an authentic farm wagon pulled by tractor or real horsepower over the land once farmed by the Johnson brothers. You can then end your wagon tour with some tasty food freshly prepared on site. Spend some time watching the donkeys and sheep who always welcome visitors who peer over the fence into their pasture.

Take a tour of the former boarding house currently occupied by the Western North Carolina Heritage Weavers and Fiber Artists. Watch the "sheep to shawl" demonstrations throughout the day including shearing of a sheep held every hour. You can follow the process of the sheep's wool from shearing, carding, spinning and weaving to learn how fabric is created. See the looms dominating the first floor of the former boardinghouse and the wonderful crafts created by these talented weavers and fiber artists. Spinners and weavers will work on the broad shaded porch and, as always, invite questions from visitors, especially children. Tours of the building with demonstrations of weaving, spinning, rug hooking, bobbin lace and knitting will be offered throughout the day. The gift shop features unique handmade gifts.

No reservations required for the Spring Festival at the Historic Johnson Farm across from the Rugby Middle School. Admission will be $5 adults, $3 students, preschoolers are free. Free parking!

For more information, call 828-891-6585 or visit www.historicjohnsonfarm.org.