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Darke County Visitors Bureau...
Harvest Happenings
Weekend
If you are looking for the perfect autumn weekend getaway, head to
Darke County for a Harvest of Happenings.
America’s heritage is centered on the fall harvest. It has been a time
of celebration from the pioneers to present. So it is with this spirit
that so many treasures across Darke County offer everything autumn,
September 24 & 25.
Prairie Days at Shawnee Prairie brings an entire community from 1780 –
1810 to life. The blacksmith heats and hammers iron creations across
the way from the ladies hanging hot wax to dry into candles. Fresh made
apple butter teases the nose and corn is being shred and ground. Over
at the living encampment, pioneers are dressed in skins and teach their
camping techniques. Storytellers are spinning tall tales to the tunes
of traveling musicians. Inside the log home are ladies chatting around
the spinning wheels while a man is out back showing folks how to load a
musket and rifle.
Activity is everywhere. Pioneer games are being played; men are at work
carving a canoe out of tree trunk and kids “make it and take it” inside
the crafting tent. Wares are for sale, including jewelry, pottery and
other pieces from the 1700 - 1800’s. Kettle corn, ice cream and other
tasty treats fill bellies in time for a leisurely tractor or
horse-drawn wagon ride.
Over at Bears Mill, the French Buhr millstones are busy grinding flours
and meals just as they have since 1849. In fact, it’s one of the only
historic mills still operating in Ohio today. This working historical
landmark is a destination for artists and photographers. Sitting on the
banks of Greenville Creek, the hand hewn timber framework stands four
stories against the wooded backdrop, which offers lovely fall hiking
trails.
Inside, tours of all four floors reveal a storied history. There’s also
an art gallery featuring locally handmade pottery, paintings and other
original works. During A Harvest of Happenings, browse through the mill
shop for plenty of fresh-milled products, including flours, grains,
bread and cookies.
A stone’s skip from the ole mill is Brumbaugh Fruit & Fun Farm. It
features an orchard that has grown into a diverse family destination
for people to come play and shop at the same time.
Across the 45-acre farm there is no shortage of fun. Get lost in the
Kinda Kooky Korn Maze or set the kids loose on the Human Hamster
Wheels. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch allow everyone to pick the
perfect specimen to turn into a jack-o-lantern. Another favorite for
kids is learning to feed and groom the farm animals.
Storybook characters wait in an enchanted forest and hiking throughout
the orchards teaches about the many varieties of apples grown on the
farm.
Behind the scenes tours are given to see the entire operation. It
includes visits to the cider press room and cooler so guests can see
how apples get from the orchards to the showroom or are squeezed into
cider. This leads to the market and bakery where a bushel of farm-grown
apples may be purchased along with corn, pumpkins and
gourds.
Speaking of gourds, A Harvest of Happenings also features the Ohio
Gourd Show at the Darke County Fairgrounds in Greenville. Gourds are an
interesting and diverse fruit. Artisans bend them, shape them and paint
them to make masks, bowls, and musical instruments or just about
anything the mind can imagine. Many of the specimens are for sale. In
addition, there are workshops, food, entertainment and crafts. Featured
this year are five talented music groups that will be performing using
a variety of gourd instruments. Groups include The Oxford Gourd and
Drum Ensemble from Oxford, Ohio; the Circle of Rhiannon Tribal Drum
& Dance Troupe from Hamilton, Ohio; The Sirenz from Oxford, Ohio;
Waldren Due from Butler County, Ohio and Phil Clark , a didgeridoo
artist from Illinois. These groups will perform from 2:00 to 5:00 pm on
Saturday, September 24.
Moving from the fairgrounds to downtown Greenville is the Lead the Way
Tractor Cruise at 10:00 am on September 24.
In downtown Greenville’s quaint, shopping district, the streetscape is
buzzing with activity! The harvest is celebrated with festive scarecrow
displays, chili cook-off and tasting, story time on the Courthouse
lawn, fashion show, Farmers’ Market and a salsa cooking demonstration
at KitchenAid Experience Center. For a complete listing of activities
and times, please visit www.DowntownGreenville.org.
The one place that may best tie A Harvest of Happenings together like
no other is the Garst Museum & Annie Oakley Center. On Saturday,
September 24, admission to Garst is free through The Smithsonian
Museum. They are sponsoring National Museum Day across the United
States. Check out their website for details and to print off the ticket
for two free admissions, http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/
The Garst Museum features the largest known collection of Annie Oakley
memorabilia. The museum also showcases the rich history of this
agricultural community by chronicling the 1795 Treaty of Green Ville’s
impact on early American history and settlement.
Whether it was the 1700’s, 1800’s or today, the fall harvest has always
marked a time of celebration in American history. And like a variety of
crops coming to market, A Harvest of Happenings brings autumn
everything to whoever comes to Darke County September 24 and 25.
Hours, admissions and more details on these events, as well as many
others are available at VisitDarkeCounty.org.
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