The Quincy Museum at 1601 Maine Street invites you to travel back in time by spending an afternoon at their annual Folk Life Festival. Visitors to the grounds of the museum will have the chance to experience the crafts and lifestyles of yesterday with a wide variety of demonstrations, exhibits, food and games. The Folk Life Festival will be held on Saturday, September 17 from noon to 5 PM.

A minimal admission will be charged at the gate, which will allow visitors to enjoy all the activities on the grounds and includes admission to the Quincy Museum. Admission for members of the museum is free. Guests can spend an early autumn afternoon wandering over the spacious grounds of the museum while journeying back in time.

There will be a variety of different vendors and demonstrators, so there is sure to be something to catch everyone's interest. Old favorites such as the Quinsippi Needleworkers, Joseph Newkirk with his displays of African art, Wood Carver Extraordinaire Donald Raines, the Quincy Woodworkers Guild, Ohio Street Originals and tatter Kae Blecha will all be a part of the event again this year.

Matthew Mittelstaedt will share the art of weaving on his old fashioned loom and Heide and Dick Hehmeyer will be back with their hand-painted wooden signs and fall décor. Joining us for a second year are Claymohr Art Studio with handmade pottery and the Muddy River Soap Company who will bring home-made bath and laundry products.

New this year will be the Rock Stars booth with geodes for sale, home-made soap, lip balms and lotion bars from Sweet Home Soap, Mary Talken with American Girl and Bitty Baby Doll fashions and Earnest Jones from Moberly, Missouri, who will demonstrate the ancient art of flint-knapping. Also new this year will be Native Americans from the Standing Bear Council and beautiful artwork by Kim Shinn.

Entertainment will be provided by the Ragtag Irish Band, who will play throughout the afternoon. Don’t miss the square dancing demonstrations by the Q City Squares at 1:00 and 2:00 and the always enjoyable square dancing dogs of the Quincy Kennel Club. For children and adults who are children at heart, there will be a variety of old-fashioned children’s games including cup-and-ball, nine-pins, crafts and other games. There are always plenty of surprises on hand for your amusement and enjoyment.

Bring your appetite too! Booths and tents on the grounds feature plenty of good things to eat. On hand for purchase will be old-fashioned bottled soda, caramel apples and old-fashioned hard candy, baked goods, bratwurst, hot dogs, and of course, the always popular buffalo barbeque sandwiches. If you get too warm with all of your activities on the grounds, Spoonwave will be on hand with their delicious frozen yogurt.

Visitors will get the opportunity to purchase everything from pumpkins, mums, and other harvest produce to old-fashioned wooden toys and games and other fun items with an old-fashioned flair.

The Quincy Museum’s Folk Life Festival is funded in part by the Illinois Arts Council and the business and individual members of the Quincy Society of Fine Arts. For more information, contact the Quincy Museum at 224-7669.

 

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