May Faire, the spring historic celebration sponsored by the Mathews Museum, will be held Saturday and Sunday, the first time for this two-day combination.
Venues will include Mathews Court Green, home of demonstrations, musical performances and vendors, and the Mathews Museum, located at 200 Main Street.
A kickoff to festivities is an informal free concert to be held at 5 p.m. Friday at the museum. A string trio from the Courthouse Community Orchestra will feature Eddie Wiehrs and Anne Baltrusaitis on violin and Virginia Roane on cello. Also featured is museum president Tom Robinson performing the Ashokan Farewell, accompanied by Wiehrs.
Opening ceremonies on Saturday take place at 9 a.m. on the court green with presentation of colors and the National Anthem sung by Lynette Glockner of Mathews Pharmacy.
This year’s theme is Mathews Museum Celebrates VA250 and many activities will follow the theme. The festival will include a weaving demonstration, quilting demonstration, blacksmithing, and colonial animal care presentation, “Farming the Old Ways” by CA&J Farms of Bohannon. Chicks will be hatching at the farm exhibit, a release said.
Joe Perdue and friends will fly over, weather permitting, at noon Tuesday.
The traditional May Pole dance is also part of the festivities. It is scheduled between noon and 1 p.m. Saturday.
New this year is the Sunday opening, which will include a community church service at 9 a.m., a report on restoration activities at Poplar Grove and its tidemill at noon Sunday in the historic courthouse, and a sneak peek at 2 p.m. Sunday from the Court House Players for their upcoming musical, “Crickets on a Hill.”
David Lowe will present the Poplar Grove update, with documentation photographs by Phil Dunn.
The two-hour community church service will include these participants: 9-9:30, the Rev. Kristie Askew, pastor of Emmanuel, Grace-Providence and St. Matthew United Methodist Churches; 9:30, Gabbie Cortes; 9:30-10, Steve Safrit; 10, Ada Barnes; 10-10:30, Pastor Paul Gibson of Westville Baptist Church; 10:30, The Barnes Family; and 10:45, Hunter Owens.
Live music on stage Saturday will be presented by Three Creeks Down, the Stutts Creek Boys, and the Olde Virginia Company.
The traditional pound cake contest will be held at the museum Saturday, with an Under 14 category added. Cakes will be available for purchase after judging.
Closing ceremonies on Sunday will feature a march and performance by the Fife and Drums of Yorktown.