Annual Mercer Museum Folk Fest

An authentic 18th-century festival at the Mercer Museum

The Mercer Museum, Doylestown, PA. Credit: J. Smith for GPTMC

Description

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May 9-10, 2009

The Folk Fest will not take place in 2010 due to construction.

The Experience

The grounds of the Mercer Museum transform into a historical festival setting for the 35th annual Folk Fest held on Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Explore the grounds of the museum and watch in amazement as the skilled costumed artisans demonstrate 17th- and 18th-century blacksmithing, spinning, weaving and chair-making. Among the costumed artisans are several who demonstrate the art of cooking using outdoor bake ovens, a squirrel tail oven and a hearth oven.

The genuine reenactments and demonstrations take visitors back in time to witness what a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch baking day was like. Outdoor bake ovens, similar to those at Folk Fest, were used primarily by the German settlers of Upper Bucks County and other areas of Pennsylvania.

A hearth cooking demonstration, featuring authentic 18th-century recipes, will also take place. The festival only uses foods that are appropriate to the time period and season, giving visitors a realistic view of the celebrated times.