Event Details (U.S. National Park Service)

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Special Event

Fee:

Free.

Location:

This event will take place on the Lower Farm.

Dates & Times

Date:

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Time:

12:00 PM

Duration:

4 hours

Type of Event

Children’s Program

Cultural/Craft Demonstration

Guided Tour

Living History

Performance

Talk

Walk

Description

Join us for our annual Harvest Day on the Lower Farm! Experience Antebellum era traditions and farming techniques. Enjoy ongoing farm activities from cider pressing and ice cream making demonstrations, as well as corn shucking contests. National Park Service staff and volunteers, dressed in period attire, will demonstrate farming techniques and play music on the fiddle and banjo. Learn more about the enslaved and indentured individuals who worked on the Hampton estate.

Spend an afternoon on the farm and explore what life and work were like on an antebellum plantation. See demonstrations of 19th century cider pressing, ice cream making, and weaving. Participate in corn shucking contests, 19th century style farming, and period games for the entire family! Learn milking techniques with “Reba” the cow and the Maryland Dairy Princess. Listen to period banjo and fiddle music, performed by park staff and volunteers. Join a park ranger at 12:30 pm for a tour of the farm buildings, including the original slave quarters, and learn more about the individuals who were forced into servitude on the Ridgelys’ estate. Hear stories of enslaved African Americans with performances by the Washington Revels in front of the Lower House from 2 pm -2:45 pm. From 1 pm - 3 pm there will be an open house of the historic mansion.

This family friendly event is free and open to the public. Free on site parking will be available on a first come, first served basis. Please note that parking will be limited. Reservations are not required and will not be taken.

Parking and Traffic

On-site parking at the Lower Farm will be limited and available only on a first come, first served basis. Limited street parking will also be available on St. Francis Road. Visitors are encouraged to park vehicles at the main and upper lots near the visitor contact station and walk to the farm.

Please note that the Lower Farm road will be limited to one-way traffic. Vehicle traffic will enter on Hampton Lane and exit on St. Francis Road.