This will be a stretch, but…

AaronGP

AaronGP

Joined
Jul 19, 2014
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Forgive me if this is completely off-topic and entirely random seeming, but I thought folks in this forum might share enough interests with me to be a good audience for this question: does anyone know of any festivals or fairs in the Pacific Northwest that are themed around life a hundred years ago or so? It might help if I give the question some context.

I grew up in a small town in Northern Ohio and toward the end of summer every year there was a weekend event hosted at a county park named Pioneer Days. The event was an opportunity for people to come together around the ideas of old skills and interests. The steam engine guys brought out their steam engines and lit off the boilers, the black powder guys filled the air with smoke, the lumber guys demonstrated their sawing and chopping, and the park rangers gave tours and talks of the historic homestead that formed the heart of the park. There were also people selling all kinds of hand made crafts, programs for the kids, and lots of simple food and drink (my Boy Scout troop built and brick stove and sold funnel cakes). One of the best things about it was that it was mainly amateurs and enthusiasts, sharing what they love, and the visitors often became participants rather than just passively observing.

Now that I live in Washington state I miss that simple connection to the roots of what life used to be like and I'd love to find something similar again. Anyone know of something like this?
 
AaronGP said:
Forgive me if this is completely off-topic and entirely random seeming, but I thought folks in this forum might share enough interests with me to be a good audience for this question: does anyone know of any festivals or fairs in the Pacific Northwest that are themed around life a hundred years ago or so? It might help if I give the question some context.

I grew up in a small town in Northern Ohio and toward the end of summer every year there was a weekend event hosted at a county park named Pioneer Days. The event was an opportunity for people to come together around the ideas of old skills and interests. The steam engine guys brought out their steam engines and lit off the boilers, the black powder guys filled the air with smoke, the lumber guys demonstrated their sawing and chopping, and the park rangers gave tours and talks of the historic homestead that formed the heart of the park. There were also people selling all kinds of hand made crafts, programs for the kids, and lots of simple food and drink (my Boy Scout troop built and brick stove and sold funnel cakes). One of the best things about it was that it was mainly amateurs and enthusiasts, sharing what they love, and the visitors often became participants rather than just passively observing.

Now that I live in Washington state I miss that simple connection to the roots of what life used to be like and I'd love to find something similar again. Anyone know of something like this?
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It seems a popular thing for museums to put on living history days. That is where I would start searching for one in your area.
 
Try looking for Environmental Living Programs at local landmarks. Sutter's Mill has 49'er days, Sutter's Fort has ELP's/1846 re-enactment days. I was part of one of the re-enactments as a soldier a few years back, but I got to spend all day "guarding" ie watching a blacksmith work instead of doing manual labor like the rest of my family. If I have to join another one, I'll try to get a role as his assistant. Anyways, here's Washington's page on that stuff. Folk and Traditional Arts Program | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Also, I thought I'd throw in a pic of me, the smith, and where I spent the entire day.
Jon-Kramp-D7-K-3830.jpg
 
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