Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 24-25—WOODSTOCK—Families, lovers of the forests, and woodworking fans are invited to the annual Vermont Forest Festival, which will held on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24-25 in Woodstock. The Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, and the Billings Farm & Museum will once again come together as partners to host a farm, forest and fine woodworking event that celebrates Vermont’s working lands and woodcraft.
This family-friendly event will be full of activities and experiences that will delight all ages and interests. Visitors can learn how important farms and forests are to Vermont and enjoy the many products that come from each component of Vermont’s working landscape. Vendors, demonstrations, and activities at both locations will offer visitors a unique opportunity to see a slice of Vermont’s farm and forest lifestyle. Unique wood products that represent the best of Vermont, such as wood carvings, cutting boards, turned bowls, home accessories, jewelry, puzzles, handcrafted boxes, toys and games, wooden birds, unique chairs, bedroom and dining furniture and more, will be for sale at Billings Farm.
View the History of Vermont Woodworking exhibit. Watch various forms of live lathe-turning techniques and woodcarving out on the farm grounds. Come see and feel the quality of the products you will hand down to generations to come. Enjoy live music and local food while taking in the scenic backdrop of Mount Tom.
In the farm barns, see farm work first-hand, including care of the Jersey cows, draft horses and sheep. Get comfortable with the farm’s livestock through interactive activities, programs, and events and explore the restored and furnished, historic 1890 Farm House and the extensive farm life exhibits. Bring home 100 percent raw milk cheddar cheese made from Billings Farm’s purebred registered Jersey herd.
Right across the road, at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, take part in the great outdoor activities that they will be offering that weekend. Free activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, horse logging, wooden birdhouse making, junior forester programs, children’s woodcrafting activities, sawmill demonstrations, forest walks, Ranger-guided programs of the Mansion, gardens, and forest and so much more. There is also an opportunity to part in a spoon carving workshop to make a wooden spoon to take home (fee charged). Take a walk in the woods with the new Windsor county forester or listen to a talk on understanding the landscape and how the woods change in Vermont. Explore all that the forest has to offer in the oldest scientifically-managed forest in the U.S. during their centennial celebration.
Event hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Programs and activities at the National Park are free. Admission to Billings Farm & Museum includes the wood festival. Free parking is available at Billings Farm, located at Rte. 12 & Old River Road.
Visit vermontwoodfestival.org for a complete listing of wood artisan vendors and other event information, or call 802-457-3368, ext. 222.
Courtesy of VWMA
Vendor Jim Maas of Birds in Wood shows a customer one of his Vermont-made bird carvings at the 2015 festival.
