Monthly Calendar

May 9 to May 11 in Noblesville, Indiana:
Greater Indianapolis Antique Festival—A new show comes to the Indianaoplis area. Many nationally known antique dealers will show off their finest offerings. For more information: Willowrush Promotions, (260) 925-4689.

May 9 to May 10 in Mount Vernon, Virginia:
Sheep Shearing at Mount Vernon—On Fridays and Saturdays in May, visitors can watch the beginning of the wool-making process with sheep-shearing demonstrations at the Pioneer Farmer site, where livestock handlers discuss the role sheep played on Washington?s farm (and use hand shears purchased from the same company he used in the 18th Century). The site owns about 43 Hogg Island sheep, descended from animals brought to Virginia in the early 1600s. For more information: Mount Vernon, (703) 780-2000.

May 10 to May 11 in Madison, Indiana:
Madison in Bloom—Tour six private gardens, not otherwise open to the public, in the historic district of Madison, Indiana - one of the loveliest towns in the Ohio Valley. Madison always looks its loveliest in the spring, with tulips, dogwoods and redbuds filling the Historic District with color. Saturday hours: 10-4; Sunday hours: 12-4. Admission: $10. Advance prices and group rates available. For more information: Jefferson County Historical Society, (812) 265-2335 or 800559295.

May 10 to May 11 in Contoocook, New Hampshire:
New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival—Events include educational programs and workshops, dog herding demonstrations and trials, a fleece-to-shawl contest, fiber show, fleece show and sale, breeds display, and a variety of vendors. For more information: Hopkinton State Fairgrounds, (603) 744-3851.

May 10 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania:
Mercer Folk Fest—The grounds of the Mercer Museum are transformed into an historical festival setting for the 35th annual Mercer Museum Folk Fest. Watch traditional artisans demonstrate the skills and trades of early America. Enjoy a fun day for the entire family which also includes, all-day live entertainment, militia encampment, quilt raffle, shopping, picnic foods and more. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for youth (ages 5-17), free for children under age 5 and $20 for families with their own children (ages 5-17). Includes admission to the Mercer Museum. The event takes place rain or shine. For more information: Mercer Museum, (215) 345-0210.

May 10 to May 11 in New Paris, Pennsylvania:
Historically Inspired Artists—Spring Meadow Shop will host a special Mother's Day weekend. We will have redware artists Greg and Mary Shooner here as well as Kathleen Cope Ruoss, an incredible watercolor artist. In addition, Spring Meadow rug hookers will be displaying and selling their work. The shop is filled with antiques and folk art and many historically inspired offerings such as Windsor chairs, pewter, redware, hooked rugs, and Lt Moses Willard Chandeliers. This event will surely please and will be a special treat for Mothers. For more information: Spring Meadow Shop, (814) 839-9120.

May 11 in Plymouth, Massachusetts:
Mothers' Day Brunch—Treat your mother (or yourself!) to a delicious brunch in honor of Mother's Day. To further celebrate, we've designed a hands-on workshop for children in the Visitor Center Courtyard from 11 am to 3 pm that is free with admission. The workshop will provide your child with a wonderful opportunity to create a handmade Mother's Day present or simple memento of their visit to the museum. Reservations by May 4. $34/adult, $20/child fee (Members, $15.95/9.95). For more information: Plimoth Plantation, (508) 746-1622 Ext. 8365.

May 11 in Setauket, New York:
Setauket Historical Walk—2:00 pm Discover Setauket's rich history as you explore its architecture and beautiful natural environment. Tours leave from the Setauket Neighborhood House, 95 Main Street in Setauket, across from the Mill Pond. (Note: Please arrive 5 minutes prior to the start times listed to ensure a prompt start.) Free for mothers; all others: $3 for members, $5 for nonmembers. For more information: The Three Village Historical Society, (631) 751-3730.

May 13 to May 18 in Brimfield, Massachusetts:
Brimfield Antique Show and Flea Market—The largest outdoor antique show in the world, held since 1959 in or around Brimfield, Massachusetts, with over 6,000 dealers and 130,000+ visitors during the course of the week. While it is convenient to refer to it as "The Show", it is actually comprised of 23 fields, owned by "Promoters", who lease spaces to dealers from all over the world. The Show runs about a mile along Route 20, on both sides of the road, extending several hundred yards back from each side of the road. For more information: Brimfield Show Website

May 16 to May 17 in Mount Vernon, Virginia:
Sheep Shearing at Mount Vernon—On Fridays and Saturdays in May, visitors can watch the beginning of the wool-making process with sheep-shearing demonstrations at the Pioneer Farmer site, where livestock handlers discuss the role sheep played on Washington?s farm (and use hand shears purchased from the same company he used in the 18th Century). The site owns about 43 Hogg Island sheep, descended For more information: Mount Vernon, (703) 780-2000.

ON-GOING EXHIBITIONS

Now through July 18 in Long Island, New York:
Slave Quarters Dig at Lloyd Manor JUNE 2 - JULY 18—The 2008 Hofstra University summer Archaeologicial Field School will examine the diverse lives of enslaved Africans on Long Island through the excavation of the remains of a slave quarter at SPLIA's Joseph Lloyd Manor site on Lloyd Neck. Lloyd Manor was home to Jupiter Hammon, one of the earliest published African Americans, whose work addressed enslaved Africans and challenged the injustices of slavery. Archaeology presents an opportunity to compare the words of Jupiter Hammon with the evidence left behind by others laboring at the site during the time of slavery. For more information on this program call Hofstra University at 516-463-4093 or SPLIA at 631-692-4664 For more information: Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, (631) 692-4664.

Now through May 31 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania:
Are We Dressed Yet? Accessories and the Stories They Tell—Explore the intriguing stories that personal and fashion accessories can tell about day-to-day life: work, play, hobbies, and special events. On display are more than 75 rarely seen objects from the museum?s collection of 18th- through 20th-Century accessories. Visitors can try on hats, gloves, jewelry, and other personal clothing items. For more information: Mercer Museum, (215) 345-0210.

Now through March 4, 2009 in Williamsburg, Virginia:
Scenes of Everyday Life: The Drawings of Lewis Miller—The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum showcases the work of Pennsylvania folk artists Lewis Miller, who in the early 1800s created detailed drawings that echoed his observations of the places he visited and the people he encountered. For more information: Colonial Williamsburg, (757) 229-1000.

Now through August 17 in Deerfield, Massachusetts:
Clothes Make the Man: The Colonial Gentleman in New England—The Flynt Center of Early New England Life hosts an exhibition illustrating the stylish men's fashions of the 18th Century. Among the objects on display are recent acquisitions and the "Freedom Suit" owned by Jacob Brown on loan from the Concord Museum. For more information: Historic Deerfield, (413) 775-7216.

Now through May 11 in Mount Vernon, Virginia:
Gardening Days—George Washington's Mount Vernon hosts its annual outdoor garden and gift sale including ornamentals, perennials, and annuals, garden items, books, and plants propagated from historic cuttings. Interpreters offer guided tours of the gardens and landscape daily. The Gardening Days Shop, open only for this event, sells plants, herbs, and seeds grown on site as well as gardening tools, gadgets, books, pots, and more. For more information: Mount Vernon, (703) 780-2000.

Now through May 18 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky:
From Sheep to Shawl Education Program—Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill hosts weekday programs for school groups. Interpreters demonstrate the process of making a shawl from sheep shearing through spinning, dyeing with natural materials, spinning, and weaving. For more information: Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, (800) 734-5611.

LATER THIS MONTH

s May 17 to May 18 in Perrysburg, Ohio: So You Want to Be a Soldier?

s May 17 to May 18 in Madison, Indiana: Madison in Bloom

s May 17 in Fair Hill, Maryland: Colonial Highland Gathering

s May 17 in Bristol, Rhode Island: Wool and Fiber Festival

s May 17 to May 18 in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania: Sheep & Fiber Festival

s May 17 to May 18 in Ann Arbor, Michigan: Ann Arbor Antiques Market

s May 17 to May 18 in Portsmouth, Virginia: Colonial Craftman’s Faire

s May 18 in Shelburne, Vermont: Lilac and Gardening Sunday

s May 23 to May 24 in Mount Vernon, Virginia: Sheep Shearing at Mount Vernon

s May 24 to May 25 in Cummington, Massachusetts: Sheep & Woolcraft Fair

s May 24 in New Harbor, Maine: Maine St.Andrew's Pipe and Drums