Photo by Keith Heffintrayer.
Information provided by the Montgomery County Office of Communications
Experience springtime on a colonial farm at the Peter Wentz Farmstead’s annual Sheep Shearing Day on Saturday, April 20! Watch as our farmers use 18th-century techniques to shear the sheep’s winter coats and get them ready for the warm weather. Then visit our living historians and craftspeople to follow the steps from “wool to wardrobe” – from carding the wool, to spinning it into thread, to weaving it into fabric. Hear about the various activities that went into running a farm in the 18th century as you tour the first floor of the historic house. Stop by our demonstrators’ stalls to learn about important crafts like woodworking, basket weaving, candle-dipping, and more.
In addition to colonial craft demonstrations, we will be offering entertainment for the whole family. Little ones will delight in a performance by Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre. Get the whole family together for a rousing game of cricket led by American cricket player and historian Tom Melville – no experience necessary.
The delicious smell of good old-fashioned food will lead you to the Summer Kitchen to watch an open-hearth cooking demonstration. Once your mouth starts watering, visit Three-Legged Hare’s booth to try some delicious bunzas – a traditional German hand-pie made with ground beef, cabbage, onions, and Colby-Jack cheese on a brioche bun.
The sheep will be shorn at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuckers’ Tales Puppet Theatre will be performing in the barn at noon. Colonial craft demonstrations and guided house tours will be ongoing. Special presentations from miniature artist Ruth Ann Williams and woodworker Randy Gilbert will take place in the demonstrators’ tents. The Museum Shop and Three-Legged Hare’s booth will be open throughout the day.
All ages are welcome to participate in this free event, no registration is required. A $2 donation per person is suggested.
For more information about this program and others, please call the Peter Wentz Farmstead at 610-584-5104 or visit www.montgomerycountypa.gov/peterwentzfarmstead.
About Peter Wentz Farmstead
Peter Wentz Farmstead is a restored 18th-century Pennsylvania German historic site, which is owned and operated by Montgomery County and receives support from the Peter Wentz Farmstead Society. The site is regularly open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Guided tours are offered on the hour, with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m. The Peter Wentz Farmstead is located at 2030 Shearer Road in Lansdale, PA 19446.
