The Faire opens from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 31st, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 1st. Springfield’s history will be highlighted by walking tours led by a long-time resident; and for visitors who miss these walks, a self-guided tour with explanatory signs at each site will also be available. The Great North American Rendezvous will provide an Early American encampment with re-enactors wearing period dress, working and living like the area’s colonial residents. Faire visitors can walk around the encampment, ask questions and see into the past and they can observe a shooting demonstration of reproduction air guns carried on the Lewis & Clarke Expedition of 1803.
The Big Spring Watershed Association will set up displays at the stone Barrel Factory located at the base of Springfield. The watershed association’s displays will explain the geology of the area, history of the Barrel Factory and what the Big Spring Creek was like in the early 1800’s, including how fish and fishing were affected by the six grist mills that once spanned the Creek.
A fun and exciting explanation of the gristmill’s workings will be illustrated by a scale model made by Mr. Rollie Anderson of Antrim Township. He has handcrafted a water powered overshot gristmill that he will demonstrate and explain to visitors. In addition, a rolling mill and a sawmill will also be working and on display. Pictures of the Big Spring Creek gristmills will be provided by the Newville Historical Society along with their histories.
Period musical entertainment from the Fife and Drum Corps of York will be performed between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Corps members play authentically reproduced instruments and they are one of the few remaining youth fife and drum corps in the U.S.
The Big Spring United Methodist Church, which dates from 1852, will be open to visitors and will provide displays on area and church history. Faire goers are urged to enjoy the calm of its peaceful cemetery surrounded by strong limestone walls. On Saturday, the Big Spring United Methodist Church will host a church BBQ providing a menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, hot sausages, dessert and snacks from the grill. At 10:00 a.m. Sunday, visitors are invited to a historic church service led by a circuit rider speaker including a hymn sing. For those who attend, a free picnic will follow the service.
If you would like to experience the area’s social, historical and cultural heritage, eat some food and enjoy the displays and musical entertainment, make plans to attend the Big Spring Heritage Village Faire. Directions and information are available by calling 717-776-6334 or visit http://www.bigspringheritage.org/. Come to the Faire!