Ladies, strap on your bonnets, and spruce up your Mr. Darcys for the 3rd Annual Jane Austen Festival, July 10 and 11, at Historic Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Lane in Louisville.
Admission to the festival is $10 and is jam-packed with activities suitable for the entire family.
Booths of the Regency Emporium will feature silk shawls, fabric, bonnets, jewelry, antiquarian books, and personal silhouette cuttings will be featured inside the visitors' center. Join in the silent auction and bid on Jane Austen books, movie memorabilia and tea-themed baskets, and must more! Saturday and Sunday will each feature four-course afternoon teas, every hour beginning at noon for $20 per person.
Five new vendors will participate in this year's "The Shoppes of Meryton": Taylor Rose Historical Outfitters, Bells Mill Clothiers, Marquette Trading Company, Spencer's Mercantile, and Kentucky Fine Tea Ware.
The log and stone buildings on Locust Grove's grounds will host the Regency men's "Hellfire Club", as well as a 19th century physician. Common Stock Entertainment will entertain attendees of all ages with shadow puppets, old-fashioned kid-friendly peep-shows, and other 18th century entertainment.
Workshops at this year's Festival include "How to make a Tussie Mussie" (a small bunch of flowers given in lieu of written greetings) for $15 per person, but please bring your own utility scissors to cut floral stems, and "Silk Ribbon & Surface Embroidery to Make a Reticule" (a regency-era drawstring purse) for $25.
Featured author Kim Wilson, member of the Jane Austen Society in Milwaukee, will speak about her books "In the Garden with Jane Austen" and "Tea with Jane Austen", Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., and will be selling and signing her books.
Don't miss "Dressing Mr. Darcy", and the ongoing Recency Style Show in the Grand Parlor on Saturday and Sunday.
The Grand Ball on Saturday, July 10, in conjunction with the local English Country Dance Society at St. Andrew Episcopal Church, requires advance registration, $20 per person, and is not included with festival admission.
The Greater Louisville Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) was founded in July 2007, and meets monthly at Historic Locust Grove. Visit JASNALouisville.com for more information, including the complete festival schedule, and to purchase tickets for workshops, the Ball, Afternoon Tea, and admission, or call 502-239-8521.
Locust Grove is a National Historic Landmark, which served as the home of General George Rogers Clark, founder of Louisville and Revolutionary War hero, for the last 9 years of Clark's life until his death in 1818, and was originally established in 1790 by Clark's brother-in-law and surveying partner William Croghan. Locust Grove hosted three U.S. Presidents--Monroe, Jackson, and Taylor, and was even a stopping point for Lewis and Clark. African-American slaves worked and lived on the farm, and contributed largely to its success. "Locust Grove tells the story of George Rogers Clark, early Kentucky history, western expansion and everyday life on the frontier."
Photo: Courtesy JASNA Louisville
