Heathsville Farmers Market
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Rice's Hotel / Hughlett's Tavern 73 Monument Pl , Heathsville, Virginia 22473
The final Heathsville Farmers Market of the season will take place on Saturday, October 20th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Rice's Hotel / Hughlett's Tavern.
As part of this month's market, the public is invited to bring their pets for a "Blessing of the Animals" ceremony at 10 a.m., courtesy of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. A pumpkin decorating contest will also take place outside, with prizes awarded to both youth and adults. Look for the tent in the middle of Farmers Market. Pumpkins are donated by Garners Produce of Warsaw.
The Northumberland Public Library will use the opportunity to showcase their "Mobile Library - Tech Mobile." Farmers Market shoppers will be able to tour the inside of this new bookmobile/mobile internet hot-spot.
Local historical groups will be setting up a "Living History" encampment outside. This event was rained out at last month's Farmers Market. See folks in costume and learn about local history. Groups representing the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, and Black History will all be present.
In addition, the Northumberland Historical Society, located just down the street from the Tavern, has a special exhibit on Northumberland County's participation in World War I. Tours of the old Northumberland Jail will also be given.
The Heathsville Farmers Market usually attracts over 40 vendors, including purveyors of local produce, meat, eggs, bread, gourmet peanuts, and handcrafts. There are new vendors every month.
Inside the Tavern itself, the "Heritage Arts Center" gift shoppe will be open. Shoppers will find locally-made artisan wares for sale, as well as active artist studios.
For a leisurely sit-down lunch, come inside the Tavern Cafe´. The volunteers of the Tavern Culinary Guild are serving homemade soups, fresh-baked bread, quiche´, sandwich kits, scones and sweet treats. Special on Farmers Market days, the cafe´ fries up hot, glazed donuts.
For on-the-go eating, breakfast sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, and beverages are on sale at the outside food concession.
A historic landmark since the late 1700's, Rice's Hotel / Hughlett's Tavern is home to four active artisan guilds, which will all be on-site that day, demonstrating and selling their wares. The Blacksmiths can be found in the Forge. The Woodworkers will be in their colonial era workshop inside the Carriage House. The Quilt Guild will be in residence at at their studio in the Tavern, and the Tavern Spinners & Weavers will be demonstrating in their studio upstairs.
Rice's Hotel / Hughlett's Tavern is located at 73 Monument Place, just off Route 360 behind the old Northumberland County Courthouse in Heathsville. For more information, visit www.RHHTFoundationinc.org, e-mail info@rhhtfoundationinc.org, or call 804-580-3377.