Special Event

45th annual Territorial Fair open house/party at museum

The maypole and other games and dances will help visitors get into the spirit of the past at the Historic Arkansas Museum’s 45th annual Territorial Fair.
The maypole and other games and dances will help visitors get into the spirit of the past at the Historic Arkansas Museum’s 45th annual Territorial Fair.

Old houses, old games and old foods bring the past to vibrant, tasty life at the Historic Arkansas Museum's annual Territorial Fair on Saturday.

This is the 45th year for the fair, which is, in simplest terms, an open house for the museum.

45th annual

Territorial Fair

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., Little Rock

Admission: Free

(501) 324-9351

historicarkansas.org

"It's a family event that's just kind of a celebration of the museum and what we do here," says Joleen Linson, the museum's director of education.

That means a day packed to the gills with activities and entertainment throughout the museum grounds in downtown Little Rock.

Much of the activities will take place in and around the museum's historic buildings. The Hinterliter Grog Shop, which is the oldest standing building in Little Rock, will have music just outside and visitors can play games such as checkers, ball-and-cup and skittles -- which Linson likens to "a top and bowling game combined" -- inside.

Over at the Brownlee House kitchen, visitors will get a taste of one of this year's themes: food.

Part of the fair will be tied to the museum's Arkansas Foodways Initiative, a program designed to help the museum explore food heritage. So, museum staff will make peach shortbread from Arkansas Gazette founder William Woodruff's family cookbook and will share samples.

Shortbread won't be the only special edible treat. There will also be giveaways of kitchen pepper, a historic spice blend.

"I like to put it on popcorn, because it's really good," Linson says.

Loblolly Creamery is making a special ice cream flavor for the occasion and Diamond Bear is providing root beer to wash it all down.

Cypress Knee Food's food truck will be on hand to sell lunch, including a special "heritage dish."

The fair's other theme is tied to Arkansas Heritage Month. This year's theme is "Off the Beaten Path: Explore and Enjoy Arkansas's Natural Heritage" and to fit the nature and food themes, they'll have crafts like food stamping with okra, potatoes and peppers. At the museum's log cabin, visitors can make their own nature journals.

Here's just a sampling of the other activities on the museum grounds:

• People can get active by trying their hands at stilt-walking and other outdoor pioneer games or by learning old dances with the help of the Arkansas Country Dance Society.

• Visit the goats and pick up activity books courtesy of Heifer International.

• Arkansas Living Treasures Louise Halsey and Eleanor Lux will demonstrate weaving and beadwork, respectively. Ozark Folk Center artisans will also be there to show their skills while the Early Arkansaw Reenactors demonstrate pioneer life.

And the blacksmith shop will be open. "That's always a popular stop," Linson says. "People like to see the blacksmith."

• Every year, the fair includes a chance to make special Mother's Day cards. This year, Neal Harrington has made a print block for the card. After the card is finished, visitors can seal the envelope in wax with the museum's logo.

• Living history actors will portray the block's early residents.

There will be a lot to see, do and learn. And, with the exception of lunch from the food truck, everything is free.

"It is a lot of fun," says Linson. "It's a big party."

Weekend on 05/10/2018

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