The Village of Yesteryear is a group of working artists that educate, demonstrate and sell their one-of-a-kind pieces during the N.C. State Fair.
Last year the Village of Yesteryear celebrated it’s 65th birthday at the N.C. State Fair. And, like many of us, the Village of Yesteryear just gets better with age. It’s a great place to shop for unique, one-of-kind gifts for yourself, or Christmas presents, and to learn a little about heritage crafts and their importance.
More than 100 working artists will demonstrate their crafts in the Holshouser Building near Heritage Circle. Crafters include potters, quilters, bowl makers, painters and more. This year the village welcomes five new craftsmen including a wood turner who makes beautiful hollow Christmas ornaments, a new potter who turns with a stand up wheel and a crafter that makes Ukrainian egg jewelry. Also, longtime visitors to the Village of Yesteryear might remember dulcimer maker Jim Trantham. This year, two of his granddaughters will follow the family tradition of demonstrating the art of dulcimer making and playing.
Duane Raver and his wife Mary are ready for fairgoers at their Wildlife Art booth. Raver will be in the visiting craftsmen booth Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15.
The visiting craftsmen booth and will feature wildlife artist Duane Raver of Garner on Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15; iron and wood worker Jason Lonon of Marion on Saturday, Oct. 14, and Sunday, Oct. 15; and decoy carver Ken Humphries of Marshallberg on Friday, Oct. 20, through Sunday, Oct. 22.
You can get up close with heritage crafts in the Village of Yesteryear.
Free childrens’ activities will be offered throughout the fair including writing and illustrating mini books, making corn shuck dolls, mini brooms and nature crafts, and weaving.
Adults can also try their skill quilting for a good cause. Try your hand at a tack stitch on the lap quilts being made for the Ronald McDonald House.
Competition will also heat up among the craftsmen. Friendly competitions include soap carving for the wood carvers and impromptu sketching to test the skills of the artists. The final Sunday will feature the annual Potter’s Challenge where competitors vie to create the tallest pot and and also the tallest pot while blindfolded.
A new antiquarian book display with free adoption to promote the important role libraries played in early communities will be available. Most books are 80 plus years old.
Finally, also new this year is an old hand made checker board with painted rock checkers so guests can experience an old style past time….before TV, video games and cell phones.
