September brings the arrival of fall and with fall comes changing colors, cooler temperatures and a (hopeful) break in humidity, and most importantly here in Waterford- the Waterford Fair! The Waterford Fair is the mid-Atlantic’s quintessential fall festival with demonstrating fine heritage & contemporary craft artisans, living historians, a juried art show, historic properties tour, local libations, and entertainment for all ages. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Waterford for the 82nd Waterford Fair on October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
The story of the Waterford Fair starts with the beginning of the Waterford Foundation in 1943. Polly Rogers, a founding member and board member of the Waterford Foundation, recounts the story of the first Fair, or the “Waterford Exhibit”, in a letter to George Bently in 1975 found in the Waterford Foundation Archives. One of the first actions of the newly formed Waterford Foundation was to purchase the Waterford Mill, which ceased in operation four years prior. Then began a discussion about the next use of the Mill with many options from restoring the mill to operation to a restaurant. But Mr. McDaniel came up with the idea of “making it a craft community where residents of the community could bring their wares once a year to be sold…” (Rogers, 1975).
The suggestion came to host a craft exhibit to see what the interest would be in a crafting exhibit. From the writings of Polly Rogers, “This first Exhibit was held in the living and dining room of the Meeting House. The entries were…many quilts hung the walls- some hooked rugs – hooked chair seats – hot pads… are some of the things I remember. / The weather was perfect- we sold $90.00 worth of merchandise and 500 people signed the guest register. Everyone was ecstatic! Even I was carried away with the success and interest that had been shown and felt along with Allen {McDaniel} and Mary {Stabler} that this might be the means of getting more income for bigger and better things… “Great trees from little acorns grow”.” (Rogers, 1975). The exhibit grew with craft classes and exhibits, homes tours, and more to the Fair we know today!
Since the beginning and continuing now, the preservation and education missions of the Foundation and the Fair are intrinsically linked. 86% of funds from the Fair go directly into the preservation work of the Foundation in the National Historic Landmark of Waterford, and education programs including the Second Street School program and field trips for middle and high school students, and adult programming.
We look forward to having everyone in the Village back at the Fair for the 82nd time! To learn more about the Waterford Fair and to get your tickets, check out the Fair website here.