2008 Event Calendar
| Thursday, February 21 at 7:30 pm Lecture Series. Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. will speak on “Revelations from the 1860 Montgomery County Census” in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers, Blacksburg Municipal Building, 300 South Main Street. |
| Saturday, March 15 10:00am-11:00am Class: Attracting Beneficial Insects to your Garden. This class will be helpful as we begin another gardening season. Instructor Debra Graff has a degree in organic gardening and 30 years of gardening experience. Class fee: $12.00 (includes resource materials and a coupon for one $4.00 value plant from Crows Nest Nursery). |
| Saturday, March 15 1:00pm-5:00pm Class: Smocking. The Redbud Chapter of the Smocking Arts Guild of America will provide materials and instructions for you to complete a 5 x 7 inch smocked sampler. You will learn the stitches necessary and an easy way to create a frame for the sampler. Class fee: $25.00 (includes all supplies). |
| Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 pm Lecture Series. Z. Van Coble, AIA will present a talk on local houses designed by Clinton Harriman Cowgill, the founder of Virginia Tech’s Department of Architectural Engineering, in the Roger E. Hedgepeth Chambers, Blacksburg Municipal Building, 300 South Main Street. |
| Saturday, April 5 10:00am-5:00pm Opening Weekend. Join us as we celebrate the re-opening of Smithfield this spring with re-enactments and demonstrations of life in the 18th century, walk–through tours guided by costumed interpreters, and the Smithfield Museum Store’s 30th Anniversary. Military muster, sheep to shawl demonstrations, blacksmithing demonstrations, and more. $1.00 admission at the gate; admission includes a tour of the house. |
| Saturday, April 26 10:00am-12:00pm Class: Container Gardening. Deconstructing the mysteries of growing beautiful, lush gardens in containers – for the deck, porch, or front door - hanging, standing or sitting – large, giant or tiny - for the kitchen or for the soul - for sun or shade. You can do it. Come find out how. Participants will receive a 15% discount coupon for purchase of plant material at the Heirloom Plant Sale, held Saturday, May 10. Class fee: $20.00 (includes all supplies). |
| Saturday, May 10 9:00am-5:00pm Heirloom Plant Sale. Learn about colonial plant materials that were indigenous to the area, and purchase heirloom plants for your own garden. Old favorites, bursting with color, texture and interesting form, are very appropriate for today’s gardeners, who want a touch of history for their home gardens. Crow's Nest Greenhouses of Prices Fork, owner Jay Smith, is providing true heirloom plants. The Smithfield Gardeners are also supplying several varieties of plants from the Historic Smithfield garden. Knowledgeable volunteers from the Smithfield garden will be on hand for assistance and to answer questions. Browse botanical themed gifts in the Smithfield Museum Store. The house will be open for tours at regular admission prices. |
| Saturday, May 17 10:00am-3:00pm Class: Basketmaking 401. The popularity of this class continues, so join us for this traditional basket making class in which you will make your own basket to take home or give as a gift, taught by Terry Nicholson. This year we will be making a “Cathead Basket”, named for its shape which inverted. Always a unique creation, come share in this continued art form. Class fee: $40 (includes complete instruction and materials for one basket). |
| Wednesday, June 18 1:00pm-4:00pm Class: Easy-To-Do Blockprinting. Jessica Wirgau will lead the workshop to help you learn the skill of blockprinting. You will complete your own block with design, using linoleum intead of wood. Block printing can be used to make a design on paper, walls, or fabric. The class is open to high school age students and older. Class fee: $40. |
| Thursday, June 19 Juneteenth Celebration. Historic Smithfield Plantation will host a commemorative event on “Juneteenth” (June 18th) to honor the lives of the African American slaves who lived and worked at Smithfield. The event will feature stories and music that uplift the lives of the enslaved population at Smithfield. This music, called spirituals, was used to communicate, encourage, or simply comfort both the hearer and the singer. Join us for an evening of stories and spirituals to uplift and inspire. This program is the recipient of a grant from the Community Foundation of the New River Valley. |
| Friday, July 4 Fourth of July Celebration. Celebrate where Revolutionary War patriots trod. Bring a picnic, family and friends to the grounds of Historic Smithfield Plantation, the circa 1774 home of Revolutionary War Colonel William Preston and his wife Susanna. Music, dancing, Revolutionary re-enactments, children's crafts and games, walks through the magnificent plantation home. Free of charge. Ice cream and drinks for sale. |
| July 28 - August 1 Summer History Camps. One week sessions. |
| Wednesday, July 23 3:00pm-4:30pm Class: Tea and Social Graces for Young Ladies. Girls of middle school ages (6th, 7th, and 8th grades) will enjoy learning the ritual and enjoyment of having tea, and the social graces involved to have tea in the winter kitchen with Darlene Simpson. Class fee: $12. |
| Wednesday, August 13 1:00pm-3:00pm Class: Rag Rug Making. In this class, you will be taught the traditional art of rug making, created from worn-out clothing and other "scraps" of fabric by Jimmie Black. Make just the right size rug for a special place in your home, or create one as a gift. Class fee: $35 (includes complete instruction, wooden crochet hook, and initial materials for making one rug). |
| Friday, September 5 & 6 9:00am-5:00pm Workshop: Shaker Box Workshop. Students will construct a set of three oval ben wood boxes in the Shaker tradition, using a hot water bending technique and both hand and power tools. Finishing techniques will be presented, including traditional milk paints and distressing or modern varnish finishes. All skills welcome, no experience is required. Workshop fee: $160. |
| Saturday, September 13 1:00pm-4:00pm Class: Honeysuckle and Reed Basketmaking. Basket weaver Claudia Mullins creates basketry using unusual materials in harmony with nature's art. This year Claudia will lead us as we weave a unique basket of honeysuckle and reed, from start to finish. Class fee: $30 (includes instruction and materials for one basket). |
| October (date to be determined) Fall Festival. |
| Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15 | 2:00pm-4:30pm each day Class: Drawing From History. Learn, or re-learn, the basics of drawing in a historical setting. We will explore line, texture, composition, negative and positive space and shading, using artifacts, architecture, and the Fall garden (weather permitting) for inspiration. Instructed by our own Christy Mackie. Class fee: $20 for one class; $30 for two classes; $40 for all three classes. Includes complete instruction. Supplies included, but you are invited to bring your favorite materials that you may already have. |
| Wednesday, November 5 1:00pm-3:00pm Class: Scherenschnitte, Paper Cutting. In Germany and Pennsylvania, Scherenschnitte (pronounced chair-en-shnitt-teh) literally means "scissors cutting", and was a popular folk art in the 1800's. Carol McAlister instructs us to cut designs to make unique frameable gifts, Christmas cards, ornaments, and many other projects with this simple craft. Bring your small bladed scissors having a sharp point; manicuring or embroidery scissors can be used. Class fee: $12 (includes instruction, materials, and patterns). |
| Thursday, December 4 - Sunday, December 7 Holidays at Smithfield. The Holidays at Smithfield are an 18th century holiday celebration celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. Come tour the house decorated for the holidays in Colonial style, and have a leisurely cup of tea in Susanna’s Tea Room. Traditional musical entertainment, children's craft table, and holiday greenery sale. |
1000 Smithfield Plantation Road
Blacksburg, Virginia 24060
