‘Down on the Farm’ Weekend at Historic Cold Spring Village

Experience life on an Early American farm through hands-on activities and exhibits at Historic Cold Spring Village’s ‘Down on the Farm’ Weekend, Saturday and Sunday August 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Historic Cold Spring Village, an open-air living history museum, presents the trades, crafts, architecture and lifestyles of an Early American, rural South Jersey farming community. The Village is also home to a working 8-acre organic heritage farm complex. ‘Down on the Farm’ is generously sponsored by Smeltzer & Sons Feed & Pet Supplies.

Special exhibits throughout the Village will include collections of antique and modern farming equipment and tools. Visitors can tour the historic Gandy Barn, c. 1880, which is now home to Levi the Village horse. In the morning, Levi and the Village farmers will demonstrate horse-driven farming techniques. Visitors interested in participating should wear closed-toe shoes. During the afternoon, visitors can take horse and carriage rides around the Village – free with admission! Guests can also visit the Village sheep, pigs, chickens and calf. The Family Activity Area will feature children’s dress-up clothes, games and take-home crafts.

The Friends of Historic Cold Spring Village will also host the 5th Annual Dog Show on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration for the Dog Show is $6 per pet and includes a treat, bandana and free admission for one handler. Visit www.hcsv.org for more information and show rules. In celebration of the dog show, the Village is offering a $1 off “Dog Days of Summer” discount for all visitors at the gate!

Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open-air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period. It features 27 restored historic structures on a 30-acre site. Tuesday through Sunday, from late June to early September, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of “the age of homespun.” Fun and educational activities for children are featured Tuesday through Sunday, with special events every weekend through September.

The Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern terminus of the Garden State Parkway. Admission during the season is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner’s Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. Visit the Country Store, Bakery, Ice Cream Parlor, Brewery and Cold Spring Grange Restaurant. For more information on events, membership, volunteering, or booking private affairs, please call (609) 898-2300 ext. 10, or visit the Village website at www.hcsv.org.