Getting ready for the Heritage Fair at the Spencerville Mill Friday through Sunday.

 Today I began to assemble the baskets and other supplies we will need to take with us to the Friday through Sunday's Heritage Fair at the historic Spencerville grist mill. The mill will again attempt to earn a Guinness Book of records world record for the greatest number of people in Regency costume, since a theme of the fair is re-enactments of the period in and around the war of 1812. Anne made the bonnet shown above to add to her costume. As re-enactors of artisan, peasant basket-makers, our costumes will be much simpler than those of the frock-coated gentlemen and elegant Empire style dressed ladies. Pictures will follow late Friday of our costumes and those of the more elaborate period dresses. As part of the re-enactment, I will be demonstrating the art of basket-making as I make one or two rib baskets.

 The open totes and other loose baskets here will, I hope, fit into my Hyundai Elantra Touring hatchback, along with the shelving units. The mill will provide the tenting that is more in line with the tents of that period. My pop-up sun tent/canopy is not exactly period.

 These totes go on top pf the car, well secured with bungee cords. I did remember this year to take the bungees out before loading the heavy shelving units on top of their storage space in the car.

These stair baskets are also ready to be stored in the car. It will be quite full!

The Heritage Fair, Spencerville, Ontario, June 21st to 23rd 2013

http://www.spencervillemill.ca/heritage-fair-2013.html
The link above takes you to the website for the 2013 Heritage Fair at the historic Spencerville Mill in Spencerville, Ontario. Spencerville is located off Highway 416, just 10 km north of Highway 401.

 As with last year's Fair, participants had to dress in period costume for the Regency/Napoleonic period. As crafts people our costumes were not those of the English Country Dancers or the gentry. Peasant-like attire was more suitable for us.

 For the commemoration of the War of 1812, there were many people in military uniforms of that date.

 And a grisly surgery tent illustrated the medical battle surgery conditions of that period.

The Herb Lady, another crafts person sited next to us shows of a basket of mine suitable for collecting herbs. Her regency Style dress was quite in style.

As you browse through the website you will se the large number of events planned for the three days. The site has fascinating videos, as well as interesting workshops you can sign up for. Are interested in learning how to duel? There's a workshop for that.

THE HERITAGE FAIR at Spencerville, Ontario, 2013

Anne and I have been invited back to Spencerville, Ontario,  for the 2013 Heritage Fair. There I will demonstrate basket-making as well as having an array of baskets for sale. We will also be in costume.

Last year we took part in the 1812 Heritage Fair at the historic Spenserville Mill. There were re-enactments of skirmishes during the War of !812, English Country Dancing, and lots of people in Regency Costume. We had a great time at the Fair. We look forward to taking part in this colourful event agin next year.

Along with the invitation to again take part came a request for other participants to provide horses as part of the Napoleonic theme. This should add more realism to this re-enactment.

Spencerville is just 10 km North of the junction between Highways 401 and 416, just off highway 416.he