On the third weekend in May 2016, David and I slipped through time and found ourselves deep in North America's colonial past. It was Market Fair day at
Claude Moore Colonial Farm in
Fairfax County, Virginia only 20 minutes drive from Washington DC. It was the year 1771, four years before the American War of Independence. The local townspeople had gathered to show off their wares, sell their produce and socialise with one another.
Sadly, travelling back in time did nothing to improve the wet and miserable weather which has plagued us since our arrival in the U.S. However despite the mud, the fair was loads of fun. Americans love to dress up - they do period costume events better than anywhere else in the world. The staff and volunteers threw themselves into the fair with gusto, acting out the roles of pre-revolutionary Virginians as if they were truly living in the past. David, a history buff, was in his element spending much of his time discussing the finer points of the events leading to the War of Independence with a frock-coated gentleman who was happy to indulge him. I skipped the history lesson - I get a fair bit of that from D (lol) - and spent my time browsing for time-travel souvenirs and listening to the beautiful baritones of a troupe of singers.
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| The gentleman on the right was happy to indulge David in a discussion on American history. His slightly mortified expression came from the fact that he had just learned we were from Australia and was certain therefore we must be escaped convicts. For once I had the upper hand when it comes to history and was able to set him straight that in 1771 it would be seventeen years before convicts would set foot in New South Wales. |
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| Just in case we were struggling with the 'where and when' of the Market Fair. |
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| This would be so much fun - as long as you didn't actually have to do it for a living. |
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| We ate delicious roast chicken rolls for lunch. |
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| This looked for all the world like a pizza oven but it wasn't. |
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Smelting iron ore the old fashioned way. Andrew Forrest eat your heart out - sorry guys this is an in-joke for Australians.
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The
Claude Moore Market Fair is held on the third full weekends of May, July and October. If you are anywhere in the vicinity on Market Day, I can highly recommend the trip back in time.
If you miss the Fair, you can visit the farmhouse and gardens at
Claude Moore Colonial Farm on Wednesdays to Sundays from 1 April to 11 December. The entrance to Claude Moore is on Colonial Farm Rd in McLean, Virginia opposite the CIA complex at Langley - which is fun to drive past. Just don't turn into the wrong driveway!
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| Inside the farmhouse at Claude Moore Colonial Farm - check out the chicken! |
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| Inside the farmhouse again. |
This post is the second in a series on our road and cycling trip from Washington D.C to Maine. For last week's post on visiting Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, click here.For all my posts on this road trip click here.
Each new post will be published on a Thursday or Friday, depending on your time zone. Note: David and I received complimentary admission to the Market Fair.
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