Kids, adults enjoy Fall Fest at Historic Village

Published 3:18 pm Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Fall was in the air, at least figuratively speaking, at Buckingham’s Historic Village at Lee Wayside on Saturday.

Hundreds of visitors, from the immediate area and beyond, came to see farm animals, sample country foods and learn about some of Buckingham’s history.

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For the day, the Historic Village — a part of the Civil Rights Education Heritage Trail — sported many tented booths outside historic structures. Boy Scouts of America Troop 6535 sold food and drinks while a Cub Scout pack sold peanuts.

Virginia State Parks Naturalist Evan Spears showed off examples of Native American ingenuity, including giving kids and adults alike a chance to try a spear launcher.

Also on hand Saturday were Oak Hill Mennonite School, Virginia Farm Bureau, Central Virginia Gold Prospectors, a beekeeping club, Buckingham Triad, Popular View Farms and Swine Skins — which handed out samples of naturally cooked pork rind snacks made with peanut oil. The Farm Bureau had two cows and several pigs on hand; Poplar View Farms had some sheep.

The Virginia Future Farmers of America Buckingham Middle School chapter also set up a booth during Fall Fest.

In addition, Jim Lipscomb, who works with the Appomattox Museum of the Confederacy, had a long table covered with examples of what an everyday Civil War soldier might carry. Lipscomb also had a two-man tent set up.

He wore a uniform many people might not recognize as a Confederate one. Made of an almost burlap material, it was dyed a very light brown instead of the gray most people recognize.

“Toward the end of the war, they had to dye their uniforms with whatever they could from area foliage,” Lipscomb said.

The Buckingham Farm Bureau sponsors the annual Fall Fest, which also included antique tractors and live music by the Farm Use Band.