By 1808Delaware
The Delaware County Historical Society is inviting families to step back in time this October with a new fall celebration built around gardening, traditional crafts, and the rhythms of harvest season.
The Heritage Garden Fun Fest will take place Sunday, October 18 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Millworker Cottage yard, 2571 Stratford Road in Delaware. Admission is free, and the event is designed to offer activities for visitors of all ages.
A garden with history growing in it
The afternoon will center on the Historical Society’s new Heritage Learning Garden, where visitors can explore plants and gardening practices connected with earlier generations. Several themed garden stations will highlight food and herbs, native plants, weaving and dye plants, and the traditional Three Sisters garden, which brings corn, beans, and squash together in a planting method long associated with Indigenous agriculture. The setting gives the Historical Society an opportunity to turn local history into something visitors can see, touch, and experience rather than simply read about.
Crafts inspired by the past
A substantial part of the afternoon will be devoted to make-and-take activities. Visitors can try flower pressing, corn husk doll making, homemade dye painting, dip pens and ink practice, corn grinding, finger weaving, and pioneer games.
Some make-and-take activities require advance registration through Eventbrite or the QR code provided by the Historical Society.
The combination of crafts and garden activities is intended to recreate some of the skills and traditions associated with everyday life and seasonal work in earlier Ohio communities.
Two historic houses open for tours
The event also offers an added opportunity for visitors interested in Delaware County history. Tours will be available at both the Millworker Cottage and the nearby Meeker Homestead Museum, located at 2690 Stratford Road. Together, the properties provide a broader look at Delaware County life across different periods, while the new garden adds an outdoor learning component to the Historical Society’s programming.
An autumn afternoon for all ages
Organizers describe the Heritage Garden Fun Fest as a chance to celebrate the fall harvest while introducing visitors to plants, crafts, and customs that once played a much larger role in daily life. The event runs from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Sunday, October 18. Admission is free.
For additional information, contact the Delaware County Historical Society at 740-369-3831 or info@DelawareOhioHistory.org.
Image by Kai Reschke from Pixabay
