After the success of last year’s festival, the Dreibelbis Farm Historical Society is excited to host the second annual ‘Historic Dreibelbis Farm Festival’ at the farm grounds in Virginville on Aug. 17.
The Dreibelbis farm was founded in 1778 by Jacob B. Dreibelbis, son of the original Dreibelbis family immigrant, John Jacob Dreibelbis. Joel and Elizabeth Dreibelbis, who are credited with modernizing the colonial-era farm, replaced the original log cabin with the current brick house in 1868. Since then, the farm has remained largely intact and unchanged, and is recognized as a treasure of archeological and historical significance. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the second oldest continuously owned family farm in Berks County. Centuries ago, the farmlands along the Maiden Creek were also home to one of the largest Native American villages within Berks County.
The festival will highlight the historical, cultural, and ecological features of the farm and its lands, and will feature live demonstrations of 18th and 19th century life. Exhibits will include: spinning and weaving, soap making, candle making, dairying, tools of the past, butcher house, threshing machine, cooper, distelfink painting and quill pen writing, hex signs, dowsing and Native American artifacts, hit and miss engines, sauerkraut making, and PA German designs – block prints on paper and linen.
Additionally, there will be a miniature Native American village, hands-on historical crafts, a self-guided nature trail, build-your-own birdhouse, children’s games (including a scavenger hunt and haybale maze) and hayrides. The barn and historic outbuildings will also be open to the public.
In addition to the on-going demonstrations, three programs are scheduled:
11 a.m. – Learn about the lives of Native Americans, Dick Fry
1 p.m. – ‘David McMurtrie Gregg, Gettysburg Hero,’ Dave Fox
2 p.m. – The Miller Brothers (Die Miller Brieder) will perform their songs and skits in PA German/Dutch
Admission to the festival is free. Food will be available for purchase and house tours will be offered for minimal fee. The farm is located at 356 Hard Hill Road, Hamburg. For more information or to volunteer, contact Mark Dreibelbis at 610-488-7896 or DreibelbisFarm@gmail.com. To learn more about the Historic Dreibelbis Farm, visit www.DreibelbisFarm.org.
