Waterford Fair

This past weekend I traveled back to Loudon County, Virginia to the 72nd annual fair in Waterford, Virginia.  Waterford, which was established around 1733, is a National Historic Landmark district. 

As we wondered past the beautiful old homes,

a few, like one below called Old Arce, were open for tours.  The main part of this home was built in the late 1700s, then added onto in the early 1800s in the Federal Style. 

The home was filled with the owner, Brian Whelan's, art, which made for a vibrant tour with the mix of the historic features of the home, including 18th century furniture he and his wife had collected, and the modern brilliantly colored art.  See his website here, if you are interested in checking out the artwork.  This picture was over the fireplace in the dining room and was gorgeous in person!  

But I digress.  Some homes were Victorians,

and other log cabins.

We passed the second street school, which was built in 1867 to serve as a school and church for Waterford's African-American community.

Some houses had beautiful flowers,

which made for a pretty walk for everyone, including some in period clothes!

We also stopped for a bit for some music at the corner store,

before stepping inside

where in addition to all sorts of jams, fruit butters, and baked goods, I was excited to find tea, this time from a West Virginian blender, the Larkin Company.  Waterford is located pretty close to the West Virginia line.

(Pumpkin pie might have traveled home with me)

But the Waterford fair was more than just a historic homes tour and a walk through its lovely historic core--it was also a large craft fair that basically took over the town.

Some wares were for sale in tents,

(A whole selection of lavender teas from Renaissance Lavender farm in nearby Purceville, Va.  One of these might have come home with me too)

others in old outbuildings or barns

(All of these figurine were made from old vintage chocolate molds by Vaillancourt Folk Art)

(I loved these Halloween santas!)

and yet others in this historic mill, dating before 1830.

There were reenactors,

Wagon rides,

antique farm equipment

 and all sorts of food, including a wine and beer garden with Loudon County libations.    I might have partook ;).

The day was just a little cool, and it was definitely looking and feeling like fall!