I’ve been going to arts and crafts festivals at Homestead Hollow for years. They began when I was just out of high school and now I’m a grandmother!
It seems that our last trip was around Mother’s Day in 2015; so I suspect we are overdue for a new visit and this year would be a wonderful time to return. Maybe we will get the chance!
This Fall on October 23rd Homestead Hollow seems to be all about music.
Three bands will be at this one-day music event; Deputy 5, Shootin You Straight and The Experience. They will be paying tribute to The Lynyrd Skynyrd Band and Journey, taking all festival visitors back in musical time.
Pre-sale tickets are available at this website: https://homesteadhollow.com/.
For the music festival on October 23rd; Adult Presale tickets are $20. If you purchase at the gate the price is $25. Children’s tickets are $10 and can only be purchased at the gate on the date of the event. Children 2 and under are free.
Expect to eat at the festival; no picnic baskets or coolers will be allowed.
How nice to see the community events and local bands gathering again!
Of course, the events will be outside; so you will feel safe, even in the crowd.
Bring your lawn chairs!
For the more traditional festivals coming in 2022; the dates are:
May 13-15, 2022 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.),
September 23 – 25, 2022 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
and November 11-13, 2022 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
This might be a great time to go ahead and mark your calendars for next year’s events!
You can find Homestead Hollow at their address which is: 1161 Murphrees Valley Road, Springville, AL 35146.
I’ve never known a local community event to have such substance or to last so long.
In pondering why this is so; I’m thinking perhaps it could be the quality of the wares the skilled craftsmen have been selling here for years.
Then again; perhaps it is the beauty of the recreated pioneer town which is so captivating to many. Children learn so much in these spaces.
Also; the delicious food from the loyal vendors of these events is always so good! I can already taste the fudge, candy apples, apple dumplings, pop-cycles, cakes, cookies, BBQ, baked beans and all the fixings and burgers, fries and baked potatoes, as well as that old fashioned home-made ice cream.
It could be simply that feeling you get when you first arrive which makes you feel like you might have stepped into a time machine and gone back a few centuries.
All of these things make Homestead Hollow special; and now with the addition of great music; it all blends into a perfect day.
In days gone by, two local daughters have taken turns making Homestead Hollow’s spring festival a Mother’s day treat for me. Of course I carried the tradition further and invited my Mom too.
Some of my favorite memories are of all of us going to Homestead Hollow with happy voices chatting all the way there and back, excited about the treasures we will find there and the relaxing, slower pace we will experience once we arrive.
One daughter and I spent a lot of time studying how beekeepers rob their hives and she got to actually do the task herself with the proper equipment and good supervision. I’m happy to say that no one was swarmed by bees that day; and we took home some delicious honey.
We’ve been there so many times in the Fall season to shop for holiday gifts, and/or to enjoy a spring Mother’s Day outing of three generations.
You never know when you are going to stumble upon a band or a person with musical talent sharing their songs. I’ve seen some beautiful hand-crafted musical instruments for sale among the vendors too. The fall music festival will be amazing.
These times make for wonderful memories.
Actually, I still wear a memory from my last visit. I have a bracelet my Mother bought me to commemorate the birth of our granddaughter. The bracelet was made by a local crafter who helped me to choose a silver spoon in a pattern that was popular at the year of my birth. He then made that beautiful silver spoon into a lovely silver bracelet that has a charm of a little girl angel attached. If I get to go back this year; I plan to get three little boy angels to add to that same ring on my bracelet; as much life has happened to our family since our last trip.
If you are looking for some unique end-of the-year holiday gifts; this place is perfect for shopping for everyone on your list
Did I mention that the food is great?
I think I did; but it is worth stating twice.
History also abounds.
There is a whole living/working village and farmstead that comes alive during the festivals. You can visit an old homestead, take a wagon ride through the fields, or learn how to make jelly, candles or how to can vegetables. Maybe you might need to know how to weave a basket or make a broom; they are teaching anyone who is interested. There is a real live vegetable garden growing in the little replica of a pioneer village and people are in original dress and at work doing all types of things that are needed to survive life as a pioneer.
Does your horse need new shoes?
Maybe you might like to visit the farm animals and be friendly at the petting zoo on this working farm.
Don’t miss the bee hives. They are amazing. I highly recommend buying some of the local honey.
All I can tell you is Homestead Hollow is a very special place.
We enjoy it more each time we go;
Especially the Fall events when the beautiful backdrop of the landscape is changing colors and the air is crisp and cool.
Fall days bring perfect weather for those homemade fried apple pies they sell!
See you there.