Elihu Burritt Day in New Marlborough

The 18th annual Elihu Burritt Day will be held on the Town Green on Route 57 in New Marlborough on Saturday, August 24 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The day-long family country fair will focus this year on quilts, with quilt exhibits, appraisals and demonstrations. Visitors will be able to stitch a few themselves, and see the differences between old and new quilting techniques. The Great Barrington Quilters Guild will be demonstrating and discussing quilting, fabric selection and quilt design, both traditional and contemporary. Barbara Kelly is coordinating the quilt-related activities, which include an exhibit of special quilts in the Old Meeting House.

Jim Weber and his band of merry musicians will be setting toes tapping from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jim actively involves children and families in his musical programs, so children should be prepared to participate.

An outstanding collection of white elephants has been amassed by Pam Stebbins and her committee and will be sold at bargain prices.

The Friends of the New Marlborough Library hold their annual blockbuster book sale with excellent condition hard and soft cover books on all topics, also at bargain prices. The Friends are also sponsoring a bake sale, with home baked goodies prepared by their members.

Children's art will be the focus of an exhibition and workshop, led by prominent artist Susie Hardcastle. The workshop will begin ongoing from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Also of interest to children will be ponies.

The New Marlborough Volunteer Fire Department will have one of its beautiful fire engines at the fair, and will be manning its barbecue with traditional country fare—hamburgers and hot dogs. Other lunch foods will be available as well.

The annual fair is named in honor of one-time resident of the town and peace activist Elihu Burritt. Burritt was internationally known in the 19th century as the "Philosopher Blacksmith" and may have been the inspiration for Longfellow's "The Village Smithy."

The Elihu Burritt Family Country Fair is sponsored by the New Marlborough Cultural Council; admission is free. To get to the fair from Route 7 in Great Barrington, take Route 23 east to Route 57, and travel six miles to the New Marlborough Town Green. From Winsted, take Route 183 north through Colebrook and continue to Route 57 west.