Lost Arts Featured at John R. Park Homestead

There’s no better way to connect with the past than through the lens of artistry and craftsmanship. Visit the John R. Park Homestead to meet a variety of demonstrators at the annual Lost Arts Festival, a unique and family-friendly event to see and experience different forms of skilled crafts of years gone by.

On Sunday, August 11 from 11am - 5pm, meet local artists and artisans with unique talents and see them crafting their incredible works. Kids can try their hand at the Imagination Stations and enjoy old-fashioned toys and games. See demonstrations around the early settler farm, including blacksmithing, woodcarving, black powder, spinning, weaving and more! Find some special treasures to purchase and take home. There are a number of new demonstrators at the festival this year including Blackstone Flower Farm, Faerhaven, Woollie Wonders by Maggs, and more. 

Watch as the Homestead’s resident blacksmith turns raw iron into detailed pieces. While the historic home remains closed during the once-in-a-lifetime restoration effort, the grounds and outbuildings of this beautiful lakeside property are alive and animated, and you can enjoy an architectural tour of the exterior of the 1842 Park family home. Don’t forget to say hello to Belle and Baby, the Homestead’s resident heritage breed sheep. 

Other traditional skills showcased at the festival will include basket weaving, tinsmithing, pyrography, stained glass making, wool felting, painting en plein air, dulcimer playing, and many more. Meet the artists and craftspeople who engage in these traditional skills, gain some knowledge, try your hand at a few, and find out how you might fit one of these ‘old’ hobbies into your modern life. 

“Many people explored arts and crafts during the pandemic – everything from sourdough bread making to beekeeping, this is a great opportunity to explore some additional creative fields” said Homestead Curator Kris Ives. “This festival is beloved by many in the community; families come year after year to get hands-on in the making process. It is quite inspiring to meet the artists and artisans, to consider new hobbies, and to engage in artforms first-hand.”

A special public art component has been added to this year’s festival – the fence post topper competition, inspired by the post box toppers people have been crafting and displaying in the UK. “While we don’t have post boxes like those, we do have lots of fence posts here at the Homestead that could use some ornamentation!” said Ives.

The contest is sponsored by Little Sheep Yarn Boutique in Windsor and is open to everyone. Participants are invited to craft a family-friendly fence post topper out of any medium and submit it to the Homestead or Little Sheep by 4pm on August 7th for entry in the contest. The winner will be announced and prizing awarded at the festival. For additional contest details, please contact the Homestead at jrph@erca.org.

Lunch from Scotty’s BBQ food booth is available for purchase, and enjoy delicious maple cotton candy from the market for dessert. Admission is included with your ERCA Annual Pass or purchase tickets in advance online via ERCA’s website: https://essexregionconservation.ca/lost-arts . Tickets are also available at the door.

For more information, contact the Homestead: 519-738-2029 extension 738, or jrph@erca.org.