Face painting is just one of the fun activities at this weekend’s Friends Fall festival.
DOWNINGTOWN — Bring the whole family and join us for a pleasant fall day at the Friends Fall Festival, filled with the freshly painted faces of laughing children, gently used thrift items, a garden sale, scrumptious baked goods and homemade cooking, a silent auction, vendors selling quality items, and an authentic early 19th century Quaker wedding, all accompanied by 6 hours’ worth of live song and instrumentals. This family fun will go on rain or shine, Saturday, October 8, from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., and can be found at the Downingtown Friends Meeting located on East Lancaster Avenue (Business Rt. 30, just west of Wegmans) in Downingtown.
Bargain shoppers will not want to miss the Friends Mercantile, an indoor sale offering thousands of new and slightly used items and a library’s worth of books and antiques. To pick from the best selection, shoppers should arrive promptly at 9 A.M. at the Schoolhouse next to the Friends Meeting House where you can peruse our items and satisfy your thrifting cravings.
Not forgetting to also indulge your sweet tooth, head on over to the adjacent Friendly Café and choose from tantalizing homemade baked goodies such as pies, cupcakes, and cookies, as well as a variety of breads and premium coffee and tea.
Wandering outside, you will find the Craft Village, which is home to vendors and their displayed finely-crafted wares. Shoppers can also browse over 70 items in the Silence Auction, which typically features artwork, electronics, gift baskets, vacations, furniture, antiques, and services and gift cards from local businesses.
And of course, we haven’t forgotten about the kiddos! Children can spend the day decorating pumpkins, creating spin art, jumping on a bouncy castle, and playing a variety of challenging games such as Corn Hole and Mini Golf. Both adults and children are encouraged to be transformed into a scary monster, Spiderman, dragon, puppy, or more, by our available artistic face painters.
History buffs will want to tour our Quaker Meeting House, which was built in the 19th century and still serves as Downingtown Friends’ Place of Worship to this day, complete with an exhibit of antique Quaker clothing and memorabilia. At 2 P.M., everyone will be invited to attend a lovely wedding, a re-enactment of the first wedding held in Downingtown’s Meeting House in 1806, featuring handmade costumes. Come see firsthand how Quaker weddings differ from other marriages you may have attended, and don’t worry, there will be plenty of time to take pictures with the wedding party following the ceremony.
After all these activities, your appetite will surely be hankering for something warm and delicious. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered at our Wooden Ladle, which is located outside and opens at 10 A.M. Chow down on some hearty beef vegetable soup, homemade vegetarian chili, savory homemade mac & cheese, grilled dogs and chili dogs, sugar-coated funnel cakes, and soft pretzels, paired with hot apple cider and a variety of drinks. Grab a picnic bench and warm your soul while you listen to live folk, rock, and Colonial-era music.
Admission and parking are FREE. For more information, visit www.downingtownfriendsmeeting.org/fallfestival.htm, find us and our Event on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DowningtownFriendsMeeting/, or contact Festival Coordinator,
Bob Santangelo at 610-296-7861 or bobbrooke@bobbrooke.com. We look forward to seeing you soon!
