George Washington's Mount Vernon celebrates the fall harvest with fun for the entire family during the annual Fall Harvest Family Days, Saturday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Mount Vernon's George Washington: Pioneer Farmer site hosts games, wagon rides, 18th-century music, appearances by General Washington, slave life interpretation, and 18th-century craft and harvest demonstrations. Mount Vernon also offers free admission to its newest site, George Washingtonís Gristmill, and the Estate's archaeologists lead free tours of the adjacent archaeology site at the Distillery from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission to the Fall Harvest Family Days is included in regular Estate admission.
Visitors join the Mount Vernon staff in bidding farewell to farming season with a traditional harvest celebration. Children create their own cornhusk dolls, find their way through maze artist Adrian Fisher's Straw Bale Maze, and play colonial games including hoops and graces. Children of all ages meet George Washington throughout the weekend and take a free wagon ride from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., conditions permitting.
VISITORS ALSO ENJOY live performances by 18th-century musicians, wheat-treading demonstrations in Washington's 16-sided barn, and candle making and farrier (blacksmithing) demonstrations. Slave-life interpreter, Larry Earl, offers an educational program throughout the weekend.