The Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum in Oella will host its annual Colonial Market Fair this weekend with the park's biggest fair yet, say organizers.
Last year's event was such a success that the museum outside of Ellicott City decided to open the fair up to twice as many vendors and performers this year, said Kathy Kadow, administrative aide at the museum. "The word got out that this is the place to be," she said.
Attendees this year will be invited to watch as and other participants demonstrate life during the colonial period from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
In 2014, more than 1,600 park visitors interacted with basket weavers, carpenters, musicians, broom-makers, doll-makers and other crafts people on the grounds of the late astronomer Benjamin Banneker's farmstead, according to the museum's website.
This year's event will include more than 40 vendors and other participants, including a seamstress, a soap maker, a Revolutionary War surgeon and a soap maker, according to the website. Entertainment will include music and dance from the Baltimore Folk Music Society and African-American foodways with Michael Twitty, among other attractions, the website says.
Kadow said she is expecting at least 1,600 visitors this weekend, maybe as many as 2,000.
The best part of the event, the museum's biggest of the year, she said, is the opportunity for kids and other attendees to experience life in the 18th century.
"The kids that come actually get to participate," she said. "There's a lot of hands-on and showing how things are done."
There is no charge to attend the fair, but the museum requests a $5 donation for parking. .
For information, go to benjaminbanneker.wordpress.com/colonial-market-fair.