One of Northern Virginia’s great resources for educational fun is in danger of closing its doors — but help may be on the way! As some (or maybe many!) of you already know, Claude Moore Colonial Farm was facing a bleak future when early this year is operating group announced it could not reach an agreement with the National Park Service (NPS).
Claude Moore Colonial Farm is a recreated 18th century farm that serves as a living history, portraying family life on a small, low-income farm. Costumed staff and volunteers work the land as it was done in the 18th century and provide a trip back in time for guests, who can even help with some of the “chores.” Each year in the spring, sum
mer, and fall, the farm also hosts the Colonial Market Fair, a time to experience the authentic tastes, customs, and traditions of days past. Each Market Fair is a fun, very family-friendly event with plenty of hands-on activities and areas to explore, and includes live entertainment through music, storytelling, crafts, and more.
The farm is unique in that is a privately funded and operated national park and living history museum. Although it is a National Park Service facility (NPS owns the land), the Friends of Claude Moore Farm administer the site and programs. When the Friends couldn’t agree on the new terms of the cooperative agreement. But now a new group, The Friends of the Colonial Farm at Turkey Run, is stepping in to help find an agreement that will work for everyone and keep the farm operating. See this Patch article for the details, and follow the Farm’s Facebook page for updates.
In the meantime, plan to attend the summer Colonial Market Fair, coming up July 21-22, 2018, to experience for yourself why our community needs to do all it can to save this great local resource so many of us love.
— Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun
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