Fairfax History Day April 28 At Historic Blenheim

FAIRFAX, VA—New to Fairfax City and have little clue about its history? Lived here for years and still have little knowledge about your home base? Simply looking for a cool place to spend a spring Saturday with the kids? Then this particular event might well be of interest.

It's the first-ever Fairfax History Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 28 on the grounds of Historic Blenheim, 3610 Old Lee Highway. Kids activities will be many, as will a fun-filled history lesson of sorts for both kids and adults. We're talking everything from pony rides to discussions with noted historians.

"We created a program with broad appeal not only for those interested in Fairfax’s history, but also for those who may have never visited the Historic Blenheim site before," Chris Martin, director of the Office of Historic Resources, said in a statement. "Blenheim, of course, is nationally famous for containing the best preserved and most voluminous Civil War soldier signatures and writings inside the home, and families can take graffiti tours throughout the day."

Here's a list of some of the day's activities, provided by organizers:

• Hayrides and pony rides.

• Cow-milking and calf-petting.

• A kids’ hay pyramid (perfect for climbing!).

• Demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills, including blacksmithing.

• 19th-century children’s games.

• A variety of period dance and music groups, including the Jubilee Voices, a folk song and spiritual ensemble committed to preserving gorgeous sounds from African American history and traditions; and the Roustabout String Band, which plays traditional 19th-century tunes; and the George Mason University’s 8thGreen Machine Division Band, a brass band that plays music commonplace in cities and towns in the mid- to late 1800s.

• Authors tent and speakers on a variety of historical topics.

• Civil War “boot camp” (camp drills with wooden rifles for children).

• Historic artifact displays, including courthouse records and old photographs—plus the City’s road history and construction, including Blenheim’s popular corduroy log road exhibit.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids ages 3-12 and free for those 2 and younger. Food vendors will be on hand. Free parking and full accessibility shuttle-bus service will be provided at Fairfax High School, 3501 Rebel Run. (Parking is not available at the event site).

Image via City of Fairfax