Belle Grove
Plantation Tour Season
Saturday, April 4, - Sunday, November 8, 2009
Giant Yard Sale of Historic Proportions
Saturday, April 4, 7
a.m.
Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Family Fun Day
Saturday, April 11, 1
p.m.
(for children up to age 10)
Gates open 12:30 p.m., Hunt starts promptly at 1 p.m.
Children 10 and under delight in romping through Belle Grove’s
picturesque grounds on the hunt for eggs filled with candy and
special prizes. The Easter Bunny presides over games,
refreshments, and an old- fashioned cakewalk after the hunt.
Admission: $5 per non-member child; $3 per Belle Grove
Member child
Belle Grove's 14th Annual
“Of Ale and History”
Microbrew & Imported Beer Tasting Festival
Saturday, May 9, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
One of Belle Grove’s most
popular events! Come and celebrate Belle Grove’s German and
English heritage by sampling an incredible array of beers from
the new and old world, as well as delicious food by area
restaurants. Beverages include a fine mix of European imports
and innovative American microbrews, as well as a few domestic
favorites. The historic house and landscape are open for touring
throughout the festival, and the Potomac Rugby Union hosts a
multi-club tournament on the front meadow.
Tickets: $20 advance;
$25 gate. Designated driver: $5.
Closed Memorial Day, May 25
Garden Fest - Go Green!
Saturday, June 6,
8 a.m. –
3 p.m.
Find the perfect plant, learn
to make a rain barrel and a butterfly garden, buy some great
compost, get your garden tools sharpened, talk to a bee keeper,
and shop at the Middle Town Farmers Market. This special day
celebrates the Valley’s agricultural and horticultural heritage
with plenty of information on gardening techniques both old and
new. Presented in conjunction with the Northern Shenandoah
Valley Master Gardeners, this event will inspire you to Go
Green! Please visit
www.nsvmga.org for more information.
Admission: Free
admission and free parking; some activities may require an
additional fee.
Living History Camp for Kids
Monday, June 29 - Thursday, July 2, 9:30 a.m. -
1 p.m. (Ages 8-10)
Belle Grove’s annual summer
camp empowers children to take their first steps in exploring
the history that exists all around them in the Shenandoah
Valley. Through this special week children gain a sense of how
much life has changed since the Hite family lived at Belle Grove
in the early 19th century. Exciting daily adventures bring the
past to life and create a memorable experience. Living History
Camp for Kids is limited to 25 children.
Please click to
download a brochure.
Admission: $75 per
child; $60 per child family rate for 3 or more and for children
of Belle Grove and National Trust Members.
Closed Independence Day, July 4
Ice Cream Social
Friday,
July 10, 7 p.m. –
10 p.m.
What better way to unwind
from the work week than a big bowl of ice cream and
some great music? Visitors
can relax on the authentic plantation lawns, enjoy sweeping
views of the surrounding mountains, and experience
behind-the-scenes tours by Belle Grove’s staff, who work to
preserve this historic treasure for future generations.
Admission: $10
Non-Members; $5 Belle Grove and National Trust Members; $2
Children 10 and under.
Hite Family Reunion
Friday,
July 24 - Sunday, July 26
Belle Grove welcomes Hite
Family Descendants for three days of special events. For
information and a Hite Family Reunion brochure, please
click here.
Contact us for further
information at (540) 869-2028 or email us at
info@bellegrove.org
Closed Labor Day, September 7
James and
Dolley Madison's Gala Anniversary Party
Friday, September 18,
6:30 p.m.
President and Mrs. Madison
request the pleasure of your company as they celebrate their
215th wedding anniversary at Belle Grove Plantation, the site of
their honeymoon. Distinctive early 19th century hors d’oeuvres,
assorted libations, champagne, and anniversary cake will be
served. Space is limited, black tie please. Please contact (540)
869-2028 or
banderson@bellegove.org for reservations.
Cost: $125 per person,
all proceeds benefit Belle Grove.
Closed Columbus Day, October 12
Belle Grove Remembers:
Civil War Commemoration & Living History
Weekend
Saturday &
Sunday, October 17 & 18
A pivotal moment in the
history of both Belle Grove and our nation is commemorated this
year the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Belle Grove or Cedar
Creek. Tour Belle Grove’s Manor House, interpreted this weekend
to the 1860’s by the Frederick Ladies Relief Society in period
civilian dress. Witness an encampment of Confederate and Union
soldier re-enactors on the lawn who demonstrate camp life and
tell stories of the 1864 Civil War battle that swirled around
Belle Grove. Meet national, state and regional historic
preservation professionals and learn more about battlefield
protection. A commemorative wreath laying Sunday at 1 p.m.
honors the brave men who fought and died during the October 19,
1864 battle, and those who sustained them on the home front.
Admission to Belle Grove
Plantation: $10 for Adults; tickets half-price for Belle
Grove, National Trust, Cedar Creek Battlefield Members, and
students. Children 5 and under are free.
In
Praise of Fine Craftsmanship:
A Weekend of Traditional Shenandoah Valley Arts and Antiques
Friday
Evening, November 6, 7 p.m.
Valley Furniture and Material
Culture, 1790 to 1810
An
Illustrated Talk by Dr. David Powers
Using examples from Belle Grove’s collection and architectural
elements as his focus, Dr. Powers highlights fine Shenandoah
Valley craftsmen and their work in the late 18th and early 19th
century.
$10 non-members; $8 Belle
Grove and National Trust Members
Advanced reservations only. Please call
Belle Grove at (540) 869-2028 or visit our web-site for more
information:
www.bellegrove.org.
Saturday
Morning, November 7, 8:30 a.m.
Collecting Historic Strasburg
Pottery
Champagne
Breakfast, Exhibit Opening, and Panel Discussion
A leading center in the production of pottery in the early 19th
century, Strasburg, or “Pot Town” was known for its unsurpassed
utilitarian and decorative ware produced by the Bell, Keister,
Miller, Sonner and other makers. Join us to enjoy champagne and
light breakfast fare, a preview of a special exhibit of antique
Strasburg pottery, and a discussion by three avid and expert
collectors.
$30 non-members; $25 Belle
Grove and National Trust Members (includes admission to
Traditional Crafts Weekend) Advanced reservations only.
Antiques Appraisal Fair and Traditional
Crafts Days
Saturday &
Sunday, November 7 & 8
Saturday,
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ~ Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3
p.m.
Have you ever wondered about
the value of your heirloom jewelry? Or what about those rare
books your great grandparents collected? Bring them and more to
Belle Grove’s annual Antiques Appraisal Fair! Specializing in
many objects, from documents and books to paintings, quilts and
textiles, furniture and Civil War items to collectibles, a team
of licensed antiques experts provides a customized verbal
appraisal and explanation of each object’s special qualities.
Try pressing fresh apple
cider, shop for handmade jewelry, pottery, and custom caned
furniture, and visit the blacksmith and an encampment of
costumed re-enactors demonstrating crafts, gunsmithing, outdoor
cooking, and pioneer skills on Belle Grove’s lawn.
Admission to Traditional
Crafts and Appraisal Days: $5 Adults; $3 Belle Grove and
National Trust Members & Children 6 to 12.
Appraisal Rates: $10
per item or three for $25. Daily admission required for
Appraisals.
Annual Meeting
Sunday,
November 22, 3 p.m.
Thanksgiving Weekend Tours
Friday and Saturday,
November 27 & 28
Walk off all that big holiday
dinner with a stroll through Belle Grove’s historic grounds.
Guides greet you in the 1797 Manor House, which surely hosted
its fair share of family celebrations. Bring your family &
guests to partake in a bit of history, do some great Christmas
shopping, and enjoy a fine late fall day together at a special
place.
Admission to Belle
Grove: $8 Adults; $4 Children 6 to 12 & National Trust Members;
Free for Belle Grove Members.
A Fairy Tale Christmas: Candlelight &
Daytime Tours
December 4-6, 11-13, and
18-23
Enjoy the magic of a special
Fairy Tale Christmas complete with themed decorations by
regional garden clubs. Belle Grove’s rooms are decorated to
reflect stories that were popular when the Hite Family children
were growing up here; when they were reading and being read to
between 1785 and 1830. Come and see Belle Grove’s Christmas tree
beautifully decorated in the historic Parlor and listen to live
holiday music. Relax after your Daytime or Evening tour with
Belle Grove’s own Spiced Tea and cookies by the Winter Kitchen
Hearth and find the perfect gift in the Museum Shop. Children
won’t want to miss special Fairy Tale story hours and a visit
with Santa and Mrs. Claus on two special Sundays.
Admission: $10 Adults,
$5 Belle Grove & National Trust Members; Children 10 and under
are free.
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