Pioneer Heritage Festival To Feature New Activities, Vendors

The Gov. Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village's annual Pioneer Heritage Days will feature new activities and vendors that will appeal to the entire family. Now in its 23rd year, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21, and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 22.
"Pioneer Heritage brings to life the skills that Texas pioneers needed to survive during the late 19th century," said Melinda Herzog, director of the village. "Visitors can participate in a variety of hands-on activities, watch demonstrations of traditional arts and crafts, listen to some wonderful music and purchase items from vendors in our new booth area."
Some of the demonstrations at this year's festival include spinning and weaving, chair caning, basket making, quilting, soap making and blacksmithing. Master gardener Janet Yinger will teach visitors about vegetable and herb gardening as well as gardening using heirloom plants. Also, Texas poet Sherrod Fielden will read some of his poetry, and Dianne Moore will demonstrate traditional china painting, a skill that was popular from the 1880s to the 1940s.
Children will enjoy Mill Spain, a clown ministry, which will be painting faces, conducting games with prizes and making balloon animals. The Baylor Riding Club also will give horseback rides and volunteers will teach square dancing to children.
This year's musical entertainment will feature Dick Gimble and his band playing Texas Swing music; Synchronicity, which will perform music from the 1890s; and Brazos Knights, a barbershop quartet.
A new attraction at this year's festival will be a booth area in which craftsmen will sell items such as home-made birdhouses, pottery, herbal soaps, baskets and homestyle jams and jellies, among others.
"This is different than what we have done before. Visitors not only can watch demonstrations but also purchase the items," Herzog said.
Admission to Pioneer Heritage Days is $3 for adults, $2 for senior citizens and $1 for children ages 5 to 15. Baylor students, faculty, staff and children under age 5 are admitted at no charge. For more information or a complete schedule of events, call 710-1160.