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Did you miss the French Lacemaker last year? He’s back! History takes a humorous turn in a return visit from Monsieur LeFarceur de Villeverte, who portrays a lace merchant forced to flee the 1789 French Revolution. This “Arrogant Frenchman” delighted audiences at last year’s Market Fair with his combination of history and humor. He treated them like citizens of the new American nation, trying to recruit them as lacemakers to help support his extravagant lifestyle! |
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During this comical interactive performance Dr. Balthasar offers audiences a "magical miracle medicine that cures everything from a common cold to death of two weeks' standing." Ailments and afflictions such as consumption, baldness, the "summer complaint," dropsy, drunkenness and extreme nervousness were just a few of the maladies that magical potions hawked by travelling medicine men of the 1700s and 1800s would supposedly cure. |
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"Signora Bella, the Great Italian Equilibrist," delights audiences of all ages balancing and juggling on the rola bola, the slackrope, and the large sphere. She juggles knives and flaming torches. With much zest, Signora Bella brings to life the tradition of the travelling performer of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. Her performances encourage audience interaction, creating a unique performance every time - truly a celebration of the ephemeral delight of live performance. |
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Return to the 18th century at the site of Battell’s Golden Fleece tavern, where you’ll meet Constance Greene, an 18th-century tavern cook and keeper, portrayed by living history professional Kimberly Costa. Do you know the difference between a good tavern meal and a common one? Through lively conversation and stories find out exactly what it was like traveling and eating at an 18th-century tavern. |
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 | Meet members of the Department of the Geographer, Army of the United States, 1777-1783. This premier living history group recreates the unit established by the Continental Congress in 1777 at the request of George Washington. They will share their knowledge of the science of surveying and cartography in the 18th century and of the War for American Independence. |
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 | Beer brewing has deep roots in Delaware. Join Killens Pond State Park cultural interpreter Jeff Moore to learn why early colonists brewed beer for everyday consumption, and get hands-on experience crafting beer using early primitive techniques. This demonstration ends at 2:30 p.m. |
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Come visit with demonstrators from Greenbank Mill & Philips Farm (an historic site in New Castle County that focuses on life during the Early Republic). They will bring to market fair several of the two breeds of heritage sheep (Leicester Longwools and Delaine Merinos) raised at their site and will demonstrate historic spinning and weaving techniques and discuss textile production in early America. Available for purchase will be yarns that were spun from their heritage flock and dyed with historically-accurate natural dyes. |
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This American Revolution living history organization will be encamped on The Green to portray the 1st Delaware Regiment, Delaware Militia, and civilian supporters of the Cause of Liberty. Kids and adults alike can join in military drills they will conduct throughout the day. |
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Enjoy the sounds of traditional tunes on fiddle and tin whistle as musicians Kelly and Jan Crumpley rove about the market fair. |
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Fine handcrafted furniture in the 18th-century tradition is displayed along with theorem paintings by Delawareans Noreen, Jeff and Ronnie Taylor. |
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Have your portrait painted! Artist Linda Chatfield portrays 18th-century itinerant painter “Mrs. R. Black, known for her Portraits
of Boston Society, who will take correct likenesses in watercolor for a reasonable sum.” Watch Mrs. Black engrave copper plates
and work with her miniature printing press. |
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Experience the finer things in life: perfumes, cosmetics, and soaps, all to make your eighteenth-century life a little more pleasant. Katie Cannon of Ageless Artifice will provide hands-on demonstrations of how to make some of these items, plus offers for sale the products she makes from period recipes.
Katie will also offer 18th-century makeovers throughout the day. |
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Visitors can talk about life in 18th-century Dover with the Golden Fleece tavern’s mistress Elizabeth Battell, Revolutionary war hero and spy Allen McLane, cantankerous James Tilton and the earnest Dr. James Sykes. Look for them throughout the day! |
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Blacksmith Mike Radebach of Frederica has demonstrated the art of blacksmithing in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania since 1988. He has conducted living history programs and school tours at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and various other venues. |
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Market Fair visitors can have their likenesses preserved as hollow-cut silhouettes. Brian Miller portrays an itinerant artist who uses a “camera obscura” to create profiles as they were done during the 18th and early 19th centuries. |
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Rick Schuman demonstrates traditional woodworking methods including the use of a spring-pole lathe, a shave horse, and vintage hand tools. Rick will be selling his craftwork, including spoons, spatulas, kitchen utensils, rolling pins, stools and an unusual Scandinavian bowl with handle called a“kuksa”. |
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Enjoy one of Delaware’s premier groups of 18th-century dancers and musicians as they perform in The Old State House. |
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Artist Maria Bessette will demonstrate and sell her painted floorcloths, which are a traditional American floor covering dating back to the 18th century. Maria will also sell her handcrafted plant-based soaps made from natural botanicals. |
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Weaver Gladys Shaw demonstrates on her loom and offers wall and table mats and runners, shawls and skirts for sale. Mary Walls Hill demonstrates the traditional tape loom. Alice Guerrant shows how socks and caps were knit by hand, and Helen Gieske displays quilting techniques. |
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Watch the plein air painters Rich Bazelow, Dianne Bauer, Donna Hanson, N. Taylor Collins and Joyce Lapp at work around the Green and see what they offer for sale. |
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Rudy Tucker’s pottery, offered for sale at Market Fair, is representative of wares which were in use in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The pieces are all fired in a wood-fueled kiln and salt-glazed. Rudy will also be demonstrating pottery making using a foot-powered wheel. Rudy is a well-known Virginia artisan who has demonstrated at Mt. Vernon’s Colonial Market and many other events. |
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What would it have been like to sail on the ships that brought goods up the river to Dover in the 18th century? Learn about the living conditions, food consumption and sailors’ duties. Try your hand at knot tying, rope hauling and scrubbing the deck. Sing along with the sailors’ shanty music. |
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- Learn paper quilling
- See the heritage sheep
- Pick a trade and make your own merchant’s trade sign
- Try wool carding and drop spindles
- Play 18th-century games
- Be a sailor and learn to tie knots
- Take part in a military muster
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The Dover Century Club is transformed into the Market Fair Inn to sell hungry visitors pulled pork sandwiches, hot dogs, baked goods, coffee, and cider. Plus Fifers Orchards returns with their famous cider donuts and cold cider. |
