Greetings all
With the new year safely on its way, and the holiday season bustle settling down, it is time to look forward to the events the year will bring. The one big event the we are eagerly anticipating here at the Grumbine household is the 3rd Annual Five Barns Picnic.
For those of you who have been here already, we are looking forward to hopefully seeing you all again. For those of you who have been wanting to come, I am announcing it as early as possible so you can plan for it. For those of you scratching your head and wondering what all this is about, read on.
The Five Barns Picnic grew out of our desire to meet and fellowship with those people we met through this medium of the internet. We started meeting people as early as 1996, both in our home and outside our home. When we moved to our current place, we had enough room to really do it up in style, and that is how the Five Barns picnic was born. For one weekend in the summer, woodworkers and their families meet here in eastern PA for fun, food, and fellowship. People bring their wives, husbands, children, and even grandchildren. They bring tools, wood, projects, picture books, and most of all they bring food!
Last year's picnic was scheduled to start Friday afternoon, but since people from Alabama can't tell time, Ken S. showed up at 9:00 AM. No worries. I could have posted a thread on what happens to Rebel woodworkers who show up early!Ken and other early birds were a big help in the final preparations, and by noon the party was in full swing. We had turning demonstrations, we had sharpening demos, router demos, all sorts of stuff going on. Kids were in the pool, ladies were under the big tarp, and eveyone had a blast. We paused long enough for folks to take naps Friday night, and recommenced the festivities Saturday morning.
People had opportunity to meet with others to put faces and voices to the names we all know so well, and to some who we didn't. We had a grand total of 93 people in attendance, from states as far away as WI, MI, AL, IN and ME. From closer by we had folks from MD, OH, NY, NJ, MA, and of course, lots from PA.
This year's picnic is scheduled for July 30 and 31, 2004. By moving the picnic out of that first weekend of August, we avoid the giant car show that made hotel rooms hard to come by and more expensive. Once again the official start time is just after noon, although we will welcome and put to work anyone who shows up early. People can stay as late as they want, get here as early as they want on Saturday, and stay late again. We go to church Sunday, and anyone who wants to come is welcome. The festivites are officially over when the shop door is closed sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
There are several motels and hotels nearby, some folks stayed at campgrounds, and some folks camped out right here on the property. We have room for all that again, and we are looking forward to a great time again this year.
So, mark your calendars, get your maps out, and plan to make it for this year's event. As the time draws closer, I will be posting more information and reminders for you prcrastinators.
We'll see you in July!
Bill
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Thanks for the Invite
Originally Posted by Lee Schierer
