Ohioans invited to attend 36th annual Heritage Days at Malabar Farm State Park

LUCAS, OH – To celebrate the fall and harvest season, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) welcomes all Ohioans to visit Malabar Farm State Park during its 36th annual Heritage Days. This free family event will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29-30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This popular festival is one of Ohio’s largest free outdoor craft and living history festivals with approximately 75 traditional crafters. Weaving, woodworking, spinning, apple butter making, quilting and broom making will also be featured.

The Malabar Antique Tractor Club will display vintage Willy jeeps, antique tractors and many other types of antique farm machinery. Visitors may step back into time as they walk through a Civil War artillery encampment with live blacksmithing, cannon firing and musket shooting. Local community nonprofits will be selling a variety of foods during Heritage Days, including homemade root beer, a wide variety of sandwiches, bean soup, funnel cakes and more.

For some Halloween adventure, attendees may take a tour of the Ceely Rose House to learn about the murders of the Rose Family from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The cost to see the Ceely Rose House is $5 per person.

Malabar Farm was the dream of Louis Bromfield, an American Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist. Ohio accepted the deed to Malabar Farm in August 1972 to preserve the beauty and ecological value of the farm. Malabar Farm State Park is dedicated to perpetuating Bromfield’s farming philosophies, preserving the Big House and the artifacts within as well as providing a place for visitors to explore farm life and the beauty of nature.

Continuing in the tradition of Bromfield, a free square dance will be held on Saturday night from 7-10 p.m. in the main barn beside the Big House. People are invited to enjoy the live music and square dance calling during this time—beginners and veteran dancers are invited to attend. Food and other refreshments will also be available.

Malabar Farm State Park is located at 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, Ohio 44843. Call 419-892-2784 for more information or visit malabarfarm.org.

Mohican State Park is located at 3116 State Route 3, Loudonville, Ohio 44842, which is near Malabar Farm State Park. For people interested in making their visit to Heritage Days a weekend trip, contact Mohican Lodge and Conference Center, located at 1098 County Road 3006, Perrysville, Ohio 44864, at 800-282-7275 to reserve a room.

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.com.