Hochstetler Log Homes hosting unique 2-day event this weekend
The two-day Log Cabin Days, held at Hochsteler Log Homes on SR 95 near Loudonville, will have spinning, wood carving, hand hewing, and demonstrations of lumberjack skills, ax throwing, wood chopping and cross cut sawing. Log Cabin Days are Sept. 17-18.
Shorter days, cooler temperatures and sweet apple cider usher in the fall season, and with it comes Log Cabin Days at Hochstetler Log Homes, 552 state Route 95 in Loudonville, Sept. 17-18. Hours are Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
One of the highlights of the event will be the log home tour, where visitors are able to go through up to 11 log homes and discover the lifestyle that characterizes log-home living. This self-guided tour is available for a small donation that supports the American Cancer Society.
The two-day event has something for everyone and also includes the following:
—Demonstrations of lumberjack skills, ax throwing, wood chopping and cross cut sawing.
—19th-century log home trades such as hand hewing, wood carving, furniture making, gun building, spinning and rug braiding.
—Log home building.
Many activities will encourage audience participation, and it will offer a lineup of seminar speakers. There will be over 40 booth exhibits containing rustic home furnishings, builders, craftsmen and home material providers.
New for 2021 will be a cabin and rustic home furnishing auction. Taking place on Saturday, there will be three prebuilt cabins, a pavilion, a pergola, and many handcrafted items including bedroom suites, coffee tables, tables, end tables, home decor and an Amish-made log cabin quilt, all of which are consignments from local craftsman. Bring your truck or trailer to get your winnings home.
For those interested in building their own log home, there will ongoing seminars on Friday and Saturday that include the following:
—Log Basics 101, what you need to know in order to get started.
—Log home designing.
—Log home financing.
—Finding land, hints on finding that dream property.
—Log home maintenance.
These seminars cover almost every aspect of log home planning and construction and are included with the $5 event entrance fee (children are free).
And speaking of children, kids will enjoy Log Cabin Days with the petting zoo giving them a chance to interact with animals like ponies, calves, puppies, rabbits and kittens. They also can play gold-digger and sift through wood shavings to find small trinkets and coins or take their first pony ride. If that’s not enough, there also are covered wagon rides through the woods.
A popular destination is the food tent with an array of old-fashioned food. Barbecue chicken, noodles, potato salad, baked beans and a variety of pies will be there, as well as homemade ice cream, fry pies, fresh-squeezed apple cider, apple butter and kettle cooked popcorn. Additionally, there will be fresh produce: locally made Amish Swiss cheese and Trail bologna, plus assorted jams, jellies, honey and maple syrup. Be sure not to miss the Saturday Early Bird Breakfast between 8-10 a.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets, call Hochstetler Log Homes at 800-368-1015.