Jeanette McCaulley, JJ Gems is a our featured rock, gems and crystals exhibitor at the Indian Village Outdoor Library 2021 in Berryville Va.

​Overall, fair activities, traffic details and parking map are explained on the Bluemont Fair schedule at www.Bluemontfair.org. The Indian Village and Fair is Sept. 18-19, 2021 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in the town of Bluemont.

​Directions: Enter off of Snickersville Turnpike (follow the signs on Rt. 734) in Bluemont, Va. 20135 (one hour west of D.C., 17 miles from Leesburg Va. and east of Winchester Va. on Rt. 7.) Fair general admission is only $10, children nine and under are free. Sorry, no pets. Free parking is available. 

​This outdoor resource-event is of great significance to everyone interested in Native American Culture and features Native American Indian Jamie Oxendine a Lumbee author of “Southeastern Woodland Designs,” a book for adults and children.
 
“Jamie’s book has 23-pages of tribal patterns that can be used to create jewelry, paintings, tattoos and fabric designs, or as coloring book,” explained Sanctuary on the Trail Co-Founder and Lumbee Indian René Locklear White. “Jamie’s book will intrigue and captivate people of all ages and can serve as an important classroom teaching-aid. You will find Jamie’s book in the center of our suspended reading-room.” 

Overall, fair activities, traffic details and parking map are explained on the Bluemont Fair schedule at www.Bluemontfair.org. The Indian Village and Fair is Sept. 18-19 10:00 am – 5:00 pm in the town of Bluemont. Directions: Enter off of Snickersville Turnpike (follow the signs on Rt. 734) in Bluemont, Va. 20135 (one hour west of D.C., 17 miles from Leesburg Va. and east of Winchester Va. on Rt. 7.) Fair general admission is only $10, children nine and under are free. Sorry, no pets. Free parking is available. 

Giant Leather Bound Book. Chris (Comeswithclouds) White (Native American Church of Virginia (NAC) co-founder) and David Blair (NAC volunteer from Maryland) constructed a 4.5' feet tall book with moving pages to promote the Indian Village Outdoor Library. Chris covered the book in various colors of leather; blue, orange and green to represent the Blue Ridge Mountain and Shenandoah Mountain Valley area. The book will be on display at the Indian Village Sept. 18-19 during the Bluemont Fair. ​

BLUEMONT, VA. – As the giant moon rises across the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountain sky this weekend, a 10’ feet wide dream catcher aims directly into the moon rise. Close to 10,000 people are expected Saturday and Sunday Sept. 17-18 to the Bluemont Fair Indian Village, where the past meets present under the harvest moon.
Special Features include:  

• Woodland Indian Style Wigwam
• Contemporary Bluemont VA Teepee
• Living History Exhibits
• Indian Dancing and Music
• Military Veteran Tribute 
• Children Bringing in the Harvest Ceremony and Parade
• Food inside the main fair grounds
• Indian and Military Veteran Artists and Vendors 
• Real Ponies to Paint
• 10’ feet wide hand-woven dreamcatcher with 2’ feet tall stained glass feathers and painted gourd-beads
• QR-coded fun facts
• Downloadable Interactive Passport Booklet 
• Candy Dance

The Indian Village opens 10-5 at 33834 Snickersville Tpke, Bluemont, Va. 20135. Free parking is available. There is a small $5 fee to get into the general fair.  Requested donation for entrance to the Indian Village is $3 per person or $15 per family. Entrance into the Indian Village is free to all uniformed service members, military veterans and their families.

By The Gathering Volunteers Chris Anderson
with contributing writer Caroline Urbania
 
BLUEMONT, VA – Sample a new indigenous treat at the Indian Village Sept. 17-18 during the 47th annual Bluemont Fair.  Blended with Virginia red clover, dandelion and alfalfa this indigenous tea spills over with plants found at Northern Virginia’s Sky Meadows State Park and seen along many Virginia roads. It is called Sky Meadows Sunset Organic and is built upon black Rooibos tea.
​
"Let us share our knowledge with you about the second most consumed beverage on the planet and connect you with the people and plants that make this beautiful drink,” says Hillary Coley, co-owner of Dominion Tea in Purcellville, Va.

Native American Indians have endless combinations of berries, leaves, roots, flowers and even bark to make flavorful teas. These are used as tonics, in ceremonies, consumed for health and well-being as well as comfort and enjoyment.

Dominion Tea will be offering brewed samples of Sky Meadows Sunset Organic at the Indian Village and will talk about the tea, how it is made and explain the science behind how a blend of tea is constructed.

“Dominion Tea is a locally owned family business in Purcellville, Virginia dedicated to sharing great tea and the stories behind its history and cultural influence,” says Coley, who along with her husband David, offer more than 100 loose leaf teas. “We are in awe of the impact that specialty tea has had on global history and culture. It is a product that symbolizes cultural awareness, personal connections, adventure, and a connection to the land. Dominion Tea is honored to search the globe for authentic tea and tisane products, satisfying individual growth and curiosity.”

“In creating Sky Meadows Sunset Organic tisane, we followed our passion to find ingredients that grew natively in Virginia, like red clover, dandelion and alfalfa, which would blend nicely with our favorite tisane Rooibos,” says Coley. “We added Sunset to the name in acknowledgement of the golden orange brew of this tisane and how it is the color of many sunsets here in Virginia."

The health benefits of red clover are well documented as are the properties of dandelion. Alfalfa is also well-known for its nutritive properties. Herbal blends pack flavonoids and may help with many issues. Their specific chemical compositions vary depending on which ingredients are utilized and how, where and when they are harvested. Generally, any tea has some beneficial aspect, even if it is consumed just for a pleasant taste. 

At the Indian Village, Dominion Tea will also offer samples of a new apple tea – they are seeking people to try and offer names for the new tea.
The Indian Village is open for two days only at Stone’s Field 33834 Snickersville Tpke, Bluemont, VA 20135. The fair opens at 10:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm daily. Free parking is available.
 
Bluemont is located in the western-most Loudoun County, Virginia about 60 miles from Washington D.C. Arriving from highway 7 between Leesburg and Winchester take Snickersville Turnpike to where the entire town comes alive with music, crafts, activities, and food.
 
For more information visit www.HarvestGathering.org or www.dominiontea.com. ​

​An exciting new feature this year is an authentically replicated Indian Village in Stone’s Field, designed to educate children (and adults!) about Native American culture. Funded through an award from the Virginia Commission for the Arts: Artists in Education Program to Sanctuary on the Trail Inc., (and supplemented by a generous donation from Ken and Julia Falke of Boulder Crest Retreat, and additional grants and donations), a residency collaboration between Sanctuary on the Trail. Inc. and the Village Montessori School created the village, which will be open to the public during both days of the Fair.  Come celebrate with dance, regalia, storytelling, survival skills, living history exhibitors, trading post vendors, North American Bushcraft School, music from Dark Water Rising, and Military veteran and uniformed services tribute. Purchase authentic Native American Indian jewelry and watch these artisans create unique works of art.

Event times at the Indian Village can be found within the Fair schedule at www.bluemontfair.org   Requested donation for entrance to the Indian Village is $3 per person or $15 per family.