The Shawano County Historical Society is celebrating its 75th anniversary at Rhubarb Fest this year.
The seventh annual festival, the society’s largest fundraiser, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Park on North Franklin Street.
“There are so many people involved with this,” said society board member Jeanette Berkovitz, who is serving as grounds chairman for the fest. “It’s gotten huge and turned into a community endeavor.”
More than 200 volunteers participate in some way, shape or form in Rhubarb Fest, not counting those who bring in desserts and other rhubarb-related foods and contribute in other ways, Berkovitz said.
Last year’s fest raised $5,000 for the society.
Photographs depicting the society’s history will be displayed in the country church during the festival, which also features plenty of food, a fur trader’s encampment, tours of historical buildings and more.
The dairy museum that was closed for renovation last year will be open for this year’s fest.
Berkovitz said there will also be another judge’s bench to raffle off this year, built for the society by Judge Thomas Grover.
Last year’s bench proved to be a popular raffle item, Berkovitz said.
“It’s a very nice thing to buy raffle tickets for,” she said.
The fest’s main attraction, as always, will be rhubarb. The tart plant will be the featured ingredient in pies, tortes, cakes, breads, cookies, and jams, all made by volunteer bakers. Rhubarb brats topped with rhubarb sauce or salsa also will be available.
Twig’s Beverage will provide samples of its new flavored sodas, including rhuberry.
The Shawano Woman’s Club will again be selling rhubarb starts and a wide variety of perennials; profits are donated to the society.
Historical Society member Darlene Heller said rhubarb was grown by early settlers in the area.
“It’s one of the first fruits available in the spring and has an association with the early pioneers,” she said.
All of the society’s Heritage Park museums will be open. Docents will discuss local history as they guide visitors through the buildings.
Antique cameras and items relating to the movie “Things In Their Season” will be displayed on the porch of the Kast House. This movie was filmed in 1972 in and around Shawano County and featured many local residents, in addition to actors Ed Flanders and Patricia Neal.
Demonstrations by local craftsmen will include basket making, quilting and quilt tying, wood carving, needlework, rag rugs, honey production, cement leaf casting and sock knitting on an antique machine. Some items will be available for purchase.
Sunset Island will feature a fur trader’s encampment. New this year will be the opportunity to dress up in vintage items and have your photograph taken with the fur traders. Photos will be available for purchase.
The children also can try old-fashioned hoop rolling and do some coloring while on Sunset Island.
Children will also enjoy the live alpacas on the grounds and trying their hand at corn shelling with the society’s antique machine.
At the Sikora Archives, local authors will discuss and sell their books. Society publications and gift items also will be available.
Amish ice cream — made on-site — topped with strawberry sauce will again be available.
Three local musical groups will perform.
Area merchants and individuals have donated many items for the basket raffle.
Rhubarb Fest is held every year in conjunction with Main Street’s Jumpin’ June Jamboree. Free transportation, by horse and wagon or bus, is available between the two events. Parking at Rhubarb Fest is available in two lots, one off the north end of Lafayette Street and the other off Second Street.
All proceeds from Rhubarb Fest are used to maintain the society’s buildings and park.
For information, call 715-526-3323.
