Wood exalted

Festival celebrates wood in all its incarnations

MILFORD, PA —“Goods From The Woods” is the focus of the fifth annual Festival of Wood at Grey Towers National Historic Site on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9. This family-friendly and mostly free event offers a variety of activities that demonstrate the many ways we use and enjoy wood in our everyday lives.

Unique wood crafts, children’s activities with wood, chainsaw carvings, educational exhibits, wood in building, films and lectures about wood, wood demonstrations, music created with wood and much more will be offered on the grounds of the historic estate throughout the weekend. All are offered for free by the U.S. Forest Service, the Grey Towers Heritage Association, the Pocono Arts Council and numerous partners, participants and collaborators.

Craftsmen and artists from throughout the region will exhibit, sell and demonstrate their crafts, all made from wood. Examples include wood furniture, pipe boxes, Shaker boxes, sawdust folk art, wooden snowflakes, wooden bowls, wood turning, fretwork and hand-carved sculpture.

Children’s activities include games and toys using wood and other craft activities. A music and storytelling program is planned for Saturday and a magic and puppet show with an environmental twist will be featured on Sunday. The Gifford Pinchot Audubon Society will host a bluebird box building activity. Visits from Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl also are planned.

Lectures on alternative forest products, forest land conservation, foods from the woods and other such topics will be ongoing throughout the weekend.

Free music with wood instruments will be provided each day, including Celtic music, recorders, fiddles, folk and Native American music.

The Pike County Builders Association will exhibit and demonstrate wood in building, the Master Chain Saws of America will demonstrate chain saw carving three times a day and PA Woodmizer will demonstrate “From Logs to Lumber” throughout the weekend. A variety of refreshments will be available.

For more information visit greytowers.org or call 570/296-9630.