Batsto Village Hosts Country Living Fair on October 16th
ANNUAL FREE EVENT AS PART OF ITS PARK’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY

(16/P100) TRENTON – Batsto Village, a beautiful historic village nestled in Wharton State Forest, will once again host the annual Country Living Fair on October 16, 2016, as part of the Village’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The popular fair will provide visitors to the South Jersey historical area with many opportunities to experience the joys of country life from when Batsto was founded in 1766 and right up to the current day.  The fair will offer crafts, exhibits, music, old-time engines and cars, food, antiques, pony rides, farm equipment, chain-saw art, quilting, and more authentic South Jersey country attractions.

The 31st annual Country Living Fair will take place on Sunday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

“We encourage everyone to come out to enjoy the fair and celebrate the park’s 250th anniversary as part of their visit to Batsto Village,” said Mark Texel, Director of the Division of Parks and Forestry. “This is a great event for families and a great opportunity for visitors to learn of Batsto’s park’s history dating back to the colonial and revolutionary days.”

For more about the Country Living Fair, please visit http://www.batstovillage.org/country-living-fair.htm.  Batsto Village is located on Rt. 542 in Washington Township in Burlington County.

For directions to the village, please visit http://www.batstovillage.org/road-directions.htm

As Batsto Village celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2016, DEP’s Division of Natural and Historic Resources encourage visitors to learn of the role the park played in America’s founding and success. 

Batsto Village, which is listed on both the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, includes more than 40 sites and structures, including the Batsto Mansion, a sawmill, a 19th-century ore boat, a charcoal kiln, ice and milk houses, a carriage house and stable, a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, a gristmill and a general store.  The Batsto Post Office, established in 1852, still processes mail with a postmark having no zip code.

Batsto Village offers several venues including the Annie M. Carter Interpretive Center to help educate visitors about the rich ecological treasures in the area, an auditorium and exhibit area in the Visitor Center with information and displays of the products of the Village and examples of how local residents lived down through the years, and a well-stocked gift shop which is open daily from 9 am – 4 pm. 

To learn more about these New Jersey historic landmarks, please visit:
Batsto Village http://www.batstovillage.org/default.htm

To learn more about NJDEP Wharton Site. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/wharton.html