Having old fashioned fun at Rock Hall

Education and entertainment combined for a good old time for children and adults at the 28th annual Rock Hall Country Fair last Saturday and Sunday at the historic museum in Lawrence.

Antique cars were on display, and vendors sold various items, including clothes, gourmet cupcakes, and apple cider. The petting zoo, pony rides, a pumpkin patch, and scarecrow entertained the children. Colonial magician “Levram the Great” wowed the crowd with his tricks, and country music group Bob Stump & The Blue Mountain Band performed. Fair-goers munched on an array of food, including funnel cakes, sausages, Philly cheesesteaks, and hot dogs.

The fair also included various outdoor demonstrations and exhibits about colonial medicine, cooking, games, and rifles. “My favorite part of the fair was the old rifles because they were very cool,” said Eli Lightman, 11, of Lawrence.

Fair-goers explored the museum, including its new exhibit on ceramics in colonial America, as well as its wine cellar, warming kitchen, and cold storage room. Mike Baccari, 13, of Oceanside enjoyed the museum’s archaeology exhibit. “My favorite part was the archaeology exhibit, because it’s cool to see old stuff,” he said.

Josiah Martin, a wealthy plantation owner in the West Indies, who moved to Long Island with his family, built Rock Hall in 1767. The Georgian-style home was sold to the Hewlett family in 1824, and converted to a Town of Hempstead museum, which opened in 1953, museum assistant Matt Blum said. Event Proceeds benefit Friends of Rock Hall, a non-profit organization that works closely with the museum to sponsor various programs.

“The purpose of the country fair is good will, and an open invitation to the Long Island community to visit the museum,” said museum director Linda Barreira, adding that the museum is always free to the public. “The fair is meant to welcome both first-time and returning visitors,” she added.