Are you looking for a fun filled activity to do with your family on the weekend of Sept. 11 & 12? If so, then come to one of the longest running Craft Shows in the region at the Madison County Historical Society in Oneida.
There will be free face painting by Sue Flint of Oneida on Saturday from 1- 3pm. Sue is a former second grade teacher who taught at North Broad Street Elementary for 34 years. Sue is very active in the community lending her hand to many of the Oneida High School musicals as their Art Director. Sue painted a mural for the historical society in the DeBarber Tobacconist and Confectionary exhibit located inside the carriage barn.
The kid-friendly event continues with craft activities for children on Sunday from 1-3 pm. Elaine Clark from the Oneida Library will be making sun catchers and sand art with every child who stops by her booth.
In its 46th year the weekend event continues the tradition of having over 100-juried crafters on site. Whether you browse, buy, or a little of both, there is truly something for everyone. The range of crafters offering their wares is as wide as ever with potters, furniture makers, clock makers, watercolorists, knitters, quilters, jewelers, folk artists, blacksmiths, soap makers, candle makers, and so much more!  Many of our craft vendors will be demonstrating, so stop and chat with them about their skilled artistry.

For those looking for shopping break treat, check out our food vendors: Promotion Plus Roasted Nuts of Saratoga Springs who will be serving hot roasted nuts; David Kowalczik’s Kettle Corn of Whitesboro will be popping corn all weekend long; Blue Barbecue of Chittenango will be serving great barbecue; R & V Concessions of Rome will be serving a variety of grill items; Tim McLaughlin of Oneida Castle will be serving sandwiches and baked beans; Pastry Pantry of Endwell will be making pastries; and of course there will be ice cream from Buck and Ruthie’s Ice Cream of Fulton!
The Olde Tyme Fiddlers will be entertaining the crowd with their fiddle music on Saturday from 1-3 pm. The Olde Tyme Fiddlers are part of a group of fiddlers called the New York State Old Tyme Fiddler’s Association of Osceola, New York. Their purpose is to preserve, promote and perpetuate the art of old time fiddling and the dances pertaining to this art.
On Sunday, Ed Smith featuring Werner Kogest, both of Sherrill, will be performing from 1-3 pm. Ed is an original songwriter, singer, and guitar player who has 70 plus songs copyrighted in the Library of Congress.  Ed’s passion for music began when he was 12 years old writing music. He is self-taught and has played in several bands over the years honing his talent. Ed describes his music as upbeat folk rock. His songs are about family, friends, and nature- more specifically the Adirondacks and New England. Werner Kogest accompanies Ed with his talent of playing the stand up bass and vocals. Ed and Werner have been performing together for over 20 years. When Werner and Ed are not performing, Werner is at his Violin Shoppe where he is well known for his sales and repairs of string instruments, and Ed is a real estate agent in Utica. 
Come tour the Higinbotham’s family home and learn about Madison County’s history inside the society’s beautiful headquarters, Cottage Lawn, an 1849 Gothic Revival home.
So the place to be on Sept. 11 and 12 is at the Madison County Historical Society’s 46th Annual Craft Days located at 435 Main Street in Oneida. The event on Saturday, September 11th    runs from 10 am- 5 pm and on Sunday, September 12th from 10 am-4pm. Don’t forget to purchase raffle tickets to win some fantastic handmade craft items. A free park and ride service will be provided in a new location throughout the weekend from the Glenwood Plaza on Route 46 in Oneida to the historical society.  Admission is $4 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Purchase a weekend pass for $6 and join us both days!No animals are permitted on the grounds, and there is no smoking.  For more information, please contact the Madison County Historical Society at 315-363-4136, 315-361-9735, or visit us at www.mchs1900.org.

Susan B. Anthony will be the keynote speaker at the In the Kitchen Tea at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, September 26 at 5255 Pleasant Valley Road in Peterboro NY when, once again, the Smithfield Community Center is turned into a lovely tea room. The occasion is catered by The Copper Turret of Morrisville with special menu considerations of Miller’s 1875 In the Kitchen cookbook  The annual tea celebrates Elizabeth Smith Miller, her birthday, the creation of her trouser outfit, and the 19th C. women’s reform movement. Attendees are encouraged to wear mid-19th Century styles – especially bloomers.
This year the tea welcomes Susan B. Anthony, women’s rights colleague and friend of Miller and her cousin Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Anthony was a visitor to the Gerrit Smith Estate in Peterboro in the 1800s. Barbara Blaisdell of Rochester NY will portray Anthony, as she has done at the Women’s Rights National Park in Seneca Falls and at the Susan B. Anthony house in Rochester.
Special tea themed charms will be available for auction to support the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark. The highest bidder will receive a silver bracelet, a matching set of earrings, and the first pick on the charm board.
Reservations for the third annual Elizabeth Smith Miller In the Kitchen Tea can be made online at www.inthekichentea.com. The website for the tea has information on Elizabeth Smith Miller, past events, and a link to PayPal for reservations. Seating for the tea is limited, and reserved on a first-come first-served basis. Forty dollar reservations are due by September 17.
The tea for Miller is one of a series of programs provided by the Stewards for the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark during 2010 and partially supported by a PACE grant from the Central New York Community Foundation. The Estate is on the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, and the Heritage NY Underground Railroad Trail as part of the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. For a hard copy invitation, send mailing address to info@inthekitchentea.com or to Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark, P.O. Box 6, Peterboro NY 13134. Checks payable to Smithfield Community Association / GSENHL. For more information contact 315-546-5583. For a complete listing of programs, contact  SmithfieldCommunityAssociation@centralny.twcbc.com, 315-684-1058, and www.sca-peterboro.com

The 15th Annual Madison County Hop Fest fun-filled weekend starts with a paired beer dinner on Friday night, September 17, at Blue Barbecue in Chittenango at 6 pm. The five-course meal created by Chef and owner, Bob Enigk will be paired with beers from Landmark Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, Southern Tier, and DogFish Head.
The first course is DogFish Festina Peche steamed clams with garlic, Dijon mustard and heavy cream. The second course is a mesclun salad with tomatoes, crumbly bleu, smoked almonds, and Southern Tier Raspberry vinaigrette.  The third course is Brooklyn Lager braised pulled pork cannelloni with smoked gouda lager cheese sauce, and fried leeks. The fourth course is Grilled Baby Tenderloin, served with beer and bacon mashed potatoes, crimini mushrooms, and Brooklyn Brown Ale Steak Sauce. The fifth course is  the decadent Landmark Vanilla Bean triple chocolate cake with vanilla bean syrup.
Tickets are limited, so reserve your seat by September 7. Tickets for the dinner are $45. Reservations can be made by ordering them at www.mchs1900.org/hopfest, or by sending a check payable to the Madison County Historical Society, or by contacting the Blue Barbecue.
Brooklyn Brewery, Dog Fish Head, and Southern Tier will be on the society’s grounds on Saturday, September 18 under the Beer Tent! Tickets for the brew sampling are ($25 advance and $30 at the door) and available at Kraig’s Kegs/ Corey’s Beverages in Sherrill, the historical society, or online at www.mchs1900.org/hopfest. Tickets for the Taste of Hops are $15 advance and $20 at the door and available at the participating restaurants, or online at www.mchs1900.org/hopfest.
For more information about the 15th Annual Madison County Hop Fest please contact the Madison County Historical Society, 435 Main Street, Oneida, NY 13421, 315. 363.4136, 315.361.9735, www.mchs1900.org/hopfest. All proceeds from the Hop Fest support the educational programming at the Madison County Historical Society.  The Madison County Hop Fest is a 21-year and older event. Admission is charged only for the paired beer dinner, beer sampling, and taste of hops.