Inaugural Artisan Weekend off to a rousing start

Craig Moulton of Lebanon tries to decide which yummies he wants to buy from the West Lebanon Ladies Circle table manned by Lydia Morrison of Lebanon. (Harrison Thorp photos)

WEST LEBANON - Nearly 200 visitors meandered about the grounds of Tuckaway Tree Farm on Saturday on the first day of its inaugural Open House and Artisan Weekend.

“And the weather’s supposed to be nicer tomorrow,” said a happy Lynne Park as she watched vendors began to shut down their tents around 4 p.m.

This is the first year of what Park and farm co-owner Sue Adams are hoping to be an annual October event.

Despite a formidable array of Columbus Day Weekend attractions, the festival had the cars lined on both sides of Shapleigh Road from well east of the farm to Dixon Road.

A bluegrass band and other musicians were on hand Saturday and are expected back today along with Lacey’s Kitchen food trailer, which did such a banner business on its sweet potato fries that owner Jeannette Brooks had to call home for husband Lee to bring down another box!

“Don’t you dare put ketchup on those,” chided one woman as her husband paid for their order.

Jim and Sharon Butler of Lebanon check out some of the crafts made by Charlene Sanborn of the Sanborn Hope Farm in Rochester. Besides making crafts, Sanborn co-owns the farm, which sells grass-fed beef and pastured pork.

Between eating and enjoying the farm’s bucolic setting, about 15 vendors sold everything from pottery to oil painting under tents spread out at the base of the tree farm next to its quaint, red gift shop.

The West Lebanon Ladies Circle also sold baked goods with all proceeds going to its Lebanon Scholarship Fund for a graduating Lebanon senior from Noble High School.

Co-participating in the weekend is Prospect Hill Winery, which uses only Prospect Hill grapes to make its line of dry wines; and Belgian Meadows Farm, which was offering hayrides to eventgoers.

The festivities continue today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.