By: Carol Ann Georges
Historic Washington Shopkeepers Association will host the 12th Annual Woodcarvers Day on Sunday, June 8, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. in Washington, Kentucky. Carvers will come to the historic village from several states to exhibit, compete and sell their hand carved pieces.
On Woodcarvers Day, the carvers will be competing for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention in the following divisions: Bird, Aquatics, Relief, Water Fowl, Caricature, Animal, Christmas, Chip Carving, Cane/Walking Stick, Human Figure, Pride in America, Religious Symbols (angels, Madonna's, crosses, etc.), Best Display and Best of Show. Contact Carol Georges for 2003 categories.
Original carvings and other items donated by shopkeepers and local businesses will be given as door prizes throughout the afternoon.
Washington is the home of numerous antique, gift, handcrafted silver jewelry, custom picture framing, scrap booking, craft shops and a historic tavern. Costumed tour guides will offer tours from the Visitors Center to the 6 house museums throughout the village.
Washington is nestled 4 miles south of the banks of the Ohio River and Maysville, 50 miles northeast of Lexington, KY, 50 miles west of Portsmouth, Ohio and 51 miles east of Cincinnati, Oh (take the Wilder Exit #77 off I-275 onto Route 9 ( also known as the AA Highway). Turn right onto US 68, turn left at second light into Old Washington. For information phone (606) 564-3559 or (606) 759-7074 FAX 606-564-3559
e-mail irongate@atcc.net Check our website for other events. www.washingtonky.com
16th Annual Chocolate Festival in Washington, KY
By: Phyllis HelphenstineWhere in the world can you find the best chocolate? Some insist its England, others swear upon the Swiss, while still others boast about Belgium. Apparently, these are the people who have somehow missed the last 15 annual Chocolate Festivals in Washington, Kentucky! Well, if you are one of these unfortunate individuals, you can rectify past mistakes on April 12-13, 2003, at the 16th Chocolate Festival when rivers of sweet dark chocolate flow through the 1700s village shops, museums and other historic buildings. The easiest way to remember this event is that it is always held the weekend prior to Easter. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days and admission is FREE. Chocolate is celebrated in so many ways; homemade candies, hand-painted eggs, bunnies, lambs, crosses and more to fill your Easter basket. Cookies, cakes, drinks and piles of chocolates are waiting for all the chocoholics. As you walk the flagstone sidewalks, tasting along the way, it is hard to decide your favorite chocolate treat.
In addition on Old Main Street in Washington, which is lined with antique, craft and specialty shops, there are the 9 museums and a wide variety of historic structures built between 1785 and 1812. There will be the Easter Bonnet Contest again both days, Easter Egg Hunts for children - different ages at different times on the lawn of The Harriett Beecher Stowe Slavery to Freedom Museum, the Easter Bunny will be here and on the hour and half-hour will be the popular Chocolate Cake Walk. There are contests, a "Chocolate Bee", or trivia contest, the chocolate "Quizzine", "Hourly Drawings" for chocolate prizes in some shops and drawings for door prizes. Many shops have different "Guess the Number of Chocolates" in the jar or other containers. One shop holds an annual "Easter Egg Hunt" for adults 18 years and older - everyone finding an egg picks a prize from a basket of unwrapped prizes. Some shops put candy in each bag and a free gift with purchases and some give "Kisses". Outside vendors will line the streets.
AWARD WINNING "Pride of Kentucky" was a distinction won by the Chocolate Festival. The 1700's village of Washington, KY, (now part of Maysville) welcomes spring with this event, which is sponsored by the Washington Historic Shopkeepers Association, and the Old Washington Special Events Committee. Washingtons 1700s village of antique, craft, collectible, specialty shops, which include a resident silversmith and artist who creates wonderful hand crafted jewelry and lovely water colors, a greenhouse, herbs, framing, custom curtains, Dollhouse Shop, one shop alone specializes in full size carousel horses, antique lusters, the largest selection of Fiesta in the area, there is also an antique lamp restoration shop, tours conducted by costumed guides, and fine Kentucky dining. There are chocolate coffees and so many varieties of fudge you can't even imagine them. Hills and valleys of bonbons, toffee, chocolate pecan clusters, chocolate covered cream candy, (a Mason County delicacy), and Kentucky Bourbon Balls piled high on silver trays, and old-fashioned fudge along with a variety of other treats are found in another shop. More about the FUDGE - there may be found a variety of fudges to please even the most discerning chocoholic.
Everyone is invited to submit their favorite CHOCOLATE fudge recipe with 6 pieces of their homemade fudge for the annual Chocolate Fudge Contest. No entries will be accepted without the recipe. Every entrant will receive a certificate for a Brownie Fix and the winner will receive a $50.00 dinner for two - all from de Shas of Mayville.
Every visitor should go first to the Visitor's Center, housed in an original 1790 log cabin, one of the 119 such cabins in Washington in 1790. Here they may view the video, visit with one of the costumed tour guides in long dresses, white aprons and dust caps, and browse through many history books, many of which are for sale. The village offers a tempting destination for city dwellers seeking an afternoon or weekend's change of pace - a nice place to relax. Washington gives pleasures to both adults and children, with over 1,000 school children taking advantage of the "Log Cabin Learning" field trip every May. In addition to village tours, Washington is on the "Covered Bridge Tour" and the "Underground Railroad Tour". The Marshall Key house, ca 1807, was where Harriet Beecher Stowe, a visitor in 1833, witnessed a slave auction that inspired her to write Uncle Tom's Cabin. This house is now the HARRIET BEECHER STOWE SLAVERY TO FREEDOM MUSEUM. Washingtons newest museum is the THE CARRIAGE MUSEUM with high quality, hand crafted, horse drawn carriages, buggies and other vehicles. Special events include: The Civil War Living History Weekend on August 9th and 10th, the Simon Kenton Festival on September 20th and 21st, the Trunk & Flagstone (Yard Sale) on October 4th, Frontier Christmas on December 6th & 7th and Late Nite Shopping on December 11th.
Washington is nestled, 4 miles south of the banks of the Ohio River and Maysville, 50 miles northeast of Lexington, KY, 50 miles west of Portsmouth, Ohio, and 51 miles east of Cincinnati, OH, (take the Wilder Exit #77 off I-275 onto Route #9 - also known as the AA Highway), then turn right at the light by Wendy's onto US 68, turn left at second light up into Old Washington.. Washington is 2 mile south of the AA Highway on US 68. Plan your CHOCOLATE GETAWAY the weekend of March 23-24 in Washington, (now part of Maysville). You will be glad you did! For more information on the Chocolate Festival and Setups phone or fax: 606-564-3559 or Ph: 606-759-7074 or 606-759-7305; E-mail: irongate@atcc.net