3rd Annual Jane Austen Festival, July 10 & 11 at Historic Locust Grove in Louisville, KY

The 3rd Annual Jane Austen Festival will take place July 10 & 11, 2010 at beautiful Historic Locust Grove located at 561 Blankenbaker Lane, Louisville, KY (www.locustgrove.org)

Inside the Visitors’ Center a Regency Emporium will feature booths with beautiful silk shawls, fabric, bonnets, jewelry, antiquarian books, and you can even have your silhouette cut! There will also be a fantastic Silent Auction with Jane Austen books, movie memorabilia and tea themed baskets and much more. The four-course Afternoon Tea will take place each day as well and is $20 per person.

“The Shoppes of “Meryton” include five new vendors who will participate in tents outside: Taylor Rose Historical Outfitters, Bells Mill Clothiers, Marquette Trading Company, Spencer’s Mercantile and Kentucky Fine Tea Ware.

The log and stone buildings on the grounds will host the Regency men’s club called the “Hellfire Club”, as well as 19th Century physician. Common Stock Entertainment will entertain young and old alike with shadow puppets, old-fashioned, kid-friendly peep shows, and other 18th century entertainments.

A couple opportunities for workshops include How to make a Tussie Mussie (a hand-held nosegay) $15 per person and Silk Ribbon and Surface Embroidery to make a Reticule. $25 per person. (complete descriptions at the end of press release)

Featured author this year is Kim Wilson, member of the Jane Austen Society in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She will speak about her books, “In the Garden with Jane Austen” and “Tea with Jane Austen”. Her talk, repeated both days will take place outside under a tent at 11 a.m. where she will sign and sell her books.

Other talks and demonstrations to be held under the tent include “Dressing Mr. Darcy” and the ever-popular Regency Style show. While a display of Regency fashion will be located in the Grand Parlor in the house all day both days.

Also, Ed Maedor, the creator of the fabulous bonnets worn in the new PBS documentary about Dolley Madison will speak each day and will have the bonnets with him!

The Greater Louisville Region of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) was founded in July of 2007. They meet monthly at Historic Locust Grove. The Jane Austen Festival has become a very successful event with 1,000 attending from 15 states in 2009. For information about JASNA, visit www.jasna.org and to purchase tickets for workshops, the ball, afternoon tea and admission, visit www.jasnalouisville.com or call 502-239-8521, 502-417-9150.

More to come about the event in the next few weeks.

Photo credit of the couple: Laura Edwards. Thank you for the permission.