Proceeds go to village's restoration society
ROCKLAND -- With music, food, history and art, the Old Victoria Craft Fair is a feast for the senses.
The show is happy to be in its 28th year as it is the largest fund-raiser for its host, the Old Victoria mine residence site.
“It gives you a sense of life outside the mine and what the conditions of living were like and the people's personal stories which really emotionally tie us to the area,” said fair volunteer, Lynette Webber.
The residences were home to miners at the Old Victoria copper mines in the 1800s. Proceeds from the fair go to the village's restoration society.
“Around here, all we really have left is our pride and our history, and we like to cling to both as best as we can,” Webber said.
Even on a gloomy day like Sunday, the grounds were packed. Locals know they only have one day a year to take it all in.
This year's show had 20 vendors including Midwestern artists, craftsmen, and cooks who stirred up homemade jams and baked goods.
One fair favorite is the traditional Old Victoria cinnamon roll.
“When you walk in the building, the smell gets to you,” said visitor Carolyn Dukovan of Germantown, Wisconsin. “It is good!”
“It melts in your mouth,” said visitor Deb Maki of Twin Lakes, Michigan.
If you missed all the finger-licking fun on Sunday, you'll have to wait another year for the next fair, but Old Victoria's doors are always open for visitors. Tours are offered seven days a week until Labor Day.
To plan your visit, you can find more information by going to http://www.coppercountry.com/OldVictoria.php.