APPLE DAY - October 7

Douthat State Park is offering Apple Day on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the beach complex representing a celebration of Appalachian Heritage.

Enjoy crisp mountain air and changing leaves and celebrate the fruits of fall. Spend a fun-filled day in the park with apple butter making, traditional Appalachian artisan and craft demonstrations, great food, including a pig roast, and much more.

Enjoy old-fashioned apple butter making beginning at 8 a.m. Stop by with your family to take your turn stirring the kettle. Apple butter will be for sale to take some home and enjoy.

Visit with traditional artisans and crafters as they work from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A few of the demonstrations will include basket weaving, blacksmithing, quilting and beekeeping. Some individuals will offer items for sale.

Come watch as Douthat whips up tasty treats over the flame at the Campfire Cookery program from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Delicious apple treats will be cooking throughout the day. Sample some of the chef's creations. A small serving is $1 and a large serving in a souvenir mug is $5.

Come and find out why it takes brains to tan a hide. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Douthat will have hides and bones on display. Let Douthat share with you some traditional processes for hide tanning.

Play the part of a child from long ago as you test your skills at some frontier games during Appalachian Antics from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Play the games children were playing years ago in the Highlands .

Have you ever wondered how butter is made, how to get the cider from the apple and how you get the corn off the cob? Here is your chance to experience all of this from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sit back and relax as Douthat's hay wagon is pulled through the cabin area and up the mountain around the lodge as your guide tells you all about the history of Douthat State Park . Hay rides will depart from the lower beach parking area at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and are $3 per person.

District Six Manager Forrest Gladden located at Douthat State Park will be demonstrating techniques used by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the construction of Douthat's facilities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program will include hand-hewing of logs and shingle making using antique tools.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy music and clogging with entertainment throughout the day.

Performing at 10 a.m. is Heather Berry, 11:05 a.m. Rebels of Rhythm, 11:30 a.m. Daphna Creek , 1 p.m. Southwater, 2:05 p.m. Tri-County Cloggers, 2:30 p.m. Blue Mountain Sunrise , 3:35 p.m. Tri-County Cloggers, and 4 p.m. Against the Grain.

Douthat State Park is also offering guests two special interpretive programs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during Apple Day: Wilderness Survival Adventures featuring Vickie Shufer and The Natural World Through Ancient Eyes featuring Daniel "Firehawk" Abbott.

Vickie Shufer is one of Virginia 's authorities on surviving in nature through the use of native plants for food, shelter, tools and medicinal purposes. You'll be fascinated at the many uses of common plants around you and survival skills you may need to battle Mother Nature.

Learn to build a fire without a match, find "fast food" in the woods, the cure for poison ivy without going to the pharmacy, and so many other fascinating survival skills. In addition to the regularly scheduled public program there will be a special intensive workshop for the first 25 people signed up at the parks.

The Special Workshop being offered from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. is a steal at $10 per person, as you get some hands on training on survival and a Wilderness Survival Workbook to take home. If you are interested in the Vickie Shufer workshop, call the park directly at 540-862-8100 or stop by the office at 14239 Douthat State Park Road , Millboro , Va. , 24460 .

Take a journey back in time with Daniel "Firehawk" Abbott, a direct descendant of the Nanticoke Tribe of Maryland. You'll be spellbound as you listen and watch live demonstrations of the Native American ways in this dynamic presentation. He'll take you to a time before English settlers arrived and then the interaction upon their arrival to America .

You'll see the art of flint knapping, creation of clothing, types of food and construction of shelters, along with hearing fascinating stories of life amongst the tribes of the Chesapeake Bay area.

Douthat State Park will be providing concessions throughout the day for your convenience. Souvenirs and fun food will be available to purchase.

For more information go to www.virginiastateparks.gov, contact the park office at 540-862-8100 or email Douthat State Park at Douthat@dcr.virginia.gov. Don't miss your chance to be caught up in the excitement this summer at Virginia State Parks !

Jaimie Lomasney
Visitor Services Specialist
14239 Douthat State Park Road
Millboro, VA 24460
Office phone: 540-862-8125
Office fax: 540-862-8104
Jaimie.Lomasney@dcr.virginia.gov