Log Cabin Days: Close to Amish Country

Shorter days, cooler temperatures and sweet apple cider usher in the fall season, and with it Log Cabin Days at Hochstetler Log Homes in Loudonville, Ohio. Join in the family-friendly fun Friday, Sept. 16, and Saturday, Sept. 17. One of the highlights of the event will be the log home tour, where visitors are able to go through up to six log homes and discover the casual, relaxing lifestyle that characterizes log home living. This self-guided tour is available for a small donation which supports the American Cancer Society.

The two-day, family-oriented event has something for everyone. Highlights include demonstrations of lumberjack skills, ax throwing, wood chopping and cross-cut sawing. Experience 19th-century log-home-related trades such as hand hewing, wood carving, furniture making, gun building, spinning and rug braiding, as well as log-home building.

Many activities will encourage audience participation as well as offer a lineup of excellent seminar speakers. There will be over 40 booth exhibits containing rustic home furnishings, builders, craftsmen and home material providers.

Taking place on Saturday, there will be a Cabin & Rustic Furnishings auction with three prebuilt cabins, three pavilions, a timber-framed pergola and many handcrafted items including bedroom suites, coffee tables, tables, end tables, home decor, and an Amish-made log cabin quilt, all of which are quality consignments from local craftsman. Bring your truck or trailer to get your winnings home!

For those interested in building their own dream log home, there will be ongoing seminars on Friday and Saturday that include:

• Log Basics 101, what you need to know in order to get started
• Log home designing
• Log home financing
• Finding land, hints on finding that dream property
• Log home maintenance

These seminars cover almost every aspect of log home planning and construction and are included with the $5 event entrance fee (children 12 & under are free).

And speaking of children, kids will enjoy Log Cabin Days as much as the adults with the petting zoo that provides a chance to interact up close with animals like ponies, calves, puppies, rabbits and kittens. They can take their first pony ride, or they can play “gold-digger” and sift through wood shavings to find small trinkets and coins. If that’s not enough, there are also relaxing covered-wagon rides through the woods.

Did someone say food? Always a popular destination is the food tent with an array of authentic old-fashioned, mouth-watering eats. Delicious barbeque chicken, noodles, potatoes salad, baked beans and a variety of pies will tempt the palate. There is also homemade ice cream, fry pies, fresh–squeezed apple cider, apple butter and kettle cooked popcorn to further whet the appetite. No one should leave hungry! Be sure not to miss the Saturday morning Early Bird Breakfast, served 7 to 10 a.m.

Mark your calendar now for this popular family event. Hours are Friday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The location is 552 St. Rte. 95, Loudonville, OH 44842

For more information or to purchase tickets, call Hochstetler Log Homes at 800/368-1015 or visit www.hochstetlerloghomes.com