THE JANE AUSTEN FESTIVAL AT LOCUST GROVE, LOUISVILLE - REGISTRATION OPENS TODAY!

Beautiful Locust Grove, the Georgian farm that hosts the Jane Austen Festival, awaits.  It is not hard to imagine you have stepped into Meryton, the fictional village of Pride & Prejudice.  Inside the home, a beautiful array of Regency fashions will be on display as well as a bobbin lace making demonstration (Mr. Bennet will ignore this we are sure).  In the basement/cellar, Commonstock Entertainment will be performing shadow puppet shows.  The restored house itself is a wonder to behold.

We are pleased to say THE BRITISH ARE COMING, THE BRITISH ARE COMING  to the Jane Austen Festival!  Jo Baker, author of LONGBOURN, will join us Saturday to talk about her book.  Ever wonder what Hill thought of Lizzie's petticoat 6 inches deep with mud.. read Longbourn and know!

Our other author from across the pond is...

John Mullan, author of WHAT MATTERS IN JANE AUSTEN?:  Twenty Crucial Puzzles Solved, will delight us both days of the festival.  Professor Mullan has enthralled Janeites at two AGMs (Annual General Meetings) and we are thrilled he will be with us.

Book signings will take place in the tent in the "quad" garden at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Introduction begins:  Did Jane Austen know how good she was?

For your entertainment, take up a battledore and swat a handmade shuttlecock around just like the ladies in the illustration.  Also, delight in the entertainment from Fayre Wynds, Jack Salt, NEW Punch & Judy Show, Shadow Puppets by Commonstock, and a huge assortment of Regency era games appropriate for young and old alike by members of the Kentucky Junior Historical Society.

Back by popular demand, the Regency style show and Dressing Mr. Darcy will be held each day under the Big Top Tent for all to enjoy.

The Acasta Naval Encampment will be playing cricket, engaging the public in all matters of the Royal Navy and will generally supply many a man in uniform for the ladies to admire.

The Duel between Gentlemen will take place both days. And we are excited to have an Archery Demonstration on both days...NEW this year!

Join us Saturday at 3 p.m. for the Regency Promenade.  Our second attempt to best the Guinness Book World Record set in Bath in 2009.  An optional $1 registration/donation fee will be matched by JASNA-Greater Lousiville and donated to the Jane Austen House Museum in Chawton.  Last year $750 was donated to the museum.  See more details on our website.

NEW - Friday night, 6-9 p.m., July 18th, TWILIGHT SHOPPING! Includes a musical tribute to Jane on the 197th anniversary of her death.

Come and partake of our special food and drink menu including fried chicken, a pasta salad with grilled chicken, potato salad and an assortment of desserts like blackberry cobbler, hummingbird cake & more!  Special admission for Friday evening is $5 (does not include food). Note: the 1790s house will not be open for viewing during this event.

The Grand Ball will take place on Saturday, July 19th, at Spalding University Center Ballroom. See our website for the list of dances and directions to the event.  The practice session will be Friday evening, July 18th, from 8-10 p.m. in the Spalding University Ballroom.

Lest we forget Tea Time?!  Five tea times (10:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m.) each day plus a special Children's Tea on Sunday (at 3:45 p.m.) with child friendly tea foods and each child will receive a special favor.

The Afternoon Tea menu will include: Egg Salad on Marble Rye; A benedictine/pimiento cheese spread stack; mini-hot brown; fresh fruit; blueberry lemon glaze scone with clotted cream; desserts such as apricot bread pudding with bourbon caramel sauce, Mr. Darcy's favorite lemon cake, blackberry jam cake and lavender rum cake, and of course four tea selections from Bingley's Tea Salon.

There will be FOUR Workshops offered at the festival:

Hero, Scoundrel, or Dandy: How to step back into Regency England by Michael Ramsey. (Saturday, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.)
How to make and wear a Breastknot (tiny corsage) by Julie Rockhold.(Saturday, 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. & Sunday, 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Regency Hair Styles by Custom Wig Company owner Heather Fleming.(Saturday, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & Sunday, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
Paper Marbling by John C. Bielik (Friday, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.)

For complete descriptions, see our website. All are $25 per person, pre-registration required. Wait lists will be created as people do cancel.

Bonny & Rob Wise