The Market Fair brings the past to life on Saturday, November 3 with woodworkers and weavers, horners, blacksmiths and brewers, charlatans and shepherds, soldiers, seamstresses, soapmakers and more displaying their skills and their wares on Dover’s historic Green.
Performances will take place throughout the day, check the printed program for details.
Signora Bella delights audiences of all ages balancing and juggling on the rola bola, the slackrope, and the large sphere. She juggles knives and flaming torches. With much zest, Signora Bella brings to life the tradition of the travelling performer of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. Her performances encourage audience interaction, creating a unique experience every time.
Just arrived from Europe, the celebrated Peter Gardiner presents Artistic Deception, Dexterity of Hand, and Curious Entertainments surpassing anything of the kind that has hitherto been seen or attempted on this side of the Atlantic. Mr. Gardiner exhibits astonishing performances in the Art of Legerdemain that promise to deceive the eye of the nicest observer, and appear in a manner supernatural. This is conjuring and magic of the 18th century impeccably performed and wonderfully amusing.
This fun-filled show truly captures the wonder and pure imagination of childhood. Professor Horn’s celebrated Punch & Judy show is known to incite gales of laughter from audiences of all ages. Children adore the amazing feats, slapstick comedy and variety entertainments. And parents can’t resist the nostalgic excitement this quintessential puppet show conjures from their own childhoods. Professor Horn also brings a hand-cranked music box and giveaways for children.
During this comical interactive performance Dr. Balthazar offers audiences a “magical miracle medicine that cures everything from a common cold to death of two weeks’ standing.” Ailments and afflictions such as consumption, baldness, the “summer complaint,” dropsy, drunkenness and extreme nervousness were just a few of the maladies that magical potions hawked by travelling medicine men of the 1700s would supposedly cure.
Performances: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 & 2:45 p.m.
If you have an eye for photography, take part in the 2018 Market Fair photo contest. Grab your camera and visit the 18th Century Market Fair and discover slack rope artists, Revolutionary War soldiers, handmade glass, and more! After the event, share your best photos on Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #FSHPMarketFair for your chance to win a 2019 Delaware State Parks Annual Pass. Entries must be submitted by Friday November 9 at 11:59pm. Official contest rules and entry form
Check out this information: Market Fair Application