Old Bethpage Village Celebrates Memorial Day Weekend With Sheep-Shearing & A Patriotic Commemoration

The Old Bethpage Village Brass Band will perform as part of the Memorial Day weekend program.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano announces that Old Bethpage Village Restoration (OVBR) will celebrate Memorial Day weekend with its traditional “Sheep to Shawl (And More)” and “Decoration Day” programs. The family-friendly events, taking place May 28-30, include activities such as sheep-shearing, wool-spinning and weaving, as well as a patriotic celebration.

The popular sheep-shearing program, taking place all three days, involves a farmer skillfully applying a set of hand shears to remove fleece from the Village’s own flock of sheep. The craft of wool-spinning will also be demonstrated, and children will have the opportunity to help with the preparation of wool just before it is spun into yarn, known as “wool carding.” The event takes place at Powell Farm, a 19th-century barn originally located in Syosset.

Additional afternoon entertainment includes the Old Bethpage Village Dancers performing 19th-century contra-dances (and wearing attire of the time), accompanied by fiddle and dulcimer. The Old Bethpage Village Brass Band will also be on hand during the afternoon to perform.

Other activities include displays of horse-drawn carriages by the Paumanok Driving Club and a display of classic Model “A” Fords by members of the Model “A” Ford Club. In addition, on May 30 at 2 p.m., the Village’s Civil War “veterans” will commemorate Decoration Day as it was first observed in the early 1870s, complete with a parade, a solemn patriotic program, and ceremonies at the Village cemetery honoring the fallen.

Old Bethpage Village provides visitors with the opportunity to step back in time and experience life in a recreated mid-19th-century American village set on more than 200 acres and boasting some 50 historic buildings. Hours are 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday. Entrance fees are $7 for children 5 - 12 (those under 5 are free), seniors and volunteer firefighters; and $10 for adults. OBVR is located on Round Swamp Road in Old Bethpage (exit 48 on the LIE); for more information, call 516-572-8400.