After a steadily busy summer season, the Pruyn House in Newtonville is thanking the community as it has done the past 24 years at its annual Old Fashioned Sunday.
On Sunday, Sept. 9, from noon to 4 p.m. the circa-1830 home will host more than 800 people for the event that offers activities for adults and children.
Since its meager beginnings as an art show in 1984, Old Fashioned Sunday has become the defacto summer season closer of the historic site and a sort of thank you from the Friends of Pruyn House to the scores who visit the site and frequent its summer concert series.
It’s really basically a service to the community. When it first started, I don’t know if we had 100 people. It gets up to probably 600 to 700 now, said Diane Morgan, Pruyn House curator.
Over the years, the event has grown in both attendance and featured items. This year is no different, said Morgan.
The home will be open for touring, and throughout the day, three different bands from Colonie will provide music. A number of attractions are planned including craft demonstrations, exhibits, vendors, and tours of the gardens and other outbuildings, such as the one-room schoolhouse and tool museum. There will be pony rides and face painting, as well as a storyteller and magician, and an art show and live animals to entertain the children.
Homemade baked goods, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, soda, ice cream and popcorn will be available for purchase.
Everything other than the food is free, said Morgan.
WNYT 13’s Lydia Kulbida will be master of ceremonies for the event.
`Anywhere from 800 to 1,100 people will attend, as many people are discovering the Pruyn House,` said Friends of Pruyn House Vice President Ed Harrington.
The home has seen a newfound interest from people who have been driving by it for years and have never before stopped by, he said. When they do, it is either at one of the summer concerts on the five-acre site’s barn or the home’s `last hurrah` of the season ` Old Fashioned Sunday.
Old Fashioned Sunday is hosted by the Friends of Pruyn House, a not-for-profit group that manages the site owned by the town of Colonie.
The free event will be held rain or shine.
For information call Pruyn House, which is located at 207 Old Niskayuna Road, at 783-1435.
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