Isaac Meier Homestead announces fall and winter happenings, prepares for 2026

The Isaac Meier Homestead invites the community to make new memories with a variety of events scheduled from Saturday, Oct. 4, to Saturday, Dec. 13, while learning about the colonial way of life.

Homestead chair Michelle Voydik spoke with LebTown about events scheduled through the end of 2025 as she prepares a calendar of events for 2026, which requires approval from Myerstown Borough.

The following events will be hosted at the Isaac Meier Homestead at 525 S. College St., Myerstown. Despite the Tulpehocken Creek bridge replacement project causing part of state Route 501 to be closed, the homestead and its gravel parking lot are still accessible to the public.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the homestead will host its country fair, a free-admission event featuring more than 30 vendors and demonstrators.

In addition to cooking in the hearth and baking in the squirrel tail oven, there will be chicken corn noodle soup and bacon, ham, and bean soup in a cast-iron kettle over an open fire, as well as fried bologna sandwiches, hot dogs, baked goods, and beverages. Voydik said an organization will also make funnel cakes at the event.

There will be live music from Forbes Road Frolic, strolling violinist Betsy Barnicle, and a volunteer using a turkey feather on a mountain dulcimer sitting in or around the homestead.

Also at the country fair, guests can add stitches to the Lebanon Quilters Guild’s USA quilt. They can also snuggle goats or have their picture taken with a goat for $5. Children can play games and have their faces painted.

“New for this year, we’re having a prince and princess of the country fair contest,” Voydik said. Contestants should come dressed in colonial-style attire to compete against one another to see who can make butter the fastest, who can spin the most yarn on a drop spindle during a certain period of time, and more.

The prince and princess of the country fair will be crowned with a gourd crown made by Jim Anspach of Homestead Weaving in Myerstown. Those interested in competing can visit the Isaac Meier Homestead Facebook page for more details to come.

Starting at the country fair, the homestead will accept pre-orders for redware plates by Huberhaus Pottery, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The plates are $75 and serve as a fundraiser for the homestead. Pre-order is required. Voydik said the pick-up procedure is still being finalized, but the pick-up location will be the homestead.

The homestead is also working on t-shirts in celebration of America250.

On Saturday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m., the homestead will host a flat reed fun basket class led by Anspach. Cost is $50, and there is a maximum of 10 participants. Participants should bring a chair, an old towel, and a craft apron.

On Sunday, Oct. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m., the homestead will host a Pennsylvania German star embroidery class led by Karen Wattai of Lace Lovers of Lebanon County. The class costs $25, eight participants maximum. Participants should bring scissors and a size five or six embroidery hoop, if possible.

A pumpkin needle felting class scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 19, and a Santa needle felting class scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 7, were canceled due to the instructor’s health issues.

The homestead will host a haunted hayride on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, Nov. 2.

The homestead has turned the event from a haunted walk into a haunted hayride due to historian Jonathan Miller’s upcoming surgery. This will also allow interested community members who could not walk the distance to participate.

“The hayride is supposed to be basically the historian that [Voydik] brings, Jon Miller, he’s going to sit in the wagon, and we’re going to drive around the town, and give tours of the history of the borough,” Daniel R. Ebling, president of the Elmer C. Ebling Memorial Charity, told LebTown.

The memorial charity will coordinate and drive the hayride, the equipment for which will be provided by Wenger’s of Myerstown. Ebling said the memorial charity still needs to meet with Miller to determine the route for the hayride.

The homestead, which will be lit by candlelight, will open its doors to the public for the free-admission event and will offer hot cider, hot chocolate, and cookies.

On Sunday, Nov. 2, from 1 to 3 p.m., the homestead will host a class where participants can learn to spin wool into yarn on a spinning wheel. Cost is $25, and it is an extra $10 to rent a wheel for participants who do not own one. There is a maximum of five participants.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, from noon to 3 p.m., the homestead will host a sgraffito redware plate class led by Huberhaus Pottery owners Stephen and Susan Horst. The class costs $30 for a 7″ plate and $50 for an 11″ plate, and there is a maximum of 10 participants. Participants should bring a towel, an apron, and patterns if desired.

Starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, the homestead will host a glass beaded snowflake ornament class led by Chevelle Houser. Cost is $20, and there is a maximum of 10 participants.

“And that one, we’ve had children here as young as 5 doing that one, as long as they have help with, as long as the parent stays for that one, they can do that one, too,” Voydik said.

Following the Myerstown Holiday Parade, the homestead will host Kerzenlicht Night on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 6:30 to around 8:30 p.m.

During the free-admission event, the homestead will be lit by candlelight and feature music. It will open its doors to the public for tours and will offer hot cider, hot chocolate, and cookies. Belsnickel will pay a visit to the children.

On Sunday, Nov. 30, from 1 to 3 p.m., the homestead will host a natural wreath class led by Heritage Art and Craft Studio. The class costs $35, and there is a maximum of 10 participants.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the homestead will host a Christmas at the Homestead event. During the free-admission event, the homestead will host a dozen or so vendors inside the homestead and will offer hot cider and cookies.

Ebling encourages local community members, families, and organizations to visit myerstownchristmas.com to sponsor a tree in the Myerstown Community Park. Sponsors will decorate their trees with their names and decorations. Depending on the participation, a panel of judges will evaluate the trees and give prizes to the top three.

Then, from 5 to 8 p.m., or the rain date of Sunday, Dec. 14, at the same time, the homestead will host a historical lantern hayride. The homestead, which will be lit by candlelight, will open its doors to the public for the free-admission event and will offer hot cider, hot chocolate, and cookies.

In addition to these events, the homestead will announce its tavern night in late November and its homeschool classes for the fall season shortly. Those interested can visit the homestead’s Facebook page for more details to come.

The homestead will start collecting donations for its winter giving fence in a box at the Myerstown Community Library starting in early December. Voydik said the winter giving fence will be set up at the homestead from Sunday, Jan. 4, to Sunday, March 15.

Read More: Isaac Meier Homestead connects with community through winter giving fence

The Isaac Meier Homestead works with the Elmer C. Ebling Memorial Charity and the Myerstown Community Library on various community-centered initiatives to share resources and attract more community members.

“Those are the only two that we [partner with] because we’re all kind of community-minded so we like working together and bringing more people in,” Voydik said.

In other news, Voydik said the homestead got several new volunteers this year. “We are always looking for volunteers. We’re still looking for a treasurer because our treasurer would like to move into the position of restoration of the homestead.

“We are having some water issues because it was not repointed with the correct material. So, the whole house needs to be repointed. So, he’s going to be working on that, and we’ll be doing some fundraisers and things.”