Events

Handy House, 202 Hix Bridge Road,

Open 10 AM – 1 PM every Wednesday and Saturday

June 21 – September 16, 2023

FREE.

Parking is available off Hix Bridge Road.

Special exhibition: Bonnets, Bustles, and Bloomers

Explore the changing silhouettes of fashion and the statements they made through a display of accessories and outfits worn by Westporters in the 19th century. Visitors can try out some 19^th century hairstyles and hats!

Undressed at the Handy House

10 AM Tuesday June 27, Tuesday July 25, Tuesday August 29 at the Handy House, 202 Hix Bridge Road, Westport

How many layers of clothing did the average woman have to wear in the 19^th century? Join guest curator Blair Walker to learn more about the form and function of corsets, bustles, bloomers, petticoats, hats, gloves and other accessories as she undresses a mannequin from outwear to underwear.

Handy House Artisan Fair and Vintage Market

10 AM – 3 PM

202 Hix Bridge Road, Westport MA

Sunday September 17, 2023

Please take note of the updated date for this event — SUNDAY SEP 17

Handy House Artisan Fair, organized by the Westport Historical Society, showcases 30 local craftspeople who specialize in skills and traditional crafts commonly practiced in the 18^th and 19^th century.

Traditional craftsmanship, from blacksmithing to green woodworking, is still very much alive in Westport. The Artisan Fair offers a rare opportunity to meet these craftspeople, learn about their skilled hand work and human powered technologies through hands on demonstrations. Some artisans will have their work for sale, so it will also be a chance to get a jumpstart on holiday shopping! This event not only preserves and perpetuates knowledge about traditional crafts, but is also an opportunity for the community to reconnect to its own history, to visit the Handy House and to celebrate the special heritage of the town of Westport.

The Artisan Fair is supported by a grant from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency, through its Festivals and Projects Program

Kids Make History

July 12 – August 9, 2023

Wednesdays 10 am – 1 pm

Drop in for some creative family-friendly crafts! Make a corn husk doll, make a hat/bonnet, enjoy a scavenger hunt and explore the Storywalk along the Handy House Heritage Trail. FREE.

Summer StoryWalk on the Handy House Heritage Trail

Take a walk, read a book, have an adventure!

July/August, open every day dawn to dusk. Enter at Handy House parking lot off Hix Bridge Road.

Our StoryWalk features children’s book “Homespun Sarah” by Verla Kay. Experience the hardships and daily chores of life in early 1700’s colonial America. Written in Verla Kay’s own special style of cryptic rhyme, Homespun Sarah brings this early period of colonial history alive for children in a fun and exciting way.