Slavic Easter Egg Decorating Workshop at Ventfort Hall

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LENOX, Mass.— Celebrate the Easter season with a unique opportunity to learn a time-honored Eastern European craft.  
 
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum will offer its annual Slavic Easter egg decorating demonstrations and instructional workshops on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 am to noon and again from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm and Monday through Thursday, April 14 – 17 from 2 pm to 4 pm.  The workshops will take place at the mansion's former gatehouse at 55 Kemble St., Lenox. The number of seats available at each session is limited.
 
This Eastern European tradition of creating decorated eggs has been passed down for generations.  Lenox resident Tjasa Sprague, who will again lead the workshop, learned the technique many years ago from her Czechoslovakian mother, Maria Krofta.
 
The technique begins with unwashed eggs (provided by a local poultry farm) which have a residue-free shell surface.  Attendees may also bring their own unwashed eggs. The Slavic Easter egg is a wax resistant technique which employs aniline dye later in the process. The decorating begins with drawing on the egg with wax, followed by immersion in the dye, with repeated wax drawing and dying as desired.  The eggs are uncooked and are “blown” out after the decorating has been completed.  The eggs may be displayed, when stored carefully, for an indefinite number of years.
 
The fee for each workshop, which includes all materials, is $40. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Children should be at least 12 years of age. All tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. Payment is required to make a reservation for an event.  For reservations please visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call at (413) 637-3206.

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Ventfort Hall Presents: A Cozy Evening For Children

LENOX, Mass. — On Dec. 15, Ventfort Hall will host a Children's Evening Story Hour the story hour will feature books: "The Hat" by Jan Brett, "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, and "Katy and the Big Snow" by Virginia Lee Burton.

The event, that starts at 5:30 p.m., features classic winter stories, hot cocoa, snacks, and activities. 

Attendees are encouraged to wear pajamas and bring blankets to the mansion library. Allergy-friendly food options are welcome if brought from home.

On Dec. 29, the story hour will feature these books: "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats, "The Mitten," by Jan Brett, "Polar Express," by Chris Van Allsburg, and "The Tomten," by Astrid Lingren

Ventfort Hall intern, Sarah Briggs, organized the event. Briggs is a local to Berkshire County and currently a senior at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, interning at Ventfort Hall this semester. She is an Arts Management major and Art History minor, pursuing a career in museum programming and education. 

Admission to the reading is free, but reservations are required and limited to 40 total attendees. All children must be supervised by a parent or guardian for the entirety of the evening. Reserve at https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call us at (413) 637-3206.

Ventfort Hall is decorated for the holidays. Walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker Street in Lenox.

 

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