By Tyler Feole
Do you like antiques, or anything resembling the old world? If so, Summer Past Farms has the antique and crafted items just for you. This was a two-day event from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. on May 10th and 11th, 2025. This was not just an event or a market; it was an experience of what it was like to be stuck in a time capsule during the 1900s and see some great craftsmanship and hard work put to use. As I walked through this fair, I felt a sense of transportation, 100 years into the past. Surrounded by the echoes of antiques, craftsmanship, hard work, the gentle sounds of music, birds chirping, and the scent of flowers, gracefully enter my palate.
Over 50 fine craftsmen and expert artisans set up booths brimming with personality and the yearn to showcase their hard work and talent, as well as some glimpses into the past with many antique collectibles. Each table had its own life and story. From antique coffee grinders that most likely still worked, to homemade jam that you would more than likely find in your grandmother’s pantry. Or even the soaps that filled your sense of smell with different aromatic scents ranging from rosemary to lavender. There were countless options to see and buy.
What truly made this event so special was the atmosphere. Despite the warm weather and the sweat dripping from my forehead at nauseum, there was a sense of peacefulness in the air on this fine Mother’s Day. This was in part due to the beautiful gardens, shaded paths, sounds from a miniature waterfall, or even the faint scent of herbs and flowers from the gardens around. As you walk, you notice that these booths are set up with a purpose, laid out thoughtfully. This made it feel like a curated experience rather than a regular shopping trip. The live music was at the perfect volume, enough to listen along while also seamlessly blending in with the chatter of visitors and enjoyers of this event.
For me, a 21-year-old who is used to fast-paced technology and digital life, this event was truly eye-opening. It brought me back down to reality and reminded me of the values in slowing down, appreciating how things were once made with hands, heart, and passion. This, for me, was not just about buying antiques, but rather connecting to the past, the people who carry the legacy of it, and obviously spending time with my mother on Mother’s Day.
As someone who experienced this firsthand, it was the perfect event for Mother’s Day. Mothers, Fathers, and Grandparents alike strolled through with their families, pointing out things from their childhoods and teaching the younger generations about the vast number of tools and objects they had never seen before. In many ways, this Summer Past Farms event served as a type of bridge, linking my generation to the ones before over a shared curiosity and appreciation of events, items, and stories like these.
In the end, it was time to go home, time to unpack what everyone had experienced. The sense of peacefulness within this event, like all things, had to come to an end. But it left me and many others with something. A greater sense of appreciation for those before and the past within this time capsule of an event. As someone who did not know what they were expecting coming into this event, I left with nothing but gratitude and joy. Feeling a sense of fulfillment not only for what I experienced at this Summer Past Farms event, but also with the notion that time needs to be appreciated. There is no better way of doing so than being with family and friends alike and experiencing great memories and stories that can be passed down from generation to generation. So, if something like this intrigues your mind, go to the next event on June 14th, 2025, from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. and experience what it is like to time travel into the past.
