The Lavender-Thyme Faire: Charming, Fun, Flavorful

The Lavender-Thyme Faire is absolutely hands-down the most unique craft show we attend. It wraps you in quaint, charm from the moment you arrive. Your journey begins with a tractor ride from the parking lot. This whisks you straight into the heart of a beautiful, working farm. If you want to slow down and enjoy the sunshine, it is the perfect weekend getaway. We are packing up our booth and heading out because this festival feels like stepping right into a storybook. Come shop the curated spaces, enjoy delicious food, and let the kids run around and play.

Here’s how your visit starts and some of the beautiful grounds.

Stepping Into a Storybook: The Beautiful Farm Grounds

To kick off your day of exploring, the property features a gorgeous, fairy-tale house complete with a stone turret that gives Castle Creek its name. Beyond the house, the entire grounds are a scenic dream. Groves of shade trees envelope the property. Lavender beds release their sweet fragrance into the air; gorgeous flowerbeds dot the landscape. You will love the vintage touches, including a charming dove cote, an old tractor, and a picturesque blue pickup truck. This haven is an open invitation to slow down.

Sip, Stroll, & Shop: Meeting Our Talented Makers

Before browsing the booths, grab a specialty coffee or tea from Hannah’s Coffee and Tea Bar to enjoy as you stroll. For a true taste of the faire, try the refreshing lavender lemonade. Pair it with a lavender cookie, a cinnamon roll, or even some local lavender whoopie pies. You can easily nibble your way through the whole show!

Craftily Talented: Shopping Small on the Farm

The crafts are another highlight of the faire. These are truly small businesses run by just one or two people who are craftily and artistically talented. For instance, you can find Caitlyn of Crafty Creations, who knits and crochets everything from beautiful afghans to adorably soft, squishable animals. Another must-visit booth is Field and Forest, which features paintings by a talented teenager. She creates amazing art on gourds. Last year, I had my eye on the gorgeous paintings she did on live-edge wood, and I cannot wait to see what she has been up to this year!

Then, of course, there is us—AzarÉl Greetings. We feature fun photos of the birds and critters right from our own backyard. To capture these, I create whimsical little scenes with hidden snacks for the wildlife. As they play hide-and-seek to find their treats, I settle in for a several-hour photo shoot and snap a couple hundred photos! We love chatting with everyone who stops by, but our absolute favorite year was when two chickens decided to come inspect our booth! This is one of our favorite moments…ever!

For the full list of wonderful vendors joining the fun this weekend, head over to this link and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Live Craft Demos, Fresh Herbs, & Honeybees

There are chances to learn something new from the demonstrations and speakers. Be sure to check out 4 O’Clock Farms. They do live demonstrations of traditional spinning, weaving, and basket weaving. You can even purchase some of their gorgeous, handmade creations to take home. In addition, you can watch the mesmerizing art of fiber spinning by Master Craftsman David L. Carlson.

If you love to garden, you won’t want to miss York County Master Gardener Marann Mawhinney. She will teach you exactly how to grow fresh herbs to spice up your home cooking! You can also sit in with Brendan the Bee Man, who will be inspecting live hives and sharing fascinating insights about the world of beekeeping. Finally, you can get hands-on at the Essential Oil workshop. Choose from three different custom formulas, mix it up, and take home your own creation for only $8!

Click here and scroll down for the schedule of demonstrations and speakers.

Good Eats & Farm Fun: The Perfect Place to Unwind

By this time, you’re probably hungry for a bit more than snacks. For lunch, they serve up classic grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. You can even top off your meal with some unique lavender ice cream for dessert.

Of course, kids always finish eating before adults, but there is plenty to keep them busy here while the grown-ups linger at the tables. Children absolutely love meeting the farm animals, including friendly ducks, chickens, a sweet pony, and the beautiful herd of alpacas. You might even spot Wolfie, the famous roaming “guard alpaca”! This herd provides the soft fiber used to make the cozy yarn, roving, and alpaca socks sold in the farm shoppe.

Beyond the animals, there are loads of hands-on, farm-ish things to keep the kids entertained. They can climb and balance on hay bales, hop onto the fun spring rockers, or dive into a massive tractor tire filled with corn kernels. There is even a big, webbed tree swing where kids spin and giggle.

Because it is such a wonderful, safe space for children to play, people truly do not rush through this show. Visitors love to hang out at the tables to talk, connect with each other, and finish their lunch. While the adults are kicking back and unwinding, the kids are having a high-old-time playing nearby. It is the perfect, relaxing end to a beautiful farm day.

If you are looking for the perfect weekend escape, come join us at this wonderfully quaint show! The Lavender-Thyme Faire takes place on Friday and Saturday, June 19 & 20—making it a fantastic Father’s Day weekend outing for the whole family. You can find the farm at 529 West Siddonsburg Road in Dillsburg, which is an easy, beautiful drive from York, Harrisburg, and Lancaster. Admission is just $7 (and yes, they accept Venmo!), while children 12 and under are completely free. Mark your calendars, pack up the family, and come slow down with us for a relaxing day on the farm. We cannot wait to see you there!