With fall fast becoming a reality on both the calendar and with the weather, the Freeborn County Historical Museum is giving this upcoming season special emphasis with Autumn in the Village on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

“Please join us Sunday at the Freeborn County Museum, Library and Historical Village for an afternoon filled with good food, music, demonstrations and entertainment for the whole family, “ comments Pat Mulso, the museum’s executive director.

Just in time for this annual event, will be several new additions and changes at the Museum and Historical Village located on North Bridge Avenue next to the main entrance to the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

There are several additional and revised displays in the main portion of the museum. Out in the village are three new structures intended to preserve significant artifacts and a building from the past, plus a just completed paved picnic area.

An extended roof structure has been placed over the Livedalen Log Cabin, first home built in Freeborn County during 1853. Roof structures have also been placed over the train depot area and outdoor farm machinery display to protect these items from adverse weather conditions which will come later in the fall and winter.

“You are invited to check out the changes in the museum as well as to see the many improvements that have been made in the village this year. We are proud to announce that the parsonage, located next to the church that has been closed for the past two years, will be open by Autumn in the Village, “ Mulso said.

Among the activities scheduled for Sunday afternoon, according to Mulso, will be an old fashioned spelling bee, the general store will be open with candy for sale, and a puppet show will take place. Photos enhanced with jewelry, hats and clothing from the past will be available in the village photography shop. There will be demonstrations based on homemade soap, corn shelling, rug hooking, embroidery, hardanger, blacksmithing, rug hooking candle making, spinning wool, woodworking and basket weaving. The Village’s bank will be selling wooden nickels and wooden nickel key chains and necklaces.

There will be music in the church and wagon rides around the fairgrounds in a wagon pulled by a 1937 John Deere A tractor.

Food items for sale include beef/pork sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, apple pie, ice cream, sarsaparilla, water, coffee, soft drinks, kettle corn and old fashioned candy.

Mulso said Autumn in the Village is a major fund-raiser for the museum. Admission fees are $5 for adults, and one dollar for students 12 to 18 years of age. Members of the Historical Museum and children 11 years of age and under are free.