UPDATE: The Chadds ford Historical Society has canceled Chadds Ford Days  activities for  Saturday, Sept. 12. A decision for Sunday, Sept. 13 will be made at 5 p.m., Saturday. Check http://www.chaddsfordhistory.org/ for more information. End of update.

The weekend after Labor Day is one of the busiest weekends
of the year with numerous public events taking place. This year, however, there
will be two fewer and that could bode well for the others, specifically for
Chadds Ford Days.

The Brandywine Arts Festival will not be held this year and,
according to Ginger Tucker, executive director of the Chadds Ford Historical
Society, that means more artists and crafters for Chadds Ford Days, the two-day
colonial fair also known as the Fair at the Ford. The event–along with Pumpkin
carve–are the two biggest fund-raising events for the historical society.

Also axed for this year is Rev. Times, the annual
re-enactment of the Battle of Brandywine that was usually held at the
Brandywine Battlefield Park in Chadds Ford. For the last several years Rev.
Times also held on the same weekend as Chadds Ford Days.

Aside from more artists and crafters and the chance for more
visitors, Tucker and other members of the society are excited about nationally
know Plein Air painter Kenn Backhaus donating his commission from the sale of a
painting he did of the John Chad House, one of the properties the society owns.

The painting was used for the cover of the program for this
year’s fair.

In addition, Tucker said, “He has donated the right to copy
the painting so we have beautiful giclee prints in two sizes.”

The prints will be 10 percent off during Chadds Ford Days,
15 percent off for CFHS members and, she said, Backhaus will be signing the
prints sometime during the weekend. Tucker was unsure when, however.

“I think they’re just gorgeous and that everyone will want
one,” Tucker said.

Tucker is anticipating more than 120 crafters and artists
for the fair this year, most of them will be he regulars but others will be
those who would have been at the Brandywine Arts Festival.

“The question is, will they bring their following,” she
said. “I hope so. A lot of these people have a following so we hope a lot of
people come from Wilmington.”

As has been in the last few years, parking and admission to
Chadds Ford Days will be free.

The society has also started a raffle that will run into
Chadds Ford Days, the 2009 Preservation Raffle.

“The money goes to the preservation of the John Chad and the
Barns-Brinton houses. …There’s constantly something going on with these old
houses and you have to care for them like a mother would a child,” said Tucker.

As usual, there will be food from local restaurants, a Kids
Corner with games, a variety of rides and live music. Tucker said long time
favorite musician Charlie Zahm will be back.