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Saturday September 20, 2025 at 10:00am
For 74 years, the Herb Fair has celebrated the many ways that herbs enrich our lives and promoted the knowledge and use of herbs through educational programs, research, and community engagement. This one-day event will feature an extraordinary roster of makers and artisans as well as an extensive program of demonstrations, talks, and workshops from leading herb experts. We hope you will join us in celebrating 74 years of the Herb Fair’s legacy, uniting herb enthusiasts, artisans, and families in a shared appreciation for nature’s gifts on September 20, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Rain Date: Sunday, September 21
Fair Highlights
Rosen House / Enjoy free Open House access to the Rosen House from 10:00am–1:45pm. Drop in to view select rooms and plenty of treasures! Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Rosen House at Caramoor is a work of living history. The Mediterranean-style House was built during the period between 1929 and 1939 by Walter Rosen, a Berlin-born, Harvard and New York School of Law-educated international banker specializing in railroads, and Lucie Bigelow Dodge Rosen, an independent, spirited, and highly intelligent member of a prominent New York City family.
Marketplace Treasures / Experience a diverse marketplace featuring fresh herbs, artisanal products, and herbal delights. Discover unique wares for the home, garden, and table, along with herb-infused gourmet foods.
Herb Table / Take in the bountiful Herb Table, expertly curated and featuring a selection of dried and fresh cut herbs including fragrant handmade items such as sachets, lavender wands and wreaths.
Educational Workshops / Engage in presentations and hands-on workshops led by experts. Learn about herbs’ versatility and their potential for enhancing health and creativity.
Baked Goods / Savor the taste of delicious baked goods, prepared by Herb Society members. Each treat is made with local herbs, bringing fresh and vibrant flavors to every bite.
Lovage Soup / Enjoy the Herb Fair’s signature Lovage Soup made with potatoes, leeks and broth flavored with lovage. Served with focaccia with local herbs.
Herbal Lunch / Enjoy a delicious boxed lunch featuring local herbs. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Stay tuned for info on how to pre-order your lunch!
Enriching Activities / Delight in activities for the entire family, including a craft table for kids hosted by the Rye Arts Center where participants can make magic wands with a beautiful butterfly top and ribbons.
Free Presentations
Fantastic Fall Herbs & Perennials
/ 10:30am
Patrick McDuffee, Well-Sweep Farm
Patrick McDuffee of Well-Sweep Farm, third-generation grower and plant enthusiast, will share tips on everything from windowsill herbs to striking fall perennials, weaving in native plants, family stories, and his own insights on medicinal herbs and unique plant uses, all rooted in his background in biology and passion for the natural world.
Indigo Dye Bath: Bring Your Own Indigo / 11:30am
Artist Maggie Pate
From India to Japan to Greece, indigo has been the foundation of century-old textile traditions. Artist Maggie Pate will offer a brief intro to indigo then give a demo of how the magic of indigo works. The class is designed for attendees to repurpose old items, cover up stained pieces, or create something original with new purchases. Bring your own freshly cleaned natural fiber items from home. No more than 3 items and no large items like towels or bedding please.
Cooking with Herbs / 12:30pm
Chef Christopher Hawver
Join chef Christopher Hawver for a vibrant and flavorful lesson celebrating the abundance of summer herbs, as he shares creative ways to infuse your cooking with the essence of the season—think aromatic herbed oils, savory salts, and delicious breadings for fish, chicken, vegetables, and more. Featuring garden favorites like thyme, tarragon, sage, chives, marjoram, oregano, basil, cilantro, rosemary, and dill.
Beauty, Nature & Culture of the Rose / 1:30pm
Photographer & Author Ngoc Minh Ngo
Acclaimed photographer and writer Ngoc Minh Ngo will discuss the enduring allure of the rose and her book, Roses in the Garden, exploring her passion for roses and photography, shaped by her experiences as a Vietnamese refugee in California, and highlighting the cultural significance and horticultural artistry of rose gardens around the world.
Old Paths & New Directions in the Herb Garden / 2:30pm
Horticulturist & Plant Historian Deirdre Larkin
Horticulturist and historian Deirdre Larkin will present a brief history of the long evolution of the herb garden as a distinct garden type, and a discussion of contemporary trends in its form and focus, drawing on her experience at The Cloisters, her work with the New York Botanical Garden, and her deep knowledge of historical gardening techniques.
Special Workshops
Kids Activity: Bundle Dyeing Cotton Bandanas | 10:00am – 11:00am
Education Center
Attendees will create a vibrant, kaleidoscopic cotton bandana to take home, using a unique steam-dye technique. In this hands-on workshop, each participant will design their piece with food scraps, flowers, and natural dye pigments, then bundle the fabric into a roll for steaming. After a 20-minute steam bath, the bandanas will unveil richly saturated, atmospheric patterns—each one completely one-of-a-kind.
Workshop / $45
Creating with Cyanotype with Artist Julia Whitney Barnes | 10:15am – 12:15pm
Education Center
Julia Whitney Barnes will give a demonstration on the cyanotype technique along with an inside look into her process of creating Planting Utopia at the Shaker Heritage Society.
The workshop does not require any previous experience in cyanotype.
Workshop / $160
Nature Journaling with Botanical Artist Wendy Hollender | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Rosen House Courtyard
This workshop will be an exploration of the practice of nature journaling to draw plants and all their components that will be growing in the gardens.
Please note: the cost of the workshop includes all essential materials
Workshop / $115
The Transformation of Cacao with Chynna Dee Andrada | 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Education Center
Learn to craft your own cup of ceremonial Cacao while exploring the holistic transformation of this sacred plant.
Workshop / $75
Winter Ailments with Wychs Bloom Founder Christina Winters | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Education Center
Learn old witchy remedies for all your winter ailments– from sore throats to runny noses, respiratory illnesses to common colds, bronchitis to fever relief.
Workshop / $45
Autumnal Botanical Printing Scarves with Artist Maggie Pate | 1:30pm – 4:00pm
Education Center
Attendees will leave with a luscious 100% silk charmeuse scarf that they will design and eco-print during the class.
Please note: the cost of the workshop includes all essential materials.
Join textile artist Maggie Pate in an introduction to eco-printing. Capture a moment in time with this seasonal workshop, as attendees will get hands-on experience transferring crisp prints of dye flowers and tannin rich leaves from the local landscape
Workshop / $125
The Art of Herbal Bathing with Herbalist Elizabeth Gross | 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Education Center
During this workshop we will cover the basics of herbal bathing, including a step-by-step process for preparing your own herbal bath at home.
Workshop / $45
In the Rosen House
Afternoon Tea in The Rosen House | 11:00am–1:00pm
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Rosen House at Caramoor is a work of living history. The Mediterranean-style House was built during the period between 1929 and 1939 by Walter Rosen, a Berlin-born, Harvard and New York School of Law-educated international banker specializing in railroads, and Lucie Bigelow Dodge Rosen, an independent, spirited, and highly intelligent member of a prominent New York City family.
Filled with examples of fine and decorative Asian and Renaissance art, the House offers a number of treasures, including complete 18th-century rooms, originally from private villas and chateaux in Italy, France, and England.
$64 per person
Free Rosen House Tours from 10:00am–2:00pm
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Rosen House at Caramoor is a work of living history. The Mediterranean-style House was built during the period between 1929 and 1939 by Walter Rosen, a Berlin-born, Harvard and New York School of Law-educated international banker specializing in railroads, and Lucie Bigelow Dodge Rosen, an independent, spirited, and highly intelligent member of a prominent New York City family.
Filled with examples of fine and decorative Asian and Renaissance art, the House offers a number of treasures, including complete 18th-century rooms, originally from private villas and chateaux in Italy, France, and England.
Marketplace Participants
Platform
Jane D’Arensbourg
Exalted Alchemy
Dancing Spirits
Sixteen Sisters
Saltbox Press
Clay Story
Bat Flower Press
C-Thru Lens Photography
Junai Knitted Goods
Boxed Lunch Pre-Order
Attendees will have the opportunity to pre-order a delicious boxed lunch featuring local and fresh ingredients.
Stay tuned for this year’s lunch menu and ordering instructions!
Additionally, onsite concessions including sandwiches, snacks, beer, wine, and soft beverages will be available.