Roycroft Campus Hosts Founder’s Day Festival
by Kate Nixon
3rd Annual Founder’s Day Festival
Roycroft Campus, East Aurora, NY.
June 1st, 2024. 4:30pm-7:30pm
Click here to purchase tickets!
An annual tradition returns to the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora, New York.
Similar to gatherings held on the Campus during its heyday in the early 1900s, this third annual Founder’s Day will be an outdoor, family-friendly event with live music, hands-on crafts, games, a basket raffle, and barbecue.
The event will take place Saturday, June 1st, from 4:30-7:30 pm, at the Roycroft Campus located at 31 S. Grove St., East Aurora. There are limited tickets available for purchase in advance online or at the event: $30 for adults, $20 for children under 14; free admission for children under 3. Tickets include food, non-alcoholic drinks, and access to all activities. Beer and wine will be available to purchase for those 21+.
Click here to purchase tickets.
The event will feature live music from the local band Quilted Canoe and catered barbeque food provided by Slippery Pig Catering. Family-friendly activities include a complimentary t-shirt to tie dye for kids, a jump rope-making station run by Aurora Waldorf School, lawn games, hands-on letterpress demonstrations, trivia, a costume contest with prizes, and more!
All proceeds from the Founder’s Day festival will go towards the restoration and preservation of the Roycroft Campus and supports the operation of the year-round tours, classes, and programming offered to visitors.
Founder’s Day Costume Contest
Step back in time to put on your best early 1900s historic garb! Costumes that pay homage to the historic figures of the Roycroft Campus or period-specific to the early 1900s are encouraged. All ticket holders and all ages are welcome to participate in the first annual Founder’s Day Costume Contest and prizes will be awarded!
Photographs of the costume contest participants will be taken during the judging portion of the event. Please note that by participating in the costume contest you are giving consent to allow your image to be used in future event marketing materials.
Costume Contest Prizes
Every child that participates in the costume contest will receive a prize, which will include a special award and an ice cream token for Rosie’s Handcrafted Ice Cream, next door neighbors to the Roycroft Campus. Adults will have the chance to win Copper Shop gift cards for 1st place ($100), 2nd ($75), and 3rd ($50). These gift cards can be used at the Copper Shop to purchase items made by over 100 local and national artists, giftware, souvenirs, or to register for tours, classes, and events throughout the year on the Roycroft Campus.
Those interested in participating can sign up the day-of at the registration table beginning at 4:30 pm on Saturday, June 1st. All participants will be given a sticker and invited up on stage at 6:00 pm for the costume contest judging. Costume contest participants must be present to win.
The Roycroft Campus. Photo credit: Eric Jahn.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, the Roycroft Campus is a unique and irreplaceable historic site that welcomes thousands of visitors annually. Over the next few years with the generosity of Erie County, The New York State Council on the Arts, and other funders, the Roycroft Campus plans to focus on further restoration of the historic Print Shop and Campus grounds.
All proceeds from the Founder’s Day event go toward the continued preservation and restoration of the historic Roycroft Campus. We are grateful for the support of our Media Sponsor, Bee Group Newspapers. Further details and tickets can be found online at www.roycroftcampuscorp.com or by calling (716) 655-0261.
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