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Annual Janice Holt Giles and Henry Giles Festival

Event has become one of Kentucky's major cultural events, with music, hand crafted items, Kentucky authors, demonstrations, and grilled food
The annual Janice Holt Giles and Henry Giles Arts and Crafts Festival will be held the first Saturday in October at the Giles House in Knifley, KY.


The event will be from 9:00 to 4:00 central time. The day will include music of all types, hand crafted items made by Kentucky artists, Kentucky authors, demonstrations, and grilled food. The Giles Society hopes to see you at the log cabin for a day of enjoyment.
PERSONAL MEMORIES
Annual Giles celebration would have been enjoyed by Janice and Henry

By Linda Marcum Waggener
linda@columbiamagazine.com

The Giles' cabin at Spout Springs was surrounded by people enjoying themselves at the annual Arts and Crafts Fair last weekend. The fall event has become a popular one for book lovers and those who enjoy a chance to come together to appreciate the gifts left to us by author Janice Holt Giles and her author/craftsman husband, Henry Giles.

A historical marker in the wooded hills outside Knifley directs you to turn down a little drive and cross the brook to get to Janice and Henry Giles' famous cabin. Then the drive opens up to an impressive lily-edged fish pond in front of the long log house.

When I look at that pond I hear Henry recounting how a fellow once dropped by for a visit, surveyed the rustic home and fishing pond, sighed and said, "You are one lucky man."

"I told him, luck hell!" Henry boomed, "I planned and built every inch of this."

Henry and Janice Holt Giles loved to have company, sharing their Knifley home and discussions about politics, world events, writing and reading. Back in the '70s, my husband Ed and and his cousin Pete Walker would go to Spout Springs occasionally to discuss politics with Henry, so Pete's wife Edith and I would go along to talk of books and writing with Janice.

They were delightful hosts, and I can't help but think how glad they'd be to see all this company stopping by now to enjoy the home and grounds they so proudly built and shared during their lifetimes.

They would smile at authors signing books in the living room by the beautifully restored fireplace, and they would enjoy seeing friends show off all the food lined up along the counters of the kitchen cabinets that Henry built. And they would love being among the guests under the big trees on a crisp, sunny fall day tapping their toes to the gospel, country and bluegrass music coming from the front porch.

Henry would have noted how Saturday was a perfect fall day for the celebration. The temperature under a mostly sunny sky required only a light jacket or sweat shirt. Leaf edges were just beginning to blaze on maple, locust, paw paw, beech, poplar, persimmon and oak trees, which released one or two at a time to float on gentle breezes to the surface of his lily pond.

Everything in the arts and crafts booths is Kentucky hand made. Anyone who needs more information about next years event can call Beverly England at 270-384-5906, or any board member.

Henrys wood shop, affectionately called the Becky House has been added on to, and will be the future home of a writer in residence who will live there year round. I think Janice and Henry would like that too.

Click here for Giles Society Web Site


This story was posted on 2005-09-30 05:38:24
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Personal memories of Henry Giles



2005-09-30 - Giles House, Spout Springs near Knifley, Adair County, KY - Photo Waggener. One of our family's most treasured photos is this one with the late Henry Giles, taken in the late 1970s, near Henry Giles work headquarters, The Becky House. That's the famous author in the center; our son Pen Waggener is on the left, and I'm holding the 'nother son, Tom Waggener. Mom Linda Waggener was the photographer. -Ed Waggener.
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Literary Arts Event: Janice Holt Giles and Henry Giles Foundation celebration



2005-10-01 - Spout Springs, Knifley, Adair County, Kentucky - Photo by Linda Waggener.
Saturday, October 1, 2005, marks the Seventh Annual Janice Holt Giles and Henry Giles Festival at the log cabin in northern Adair County. Click 'read more' for the story.

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Giles Festival 2005



2005-10-01 - Knifley, KY - Photo Linda Waggener. THE GILES HOUSE AT KNIFLEY was the destination point for larger numbers than ever at the annual festival. As visitors strolled in and out of booths and old time country music was sung on the porch, Foundation leaders were already beginning to study about how to improve it for next year. Click Read More for the story.
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Booths at the Giles Festival



2005-10-02 - Knifley, KY - Photo Linda Waggeneer. BOOTHS AT THE GILES FESTIVAL included Annetta Barnett with her Buzzard Roost Baskets. She makes them by hand and also sells basket making supplies. Click ReadMore for details of the festival.
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Local artists, Betty and R.D. Fishback, in their booth at the Festival



2005-10-05 - Knifley, KY - Photo Linda Waggener. R.D. and BETTY FISHBACK shared their works from their booth at the 7th annual Giles Festival. R.D. is a watercolor artist and his wife Betty makes cards. They work in their studio on Weed-Keltner Road between Columbia and Edmonton. Click ReadMore for information about the festival.
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New author Teasie Bryant Dodrill with her cookbook



2005-10-18 - Knifley, KY - Photo Linda Waggener. TEASIE DODRILL SHOWED OFF HER NEW COOKBOOK at the Giles Festival earlier this month. The name of the book is But I Can't Cook, and she says it is filled with down-home recipes she has perfected so they always turn out right. The Janice Holt and Henry Giles Foundation is now at work planning the next festival. Creative people from all over the region are invited to make contact toward being part of the special annual event.
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