MILFORD, PA — The 11th annual Festival of Wood will be held this weekend at at Grey Towers National Historic Site. Hours on Saturday, August 1 will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on and on Sunday, August 2 will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival celebrates everything about wood: the forests it comes from, how to take care of them and the wildlife that depends on them; how wood is harvested and the products that can be made with it. The locale is appropriate: Grey Tower, which is run by the U.S. Forest Service, was once the residence of Gifford Pinchot, who has been credited with creating the National Forest System.

Activities will be fun and educational, and frequently both combined. There will be a special tent for children, which will feature visits from Woodsy Owl and Smokey Bear. There will be tree identification hikes and pruning demonstrations, free woodland wildlife shows both days, chainsaw carving demonstrations and wood-craft vendors. You can learn about maple syrup, forest stewardship, restoring the American chestnut and more.

Partners in this festival include the U.S. Forest Service, the Grey Towers Heritage Association, the Pocono Arts Council and numerous other partners, participants and collaborators.

Self-guided tours of the historic Grey Towers mansion are available for a $5 fee.

Food and refreshments are available, as well as free parking with free shuttle bus service.