Celebrate Makers Day at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms—free admission, live craft demonstrations, and a seasonal market on a historic 30-acre property. Perfect for families, makers, and anyone curious about the making and meaning of objects.
Celebrate Makers Day at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms—free admission, live craft demonstrations, and a seasonal market on a historic 30-acre property. Perfect for families, makers, and anyone curious about the making and meaning of objects.
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Operated by Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms · Morris Plains, New Jersey
On a crisp October weekend the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms opens its gates for Makers Day Open House, an event that puts process and material on display. Located at 2352 NJ-10, Morris Plains, New Jersey, the museum occupies a 30-acre landscape where early twentieth-century Arts & Crafts architecture and working demonstrations meet seasonal foliage. For visitors curious about how objects are made and how historic design connects to contemporary craft, Makers Day is an approachable, hands-on introduction.
The event runs rain or shine and offers free admission to the historic Log House and access to the North Cottage, where the museum’s collection of rare green ash furniture is on view. The Craftsman Shop stays open with curated seasonal goods, including The Craftsman Tile by Pewabic Pottery in three colors, giving shoppers a chance to take home a piece of local craft. Throughout the day artisans give live demonstrations and local vendors set up stalls; scavenger hunts and activities for kids keep younger visitors engaged.
What makes this open house special is the convergence of place, object, and maker. The Log House—examined up close during tours—provides a tangible link to the museum’s collection while the North Cottage showcases woodworking traditions in a domestic setting. Outside, the property’s lawns, specimen trees, and garden beds form a calm backdrop for watching a potter at the wheel or a woodworker shaping green ash. That combination of working craft and architectural history is rare in a suburban New Jersey setting and explains why locals and regional visitors gather for the annual celebration.
Practical details matter: the event typically lasts a few hours midday, with demonstrations scheduled throughout. The Craftsman Shop is ADA accessible and offers restrooms; the historic Log House has limited accessibility on its upper floor. Because the open house is family-friendly, expect strollers, active kids, and a lively marketplace. Bring sturdy shoes for walking the grounds, a camera for architectural details and fall color, and a reusable bag for purchases.
This Makers Day is more than a market—it’s a living lesson in craft, conservation, and material culture. Whether you’re a maker, a parent looking for an educational outing, or a traveler mapping cultural stops across New Jersey, the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms offers a clear window into the processes behind the objects we live with and the landscapes that frame them.
Plan to arrive mid-morning to catch headline demonstrations and to stroll the grounds when light is soft; parking is on-site and neighborhood streets fill later in the day. Volunteers and staff are available to answer questions about the collection, and the event supports local craft economies—every purchase helps sustain makers and the museum’s conservation of historic materials and traditions.
easy.
2–4 hours.
Light walking on maintained paths; suitable for families and older adults
Yes. Makers Day offers free admission to the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms for the duration of the open house.
The Makers Day Open House is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., with demonstrations throughout the day.
The meeting point is The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms at 2352 NJ-10, Morris Plains, NJ 07950, USA.
The Craftsman Shop is ADA accessible and has accessible restrooms; the historic Log House first floor is reasonably accessible but the second floor cannot fully accommodate modern ADA needs.
The Makers Day Open House is held rain or shine; only extreme weather or unforeseen circumstances would prompt cancellation, and attendees would be notified by email.
On-site parking is available but neighborhood streets can fill later; information about pets was not provided in the event details—contact the museum directly for their current pet policy.
The site’s historic Log House and collection illuminate early twentieth-century Arts & Crafts design and material culture on a 30-acre property.
Support the local maker economy by buying directly from artisans; stay on paths and follow staff guidance to help protect the historic landscape.
The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms in Morris Plains, New Jersey, preserves and interprets the legacy of Gustav Stickley and the American Arts and Crafts movement. The site centers on the restored Log House and surrounding property—originally conceived by Stickley as a model for simple, well-crafted living. The museum operates a range of docent-led tours and special programs that bring early 20th-century craftsmanship, design principles, and domestic life to life for visitors. Guided experiences include in-depth collection studies, thematic seasonal tours, and family-focused storytelling programs. Highlights include the Director’s Tour, Collections In-Depth, the Log House Introductory Tour, and historically themed holiday tours such as the Log House Holiday Tour and the Stickley Valentine’s experiences. A free Valentine’s Open House on February 8, 2025, offers public access to the restored 1912-era interiors. Trained docents and museum leadership lead many tours, and several experiences are led by the museum director or volunteers with specialized knowledge of Stickley’s work. As a dedicated historic site and museum, the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms emphasizes preservation, research, and public education. Visitors can expect authentic furnishings, curated collections, and interpretive programming grounded in documented history. The museum’s programs are suitable for adults, teens, and young children where noted, and sessions often provide distinctive insights into design, handmade furniture, and early American domestic traditions.

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