German history will come to life this weekend at Deutsch Country Days.

The annual event will be held Saturday, Oct. 16, and Sunday, Oct. 17, at Luxenhaus Farm, located about three miles north of Marthasville on Highway O. 

Demonstrations will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on both days.

Now in its 29th year, Deutsch Country Days has remained a family affair as visitors, artisans and volunteers transform the property into an era when German settlers arrived in Missouri and other skills from the pre-1800s.

The event showcases more than 70 artisans showcasing their skills and talents, including chair making, woodworking and rug hooking. Other demonstrators are trappers and hunters who camp in shelters throughout the weekend while showing visitors how to start fires, fashion arrow points, tan hides or throw a hatchet.

Visitors are encouraged to participate in many of the demonstrations.

Deutsch Country Days, founded by Bob and Lois Hostkoetter, features more than 30 reconstructed and restored structures on the property. The weekend attraction draws large crowds and many people travel from other states to experience the event.

“Good weather is all we ever ask for and for people to enjoy history,” Lois Hostkoetter said. “That is the whole idea. We want to educate. History, unfortunately, is not taught anymore.”

Volunteers have been busy building a circa-1700s Quebec clay bake oven since last year’s event. The oven, which took six to eight months to complete, is located next to an earth home unveiled last year on the Osage Trail. All of the clay  for the oven was dug on the property.

“This was something Bob wanted to build for a long time,” Lois Hostkoetter said about the oven. “Hopefully, bread will be made. All of the exact specifications were used. We spent a long time on it.”

Some of the new artisans this year will feature antler baskets, an antique sock machine, Pennsylvania rye-coil baskets, leather tooling and sawdust dolls.

This year’s event will feature five of the top 100 artisans as selected by Early American Life magazine. In the past, Deutsch Country Days was recognized by USA Today for being one of the top 10 food festivals in the country.

Daily admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors (63 and over), $11 for active military and students and $6 for children ages 6 to 15.

For more information, visit www.deutschcountrydays.org or call 636-433-5669.