The Swiss Pioneer Preservation Association will host Hay Days on Friday, Aug. 5, starting at 1 p.m. and on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Big Spring Farm, 735 Spruce Road, New Holland. The event focuses on demonstrations of haymaking using methods of the past.

Activities and attractions on Friday will include a display and talk on early hay tools; a dengleschtock (sharpen scythe); cutting hay with a scythe or a horse-powered sickle bar mower; raking hay with a wooden fork, tumble-and-dump rake, or side delivery rake; loading hay with three-pronged forks or a hayloader; unloading hay in the barn with a horse-powered hay hook; baling with an Art Young baler made at Kinzer or with a Model 73 baler; and picking up bales with an NH Baleloader. Saw milling will also be featured, and a horse training demonstration will be presented from 6 to 8 p.m. From 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., food will be available, including pulled pork and fresh-baked bread from the beehive oven in the 1786 Peter Martin Cabin.

On Saturday, attendees may watch threshing by hand with a flail, with horse power, or with steam engine and tractor power. Activities will also include sawing logs with a steam engine; a weaving loom demonstration; a display of hit-and-miss and other engines and equipment; bread baking in the beehive oven; pottery making, chair caning, and other old crafts; a wood shingle mill demonstration; and tours of the 1786 Peter Martin log house. German singing will take place at 12:05 p.m.

A tractor and equipment parade will begin at 1 p.m. Attendees may bring antique tractors, farm equipment, horse-drawn wagons and buggies, and other such conveyances. There is a new loading dock for safe unloading.

Attendees may also bring collectibles and crafts to the event. Food selections will include sausage sandwiches, iron kettle soup, other home-cooked foods, and hit-and-miss ice cream.

There is no admission charge, but donations will be accepted.

For more information, call Raymond Zimmerman at 717-354-7139 or Lewis Leid at 717-475-0318.