Daily events are subject to change.
Friday, March 24, 2023
Welcome to Old Sturbridge Village, a recreated 1830s rural New England town! While you are visiting, stop by our numerous households and see what kind of winter activities kept families busy. Our trades will be active as well, from needlework to working at the potter’s wheel, we use the winter to hone our hand skills. See the farmers industriously preparing for the spring season, and of course, our farm animals always enjoy a visitor too. Enjoy your visit!
Performances
10:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. A Guided Tour of the Salem Towne House: Tour the home of a prosperous farmer with a costumed educator (in the Salem Towne House, Building #16).
11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. An Excerpt From a Letter by 19th Century Activist Sarah Grimke: Her response on women speaking publicly (in the Richardson House, Building #13).
1:00 p.m. Uncomfortable Truths: A discussion about race in New England (in the Friends Meetinghouse, Building #6).
Music Performances
10:00 a.m. Music at the Tavern: Hear a sampler of 1830s music (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
11:00 a.m. Musical Highlights, the Rocking Melodeon: Listen to a selection of songs on one of the most unusual instruments of the 19th century. Learn about the people that would have played on this instrument, and how it works (at the Fitch House, Building #21).
1:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. Ballroom Etiquette: Learn about the forms of ceremony or decorum used in the entertainment of dancing during the 1830s (at the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
2:30 p.m. Historical Woodwinds: Learn about common woodwind instruments from the Village period. With a focus on the flute and clarinet, listen to a selection of historical songs performed on period instruments at the Fitch House (Building #21).
Trades
Tin Shop (Building #15) Experience our tinners creating authentic reproductions of household items made from tinned sheet iron.
Blacksmith Shop (Building #39) Our smiths are hard at work making tools for our new cabinetmaking shop as well as more typical winter items.
Households
Bixby House (Building #38) The Bixbys, like many families, earned their income from several different sources. Visit to learn about the work the women of this family did from home such as braiding straw and sewing shoe uppers.
Freeman Farm (Building #36) Work on a farm never stops, not even in winter. Learn about seasonal domestic work on a traditional, middling farm including sausage making, cooking and caring for the years preserves.
Community
Asa Knight Store (Building #11) Country stores brought in goods from all over the world, through seaports like Boston and Providence. They also bought locally produced goods such as butter, cheese, and handwork for sale in those urban commercial centers.
Thompson Bank Country banks provided short-term business loans to merchants, prosperous farmers, and manufacturers.
The Carryall (weather permitting)
We offer a horse-drawn carryall ride included with the price of admission. From 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. you can board behind the Bullard Tavern (#3) or in front of the Blacksmith Shop (#39) about every 20 minutes for a ride around the Mill Pond.
Dining & Shopping
Bullard Café (Building #3) (on the Ground Floor)
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. A variety of lunch options and beverages.
Miner Grant Store & Bake Shop (Building #19)
9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Stop in to buy our famous chocolate chip cookies, Joe Frogger cookies, and treats. Shop for Village-made wares, heirloom seeds, historical children’s toys and gifts, too!
Ox & Yoke Mercantile (Building #1)
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Take home a traditional rural New England treasure or locally made gift. Village-made crafts and kits, home décor, books, and more await!
The Environmental Point of View
Woodland Walk (#47) A short hike along Pogus Brook to a wooded viewing platform.
Pasture Walk (#49) Takes you to the top of Powder House Hill, offering views of the pastured landscape.
River Walk (#50) Best views of the Wight Dam and a peaceful setting to enjoy the Quinebaug River.
Please note all walks are open but are not maintained.
Icy conditions may be present.
New England on Parade
Learn about the long history of parades in this region, and their many purposes. Visit both of the exhibitions’ locations in the Visitor Center (#2C), and Armed & Equipped Militia Exhibit (#26).
Old Sturbridge Village’s new exhibit
Needle and Thread: The Art and Skill of Clothing an Early 19th Century Family highlights the responsibilities held by rural New England housewives in constructing new garments, patching, mending, and darning worn items, and repurposing old items into new wardrobes. The exhibit features over a dozen garments and accessories, along with other textile and clothing objects from the Old Sturbridge Village Museum Collections (in the Dennison Building, #28).
Upcoming Events
Women’s History Weekend – March 25 & 26, 2023
Join us as we acknowledge and celebrate extraordinary and everyday women in the early 19th century. Learn how they ran their households, managing clothing construction, cooking, laundry, gardening, and more.