Daily events are subject to change.
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Welcome to Old Sturbridge Village, a recreated 1830s rural New England town! Participate in several period related games and test your skills during Family Field Days! Our artisans are making handcrafted items from iron, tin plate, clay and wood. Watch as food is being prepared by an open hearth with the remains of last year’s harvest, anxiously awaiting the new spring growth. Our farmers and gardeners are industriously preparing the soil for the planting season, and of course, our farm animals, always enjoy a visitor too. Enjoy your visit!
Please Note: The Gristmill is Closed today due to bridge repairs.
Family Field Day Activities
- Marbles (near the District School, Building #31).
- Nine-Pin (near the Bullard Tavern, Building #3)
•Pin the Tail on the Cow (near the Countryside
Gallery, Building #38)
Quoits (near the Countryside Gallery, Building #38)
10:00 a.m. French & English Tug ‘o war (on the Common, “C” on map).
11:00 a.m. Letterboxing: Learn about this fun activity and make your own simple stamp for your future letterboxing adventures (in the Gebhardt Barn, Building #13).
11:30 a.m. Minecraft Tour of the Village: Join an educator on a tour of the Village through the lens of your favorite 21st century game! (meets at Simple Machines, Building #42).
12:30 p.m. Calisthenics & Games from Girl’s and Boy’s Own Book: Try out games and exercises from these 19th century children’s books (on the Common, “C” on map).
1:00 p.m. Make a Nine-Men’s Morris Board: Use simple materials to make this traditional strategic board game
(in the Gebhardt Barn, Building #13).
1:30 p.m. Play with Bubbles: Use a wooden bubble wand to make some big bubbles (on the Common, “C” on map).
2:00 p.m. Board Games at the Ox & Yoke Cafe: Join educators at the Ox & Yoke Café for some modern board games, and look at some 19th century toys (in the Ox & Yoke Cafe, Building #1).
Morning Competitions, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Graces Toss - See how far you can toss a ribbon-covered hoop with this classic game of grace and coordination (by the Horse Sheds, next to the Center Meetinghouse, Building #6).
Target Shoot with Rubber Band Rifles - Using a wooden rifle, rubber bands, and your aim, see how many targets you can hit (at the Gebhardt Barn, Building #13).
Egg and Spoon Race -Navigate through an obstacle course while balancing a wooden egg on a spoon (on the Common, “C” on map).
Stilts Walk - Practice your balance as you try and walk on 19th-century stilts (outside the Law Office, Building #11).
Afternoon Competitions, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Milk Bucket Carry - Transfer “milk” from vessel to vessel in this game of speed and skill (at the Freeman Farm, Building #34).
Trundling Hoop Race - See how long you can keep a trundling hoop rolling in this game that is harder than it looks! (outside the Cabinetmaking Shop, Building #7).
Jump Rope Challenge - How many times will the rope pass under your feet? (in the Gebhardt Barn, Building #13).
Trap, Bat and Ball – Baseball - How far can you hit a 19th-century baseball? (on the Common, “C” on map).
Daily Activities
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. & 2:00-4:00 p.m. Making Butter & Soft Cheese (in the Salem Towne House Lower Kitchen, Building #15).
10:00 a.m., 1:00, & 3:00 p.m. Sawmill Demonstration: Mills like this cut logs into lumber for neighboring farmers, using the power of falling water (at the Sawmill, Building #41).
10:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. A Guided Tour of the Salem Towne House: Tour the home of a prosperous farmer (meets in the hallway of the Salem Towne House, Building #15).
10:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Music fit for a Tavern: Hear a sample of 1830s fiddle tunes (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
11:00 a.m. Devilish Tales: Tales wherein the devil gets his due (in the Gebhardt Barn, Building #13).
11:30 a.m. Unusual Instruments: Listen to and learn about a selection of the more unusual instruments of the time (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
11:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Carding Mill Demonstration: Carding is brushing wool to prepare it for spinning into yarn. Our 200+ year-old water-powered machines do it much faster than hand carding, a welcome service to early farm families (at the Carding Mill, Building #39).
12:00 p.m. Read Me a Story: A read-aloud story for children (in the Salem Towne House Garden, outside Building #15).
2:00 p.m. The Violin & It’s Versatility: The violin was one of the most commonly used instruments in the 1830s. Come and hear some of the different types of music for which the violin was commonly used (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
2:30 p.m. Join a Spelling Match: How many words can you spell from Webster’s Spelling Book? A competition for all ages (in the District School, Building #31).
3:30 p.m. Fashion Delights: See what people wore in the 1830s (in the Asa Knight Store, Building #10).
3:30 p.m. Milking Demonstration
(at the Freeman Barn, near Building #34).
4:00 p.m. The Hurdy Gurdy: Listen to this strange and unusual instrument (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
Exhibitions
Hands & Hearts: Courtship and Marriage in 19th-century New England: Most New Englanders chose to marry, and they did so for a variety of reasons. Learn more about these reasons, as well as four couples and their stories, in this exhibit (in the Visitor Center Exhibition Gallery, G).
Dining & Shopping
Bullard Café (Building #3) (on the Ground Floor)
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hungry? Stop by for lunch or a snack.
Miner Grant Store & Bake Shop (Building #18)
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Stop in to buy our famous chocolate chip cookies, Joe Frogger cookies, and treats. Shop for Village-made wares, historical children’s toys and gifts, too!
Ox & Yoke Mercantile (Building #1)
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Take home a traditional rural New England treasure or unique gift. Village-made crafts and kits, home décor, books, and more await!
Ox & Yoke Café (Building #1)
10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Featuring scrumptious sweet and savory baked goods prepared on-site, along with freshly ground coffee, beer and wine, cold and hot drinks, and more.
Village Scoop Shop (Building # 24)
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Serving Ice cream and cold beverages.