Enjoy Outdoor Family Fun

Whether you’re visiting with toddlers, preschoolers, elementary-age children, tweens, or teens, Old Sturbridge Village offers outdoor adventure for everyone in the family to enjoy. Explore more than 40 historical buildings, meet cattle, chickens, sheep, and pigs, and stroll through our Woodland, Pasture, and River Walks. Take a ride on the horse-drawn carryall (weather permitting). Visit the gardens blooming with more than 400 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. There’s something for visitors of every age!

Learn Through Play

Try out classic games like trundling hoops or balancing on stilts. Get creative with a rotating series of simple hands-on crafts. Stop by our shops to purchase plush animals, Jacob’s ladders, children’s books, puzzles, and more. Check the daily schedule for rotating activities like toy hot air balloon flights, storytimes, garden chores, parlor games, and more.

Spark Curiosity in History and Nature

Wander through the recreated historical Village and chat with knowledgeable costumed historians who bring the past to life. From the smell of food cooking over the open hearth to watching traditional crafts such as blacksmithing to exploring the Freeman Farm and meeting our animals, every visit is an opportunity to discover the rich connections between history and the natural world.

Discover Something New

Step into the stories of the past! This year, as part of the commemoration of America 250 at the Village, every day has special thematic demonstrations and performances focused on the first fifty years following the American Revolution. Meet the printer and see the press in action, listen to a performance of historical music, learn about 19th-century innovations, and more. There’s something new to learn every day!

• On August 8 and 9, celebrate Music and Art Weekend by enjoying live music, learning a historical dance, and watching special demonstrations like basket-making and theorem painting.
• Step into the rhythm of 19th-century farm life on August 15 and 16 with Churn Back Time: Dairy Discovery Days. See cheese-making demonstrations, learn about the process of making ice cream using 19th-century methods, and more!
• Extend your stay on August 15 with Summer, Sounds & Sparks, an evening celebration featuring live music, musket and cannon demonstrations, and a dazzling display of fireworks. Separate ticket required.
• Inspire reading with two author book signings! On August 8 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., visit Ox & Yoke Mercantile to meet Alice Kizel, author of Wooly Forgets, a NEW book set at the Village. On August 15 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., purchase your copy of 250 Years Young: Happy Birthday, America! and get it signed by author John Allen.