Times:
Program begins at 5:30 on your selected date and runs until 9:30 the following morning.
Cost: $75 for youth, $60 for adults
Standard Night in the Museum Program
Night in the Museum is an overnight experience designed for scouts, schools and other youth groups of up to 80 participants. With only a map and a tattered journal at their side, young historians will travel back in time and take part in a mysterious, candlelit adventure through the 1830s. The quest will exercise their detective skills as they hunt for clues, conduct experiments, and investigate the past. Back at our hands-on learning laboratory, we will experiment with historic crafts to learn more about 19th-century life.
ALSO AVAILABLE: Christmas by Candlelight themed overnights, click here to learn more.
See a sample schedule in the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Pre-registration is required; see below for details.
Who?
Available for youth ages 5 and up.
Minimum of 36 participants and maximum of 80 each evening. If your group has LESS than 80 participants, other groups may be added until the 80-participant cap is met.
Smaller groups are welcome to sign up for available dates. If you are a Scout group, friends and siblings are also welcome to attend. However, a date that does not meet the minimum may be rescheduled. Small groups may be encouraged to join a date with available slots remaining.
One adult is required for every five children; one-to-one ratio for children under the age of 8.
Cost?
Pricing is $75 for youth and $60 for adults.
Program fee includes:
Interactive tour of the Village, hearth cooking and a craft
An evening snack
Standard daytime admission to the Village the day of and day after the program
Breakfast
A special OSV patch
When?
Night in the Museum Overnights are available on the following dates.
Our special overnights allow participants to enjoy the exciting Halloween or Christmas programs at the Village! Click here to learn more.
Who?
Available for youth ages 5 and up.
Minimum of 36 participants and maximum of 80 each evening. If your group has LESS than 80 participants, other groups may be added until the 80-participant cap is met.
Smaller groups are welcome to sign up for available dates. If you are a Scout group, friends and siblings are also welcome to attend. However, a date that does not meet the minimum may be rescheduled. Small groups may be encouraged to join a date with available slots remaining.
One adult is required for every five children; one-to-one ratio for children under the age of 8.
Cost?
Pricing is $75 for youth and $60 for adults.
Program fee includes:
Admission to Phantoms by Firelight or Christmas by Candlelight
An evening snack
Morning craft station
Standard daytime admission to the Village the day of and day after the program (Phantoms by Fire Overnights only).
Breakfast
A special OSV patch
When?
Special Overnights are available on the following dates.
The cancellation policy for this program is as follows:
Reduction in numbers: For program planning purposes, any changes in group numbers must be finalized two weeks prior to your overnight date. After this, your reservations are non-refundable. Groups reducing their size after this cut-off must find replacements for those participants who cancel or cover their cost.
Cancellation of overnight: If Old Sturbridge Village cancels your overnight due to inclement weather, the group is welcome to reschedule to another date OR is entitled to a full refund.
Participants are responsible for bringing their own bedding to sleep in our unique Museum Education Building. Outdoor camping is also available; please contact us at osved@osv.org for more information.
A limited number of cots are available for adults on a first come, first served basis.
Information Regarding COVID-19 Precautions:
If anyone in your party is feeling ill prior to your overnight program, please notify us and have the party stay home
Cancellations will be refunded on a case-by-case basis. Please note that we do still need a minimum of 36 people to go forward with the program.
We will do our best to accommodate sleeping arrangement requests. Please note that Museum Education has limited capacity. We do have outdoor camp spots that are available.
We appreciate your patience during this constantly evolving situation. Please check back regularly for updated protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I make reservations for the Night in the Museum program?
You can register online, but it is strongly recommended that you call us at 508-347-0276 or email osved@osv.org to check on overnight availability. Dates fill up fast!
See our upcoming overnight dates above.
We require a minimum of 36 people in order to have an overnight go forward. If this minimum is not met, the overnight may be rescheduled.
Your participant roster (with emergency contact information) must be submitted to us two weeks prior to your program. We require that you utilize the roster included in our overnight guide.
2. How many chaperones do we have to bring for our overnight?
One adult is required for every five children. There is a one-to-one ratio for children under the age of 8.
3. What if our group does not meet the 36 person minimum?
Smaller groups are welcome to sign up for available overnight dates. If you are a scout group, friends and siblings are also welcome to attend. However, a date that does not meet the minimum of 36 people may be rescheduled. Small groups may be encouraged to join an overnight with available slots remaining.
4. Where do we send our completed registration forms?
Please mail your completed forms to: Old Sturbridge Village, Attn: Overnight Program, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA 01566. You may also fax the forms to: 508-347-0263 or email them to osved@osv.org.
5. What time (and where) does the program start and conclude?
Check in for the Night in the Museum program begins at 5:30 p.m. The program concludes at 9:30 a.m. the following day at our Museum Education building located on Old Sturbridge Village Road in Sturbridge, MA. Your program fee includes 2-days admission into the Village, so you may visit the Village the day of (and after!) the program. See the Village’s hours of operation here.
6. What does the overnight fee include? What does a typical schedule look like?
For standard Night in the Museum overnights, the fee includes:
Two days admission into Old Sturbridge Village (the day of and after your overnight)
An evening snack
All overnight program activities
Buffet breakfast.
All participants receive a special OSV patch!
For Phantoms by Fire overnights, the fee includes:
Admission to Phantoms by Firelight
An evening snack
Morning craft station
Standard daytime admission to the Village the day of and day after the program for Phantoms by Firelight only.
Breakfast
A special OSV patch
For Christmas by Candlelight overnights, the fee includes:
Admission to Christmas by Candlelight
An evening snack
Morning craft station
Breakfast
A special OSV patch
Sample Schedule (Standard Night in the Museum Program)
Evening Activities
5:30 pm: Arrival and check in
6:00: Brief group introduction in Lunch Room; divide into groups for evening activities
6:15–9:15: Evening activities: Interactive tours of the Village; hearth cooking and craft
9:15: Snack and overview of building rules and emergency procedures
9:30–10:30: Get ready for bed and free time
10:30: Lights out!
Morning activities
7:00 am: Lights on!
7:30: Head to breakfast at Bullard Tavern
7:40–8:15: Breakfast
8:20–8:45: Morning storytelling performance
9:00: Fill out evaluations and get patches; pack up belongings
9:30: Museum opens to guests!
7. If we want to enter Old Sturbridge Village prior to (or after) our overnight, how do we do that?
The group leader is responsible for providing a participant roster to our staff as part of the registration process.
This list will be provided to the Visitor Center (located at the Main Entrance). For those participants of either program choosing to enter OSV on the day of/after the program, please check-in with our Visitor Center staff.
They will need your group name as well as your individual name.
Your program fee for the Night in the Museum includes 2-day admission into the Village (the day of your overnight and the day after).
8. What are sleeping arrangements at the Museum Education Building like?
Sleeping areas are located within our unique Museum Education building. All areas have wood floors or industrial carpet. You will be placed in a sleeping area with some or all of your group, depending on your group’s size. With mixed-gender groups, children (and adults) may be separated by gender. Please let us know prior to the overnight if any of your participants have any special needs or require special accommodation.
9. What type of food is served during the program?
We do not offer dinner prior to the program. We do however offer an evening snack and breakfast the following morning. The Museum Education building is not an allergen-free building. Participants with food allergies are encouraged to bring their own snacks.
10. May we bring our own food and beverages to the overnight / into the Museum?
Outside food and beverage is allowed in the Village, with the exception of alcoholic beverages. Outside food and beverage items must be consumed in designated eating areas. The Museum Education lunchroom may be used for your dinner prior to your overnight if you have made prior arrangements with us by calling 508-347-0276. There are several locations in the Sturbridge area for dining. Please visit www.sturbridgetownships.org for more information on dining options in the Sturbridge area.
11. Can our group camp outside?
Yes! There is space outside the Museum Education building for camping, as well as a fire pit. Arrangements for camping outside must be made in advance. Please contact us at osved@osv.org for details about camping overnights.
12. What if someone in our group cancels?
For program planning purposes, any changes in group numbers must be finalized three weeks prior to your overnight date. After this, your reservations are non-refundable. Groups reducing their size after this cut-off must find replacements for those participants who cancel or cover their cost.
13. What if we need to increase our numbers after registering?
Sleeping space in the Museum Education Building is very limited. Please call (508) 347-0276 to inquire about increasing your numbers. OSV staff must be made aware of changes in your group’s numbers at least two weeks prior to your overnight date.
14. What time does the Village and shops open in the morning?
Old Sturbridge Village opens at 9:30 am. The Museum Gift Store opens at 9:30 am.
Standard Night in the Museum Program
Standard Night in the Museum Program