Join us on November 15, 2025, as the Village celebrates Thanksgiving! Get into the Thanksgiving spirit as you learn about how early 19th-century New Englanders celebrated the holiday,  smell the aroma of food cooking in several historical houses, and see staged Thanksgiving dinners in the Fitch House at 12:00 p.m. and the Freeman Farmhouse at 1:00 p.m. There will also be a recreated turkey shoot using replicas of 19th-century firearms and inanimate targets.

Members can bring a friend (or two!) for free as part of Member November.

View Schedule

Did you know?

• In early New England, Thanksgiving was the biggest holiday of the year.
• Turkeys in the early 19th century were much smaller than today’s “butterballs,” and turkey wasn’t always on the Thanksgiving menu, because they were a lot of work to prepare for not much meat.
• Pies were baked weeks ahead of time and stored in unheated attics and bedrooms where they would freeze and keep for months. Pies not consumed at Thanksgiving would sometimes last until April.
• While beginning to fall out of favor by the 1830s, competitive turkey shoots were still fairly common New England events in the fall and early winter. Participants would pay cash to shoot at nearly impossible ranges to try to win their own bird.

The post Thanksgiving appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

Adult Field Trip Workshop: Holiday Block Printed Wrapping Paper Workshop  

Add a personal, artistic touch to your holiday season! In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the traditional art of block printing and use it to create their own unique wrapping paper. Guided by an instructor, you’ll explore simple design techniques, carve festive patterns, and experiment with color. 

By the end of the class, you’ll take home a collection of hand-printed wrapping paper ready to use for your holiday gifts—along with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to continue block printing on your own. No prior art experience is necessary. 

Come enjoy a relaxed, festive atmosphere while making something beautiful, sustainable, and uniquely yours. 

Important Workshop Details:

• Workshops take place in the Museum Education Building, and guests can park in the Museum Ed lot. View map
• Workshops are designed for ages 14+
• Fees include material costs
• Space is limited, and pre-registration is required
• Old Sturbridge Village is closed during this workshop.
• Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop tickets. As these workshops are in high demand, refunds for workshop fees will only be given up to one week prior to the event date, or in the case of cancellation by Old Sturbridge Village.

The post CANCELED: Adult Field Trip Workshop: Holiday Block Printed Wrapping Paper Workshop appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

Adult Field Trip Workshop | Handmade Holiday Ornaments: A Village-Inspired Workshop

Celebrate the season with creativity and tradition! In this hands-on workshop, participants will craft four beautiful ornaments, each inspired by the artistry and heritage of Old Sturbridge Village. Guided step-by-step by our instructors, you’ll explore a variety of materials and techniques as you create: 

• A marbled glass ornament – swirling festive colors into a one-of-a-kind keepsake. 

• A needle-felted ornament – soft wool shaped into a charming holiday design. 

• A punched tin ornament – echoing historic New England crafts with delicate patterns. 

• A hand-painted wooden ornament – simple, rustic, and timeless. 

By the end of the class, you’ll leave with four unique, handmade ornaments to hang on your tree or give as thoughtful gifts.  

Important Workshop Details:

• Workshops take place in the Museum Education Building, and guests can park in the Museum Ed lot. View map
• Workshops are designed for ages 14+
• Fees include material costs
• Space is limited, and pre-registration is required
• Old Sturbridge Village is closed during this workshop.
• Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop tickets. As these workshops are in high demand, refunds for workshop fees will only be given up to one week prior to the event date, or in the case of cancellation by Old Sturbridge Village.

The post Adult Field Trip Workshop: Handmade Holiday Ornaments: A Village-Inspired Workshop appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

Enjoy milk, cookies, and storytime with Sturbridge resident and author Bill Barnsley, author of If Mice Pulled the Sleigh. Copies of the book can be purchased in advance or at the event, and Bill Barnsley will be signing books after the reading. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. After storytime, embark on a journey through Christmas traditions past and present during Christmas by Candlelight (separate ticket required). 

Sign up for December 13, 2025 | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Sign up for December 20, 2025 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

In this whimsical and imaginative Christmas tale, the author explores the challenges and antics of mice, cats, dogs, ducks, snakes, or elephants attempting to pull Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. The cats do not follow directions, the dogs all slobber and bark, and the ducks land in a pond, soaking Santa, the sleigh, and the presents. Next, snakes slither out of their harnesses and try to warm themselves in Santa’s pants. Then, elephants fall through roofs and leave large piles of poop for the elves to shovel. Ultimately, it reinforces why reindeer are the perfect choice for Santa’s sleigh.

About the Author: Bill Barnsely is a Sturbridge resident and professional Santa* who has always enjoyed spinning tall tales, especially for children who live in a world of imagination and pretend. He grew up in a military family, cared for his children, and became a writer, storyteller, coach, scout leader, and teacher. Recently, those stories have been about elves, reindeer, and cookies. Jude, his constant companion, brings joy to everything he does. She is his sparkle.

*While Bill is a professional Santa, he will be incognito for this event. Guests are welcome to visit Santa in Santa’s Cabin as a part of Christmas by Candlelight, running 2:00 – 8:00 p.m. A separate ticket is required for Christmas by Candlelight. 

The post Milk, Cookies, and Storytime with Local Author Bill Barnsley appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

We recommend that you allow for up to three hours to visit the Village, in addition to any scheduled hands-on workshops.

Sign up for our Scout eNews list here.

Village Admission

Village admission on Scout Day is included with standard daytime admission or Village membership.

Scout Day admission: For non-members, cost is $12 per Scout for full-day admission to Old Sturbridge Village.  One adult per Scout ages 5 and above is admitted at the discounted rate of $17. Additional tickets can be purchased at regular rates.

Hands-on Workshops are an additional fee and pre-registration is required.

Purchase standard daytime admission for Scout Day on November 8, 2025

Hands-On Workshops

Whether you want to work towards one of your badges or just try out an activity for fun, we offer a wide variety of hands-on workshops for Scouts of all ages. See listings below for requirements covered during the workshop.  Some requirements will need to be completed outside of the visit to Old Sturbridge Village.

Pre-registration is required and workshops often fill up quickly.

Things to know:

• Pre-registration is required for all workshops, unless otherwise noted.
• All events are limited to 12 students unless otherwise noted.
• These are not drop-in programs, unless otherwise noted. Our staff will have a list of registrants for each workshop.
• Students’ guardians must stay in close proximity of the program location for the entire duration of the activity for safety reasons.
• Though each listing includes a list of which the activity may fulfill, these programs are open to all Scouts.
• *Please note that meeting locations are subject to change.  Please check the whiteboard in the Country Bank Visitor Center to confirm where your workshop will meet.*
• Workshop times are approximate. Please stay close by during your child’s workshop.

Marble Madness | 50 Minutes | $7

Meets at Museum Education 

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 5+)

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 5+)

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 5+) 

Sign up for 2:00 (Ages 5+)

Learn all about the ancient game of marbles! From aggies to jaspers, we will explore marble slang and play fun marble games. We will also make our own marbles from clay and a decorative bag to store them in!   

Carding and Weaving | 50 Minutes | $7

Meets at Museum Education 

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 8+) 

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+)

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 8+)

Sign up for 2:00 (Ages 8+)

The process of making clothing in the 1830s was a little different than it is today. Step into the role of an 1830s villager and learn about the hard work behind making sheep’s wool into fabric. Participants will get hands-on experience carding wool from the Village’s own sheep and then weaving thread into cloth. 

Shelter Building | 50 Minutes | $7

Meets at the Sawmill 

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 8+) 

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+)

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 8+) 

Sign up for 2:00 (Ages 8+) 

Use your creative problem-solving skills and create a shelter from natural and manufactured materials. Participants will be given a scenario before coming up with their own designs for protective shelters. 

Art and Design | 50 Minutes | $7

Meets at Museum Education   

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 5+) 

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 10+)

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 10+) 

Sign up for 2:00 (Ages 5+) 

In this hands-on workshop, scouts will step into the role of young artists, using the sights and objects of Old Sturbridge Village as their inspiration.  Each scout will choose their artistic medium—either shaping and molding clay or painting with watercolor—to create their own unique masterpiece. Using a variety of Village-inspired objects such as tools, textiles, household items, or natural materials, scouts will practice observing details, experimenting with form, color, and texture, and bringing their ideas to life. 

Make a Snack | 50 Minutes | $7

Meets at Museum Education 

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 8+) 

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+) 

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 8+) 

Sign up for 2:00 (Ages 8+) 

Experience cooking 19th-century style using common household tools and recipes. Make and enjoy a cider cake over the open hearth and share it together!   

Ingredients include:  flour, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, cider and baking soda 

Games of the Past

Meets at Museum Education 

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 7+) 

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 7+) 

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 7+) 

Sign up for 2:00 (Ages 7+) 

 Life in the 1830s was not all work and no play!  Try out 19th-century games that we will all play together.  We will then learn the rules of checkers as you make your own wooden checkerboard to take home. 

Intro to Woodworking

Meets at Museum Education; Maximum of 10 participants, parent or guardian should stay with their child. 

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 9+) 

Sign up for 2:00 (Ages 9+) 

In this workshop participants will build a pencil box using some basic tools used in woodworking, like hammers and clamps.  Once your box is complete, take a moment to sand the rough edges smooth and decorate your completed project! 

Hearth Cooking: Simple Meal from the Past | 90 Minutes | $12

Meets at Museum Education

Sign up for 10:30 (Ages 9+) 

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 9+)

Master your cutting skills in this simple meal from the past.  Participants will make a delicious winter vegetable soup with fried bread over the open hearth, along with some mulled cider.  Set the table and use your manners as we share a simple meal together. 

Ingredients include:  vegetable broth, herbs, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, turnip, butter, and bread 

*NEW* Advanced Woodworking:  Wooden Frame and Reverse Glass | 2 Hours | $20

Meets at Museum Education; Maximum of 10 participants, parent or guardian should stay with their child.

Sign Up for 10:00 (Ages 10+) 

 First Scouts will show off their artist ability by creating a seasonal reverse glass masterpiece.  The next step is to use different woodworking tools to make a wooden frame for their reverse glass.   

The post Fall Scout Day appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

At the Hearth: Preparing a Traditional Meal

This immersive, hands-on class invites adults to experience the art of open-hearth cookery as it was practiced in the early 19th century. Working together over the fire, participants will prepare a hearty meal featuring a main course of roast chicken with stuffing.  As the meal takes shape, we will discuss the tools, techniques, and challenges of hearth cooking, from managing fire and coals to timing multiple dishes without the aid of modern conveniences.

By the end of the class, the group will enjoy the meal they have prepared, gaining not only a taste of the past but also a deeper understanding of the labor and traditions that shaped early American kitchens.

Space is limited. Sign up today!

Menu:

Pounded Cheese and Crackers
Roast Chicken
Stuffing
Roasted Carrots
Turnip Sauce
Greens with a Most Delicious Salad Sauce
Long Rolls
Pear Pie
Mulled Cider
Gingerbread with whipped cream

Important details for all workshops:

• Workshops take place in the Museum Education Building and guests can park in the Museum Ed lot. View map
• Workshops are designed for ages 14+
• Fees include material costs
• Space is limited and pre-registration is required
• Old Sturbridge Village is closed during this workshop.
• Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop tickets. As these workshops are in high demand, refunds for workshop fees will only be given up to one week prior to the event date, or in the case of cancellation by Old Sturbridge Village.

The post SOLD OUT | Adult Field Trip Workshop | At the Hearth: Preparing a Traditional Meal appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

MEMBERS ONLY | Not a member? Join Today!

Join us for a conversation with Eva Garcelon-Hart, the Stewart Swift Research Center Archivist, about her work with Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake’s papers. This collection of papers details the relationship of Charity and Sylvia as they lived as “husband and wife” in Weybridge, Vermont. Discover how these papers found their way to the Research Center and the impact Charity and Sylvia’s story has had on the museum and the history of New England.

Click here to sign up for webinar

About the Speaker:

Eva has overseen the Sheldon Museum Stewart-Swift Research Center archival collections since 2011. She earned her Master’s Degree in History of Art and MLIS from the University of California at Berkeley. Since the mid-1980s, she has worked for institutional and private archives, including that of Nobel Laureate Czesław Miłosz and The Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley. In 1999 she moved to Vermont, where she worked as a consultant for the Vermont State Archives, Vermont Folklife Center, and artists’ estates. In her work at the Research Center, she is particularly interested in bringing to public attention its overlooked stories and collections through exhibits and public programing.

The post WEBINAR| Hidden Collections: The Story of Charity and Sylvia appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

Teachers are invited to join us for hands-on workshops on October 23, 2025! Pre-registration is required; see below for details.

A Taste of Early Fall Cooking: Gourd Soup & Long Rolls

In this hands-on class for adults, participants will prepare two classic dishes: a hearty, gourd soup, showcasing the rich sweetness of autumn squash, and a batch of long rolls that were a staple on many American tables.

As we cook, we will discuss the traditions of seasonal cooking in early America. By the end of the class, you will enjoy a warm bowl of soup, freshly baked rolls and a deeper appreciation for the resourceful, flavorful cooking of the past.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Autumnal Needle Felting

The 1830s were a time of great technological and industrial change in America. Even in Sturbridge, where sheep outnumbered people, several textile factories popped up along the rivers to speed up the textile making process. During this session, participants will try out carding wool, take a look at historic dyestuffs, and weave on a loom before moving on to the slightly more modern crafting method of needle felting. We will focus on making a needle felted squash, pumpkins, or other fall wonders; participants will receive materials to take home and try out the process again on their own.

Space is limited and pre-registration is required. 

The post CANCELED – Teachers-Only Workshops appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

Homeschool Days offer you and your family the opportunity to explore the Village and participate in hands-on activities. From games, to woodworking, to tending to the garden, this is a great opportunity for kids to gain exposure to many aspects of 1830s New England life in an interactive way.  

Sign up for a workshop or explore the Village on your own using one of our many self-guides and scavenger hunts, available at both Museum Education and the Visitor Center.  

Admission and Ticketing

On Homeschool Day, homeschoolers (ages 4-17) get in at the discounted rate $12 and one adult is admitted per homeschool youth at the discounted rate of $17. Additional adults above the 1-to-1-ratio are admitted at the full rate of $30. As always, members get into the Village for free.

Workshops are an additional fee.

Purchase admission for Homeschool Day on October 10, 2025

Things to know:

• Unless otherwise noted, workshops will take place inside or outside the Museum Education building. You may park at Museum Education during the day; click here for directions.
• The Museum Education building closes to the public following workshops due to our after-school program
• Homeschool Days are rain-or-shine programs.
• Pre-registration is required for all activities listed below, unless otherwise noted.
• All events are limited to 10 students, unless otherwise noted.
• We are offering two identical Homeschool Days in September to accommodate the demand for these workshops. Out of courtesy for your fellow homeschoolers, please consider signing up for workshops on only ONE of the two dates listed, not both. 
• Please respect the age requirements for the workshops. They are set for the benefit of our educators and all program participants.
• These are not drop-in programs and our staff will have a list of registrants for each workshop.
• Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop tickets. As these workshops are in high demand, refunds for workshop fees will only be given up to one week prior to the event date, or in the case of cancellation by Old Sturbridge Village.
• Students’ guardians must stay in close proximity of the program location for the entire duration of the activity for safety reasons.
• Workshop times are approximate. Please stay close by during your child’s workshop.
• Meeting locations for these workshops may change. Stay tuned to your email or signage at the Visitor Center on the day of the program for any potential location changes.
• When visiting the Village, please note that children must be accompanied by an adult when visiting the Miner Grant Store or Ox & Yoke Mercantile. Guests are welcome to eat at picnic tables around the campus but due to limited space, guests are not permitted to dine in the Bullard Café unless purchasing food.

Check back the week prior to the event for more information on in-Village activities.

Hands-On Workshops

Hearth cooking: Apple Sauce and Cranberry Sauce | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 10+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Using 19th-century kitchen implements and tools, we’ll gather by the hearth to follow two 19th-century “receipts” for apple sauce and cranberry sauce. While the sauces simmer, we’ll discuss Thanksgiving traditions in the 19th century. Ingredients will include:  apples, cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. 

Dirty Jobs | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 8+)

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 10+) SOLD OUT

Life in the 1830s could be smelly, dirty, and messy. What did people do when they started to catch that fall cold in the days before cold medicine? In this workshop, we’ll learn a little about various remedies and hygiene practices of 19th-century Americans, then make a small bar of soap using modern soap-making methods. 

Play with Clay | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

People have been using pottery for a long time to hold and store food. Sometimes the pottery is simple and sometimes it’s more decorative. We will learn about pottery in the 1830s and then hand-build a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table using air-dry clay!  

Stories and Crafts: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 5+) SOLD OUT

Read a picture book together and then create a craft inspired by the story! Let’s read this beautifully illustrated tale about Fletcher, a fox who worries something is wrong when leaves start falling from his favorite tree. After, we’ll paint watercolor fall trees, inspired by the book’s lovely pictures. 

Stories and Crafts: The First Blade of Sweetgrass | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 5+) SOLD OUT

Read a picture book together and then create a craft inspired by the story! Together, we will read this sweet tale about a young girl who learns how to gather and weave sweetgrass into baskets from her grandmother. After the story, we will learn a little about the Indigenous peoples who lived (and still live) in the Sturbridge area and do a weaving craft. 

Stories and Crafts: Sophie’s Squash | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 5+) SOLD OUT

Read a picture book together and then create a craft inspired by the story! Together, we will read the picture book Sophie’s Squash, a story about a girl who befriends a squash. Then, we’ll talk about the fall harvest season at OSV and how people preserved vegetables for the winter and paint our own squash to take home. 

Make a Boot Jack | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 9+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 9+) SOLD OUT

Make this simple but practical item, meant to help you remove your muddy and snow-covered boots. 

Woodworking for Beginners: Make a Wooden Pumpkin | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Practice beginning woodworking skills by making a simple and seasonal pumpkin. Participants will also learn basic safety and try out tools like saws, hammers, and drills. 

Make a Decorative Fall Plate | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 10+)

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

By the 1830s, New England stores were stocked with products from all over the United States and the world. One of the items New Englanders might purchase would be ceramic plates, bowls, and cups, often made in England. Some ceramics were plain, but others were more elaborate with landscapes and figures. We will decorate our own plates using ceramic paints, inspired by period designs.  

Fall Embossed Tin | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 10+)

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

Embossing, or the process of creating a raised design, was a popular art form in the 19th century, used to embellish paper, metal, and leather. Use simple methods and tools to create an embossed tin work of art with a fall twist. Participants will look at tin items made in the Village that were important to people in the 1830s, as well as embossed artifacts from the collection. 

Printmaking with Leaves | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 8+) Just added!

In the 1830s, many people used natural materials to create gifts, clothing, and more. From decorative boxes covered in shells, to shawls made from milkweed, participants will look at examples of art utilizing natural materials from the collection. Then, we will harvest some fall leaves and experiment with printmaking! 

Farmhouse Breakfast | 90 Minutes | $12 

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 10+) SOLD OUT

Work together over an open hearth to create a delicious and hearty breakfast like the ones farm families would have enjoyed on a 19th-century morning. While breakfast cooks, we’ll talk about the ways that people preserved fresh ingredients for the long winter. Ingredients will include: ham, potatoes, cucumbers, eggs, flour, butter, cheese, bread 

Hearth Cooking: Soup Season! Gourd Soup and Rolls | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 10+) SOLD OUT

Follow a 19th-century “receipt” for gourd soup, a tasty, seasonal soup made with hearty root vegetables. Participants will make long rolls to enjoy along with the soup. Ingredients will include: butternut squash, bread, vegetable broth, onions, butter, milk, flour, yeast  

“When You See This, Remember Me” | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 10+)

In the 1830s, mourning the loss of a loved one was a common occurrence. Nineteenth-century people memorialized the deceased through paintings, textiles, and jewelry. During this workshop, we’ll talk mourning customs during the Village’s period and then look at mourning art on display in the museum. After discussing the symbols that artists used in their work, like willow trees and urns, we’ll create our own pieces.  

Village Mystery Tour | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 6+)  SOLD OUT

Enjoy this daytime version of our popular Night at the Museum program! Follow clues and encoded messages on a scavenger hunt through the Village as you try and locate some missing items from the past. Please note: this tour involves a lot of walking and will last about 1.5 hours. Adults are welcome to join on the tour, but registration slots are for students only.  

Village Tour: Harvest Time | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Take a tour around the Village led by a knowledgeable museum educator. The fall was a pivotal time for farm families in the 19th century. As we travel around the museum, we’ll learn how people prepared for the long, New England winter. We’ll also see what is happening in the Village kitchens people ready for one of the most important 19th-century holidays: Thanksgiving.  Please note: this tour involves a lot of walking and will last about 1.5 hours. Adults are welcome to join on the tour, but registration slots are for students only.  

The post Homeschool Day – October 10, 2025 appeared first on Old Sturbridge Village.

Homeschool Days offer you and your family the opportunity to explore the Village and participate in hands-on activities. From games, to woodworking, to tending to the garden, this is a great opportunity for kids to gain exposure to many aspects of 1830s New England life in an interactive way.  

Sign up for a workshop or explore the Village on your own using one of our many self-guides and scavenger hunts, available at both Museum Education and the Visitor Center.  

Admission and Ticketing

On Homeschool Day, homeschoolers (ages 4-17) get in at the discounted rate $12 and one adult is admitted per homeschool youth at the discounted rate of $17. Additional adults above the 1-to-1-ratio are admitted at the full rate of $30. As always, members get into the Village for free.

Workshops are an additional fee.

Purchase admission for Homeschool Day on October 2, 2025

Things to know:

• Unless otherwise noted, workshops will take place inside or outside the Museum Education building. You may park at Museum Education during the day; click here for directions.
• The Museum Education building closes to the public following workshops due to our after-school program
• Homeschool Days are rain-or-shine programs.
• Pre-registration is required for all activities listed below, unless otherwise noted.
• All events are limited to 10 students, unless otherwise noted.
• We are offering two identical Homeschool Days in September to accommodate the demand for these workshops. Out of courtesy for your fellow homeschoolers, please consider signing up for workshops on only ONE of the two dates listed, not both. 
• Please respect the age requirements for the workshops. They are set for the benefit of our educators and all program participants.
• These are not drop-in programs and our staff will have a list of registrants for each workshop.
• Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel your workshop tickets. As these workshops are in high demand, refunds for workshop fees will only be given up to one week prior to the event date, or in the case of cancellation by Old Sturbridge Village.
• Students’ guardians must stay in close proximity of the program location for the entire duration of the activity for safety reasons.
• Workshop times are approximate. Please stay close by during your child’s workshop.
• Meeting locations for these workshops may change. Stay tuned to your email or signage at the Visitor Center on the day of the program for any potential location changes.
• When visiting the Village, please note that children must be accompanied by an adult when visiting the Miner Grant Store or Ox & Yoke Mercantile. Guests are welcome to eat at picnic tables around the campus but due to limited space, guests are not permitted to dine in the Bullard Café unless purchasing food.

Check back the week prior to the event for more information on in-Village activities.

Hands-On Workshops

Hearth cooking: Apple Sauce and Cranberry Sauce | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 10+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+)

Using 19th-century kitchen implements and tools, we’ll gather by the hearth to follow two 19th-century “receipts” for apple sauce and cranberry sauce. While the sauces simmer, we’ll discuss Thanksgiving traditions in the 19th century. Ingredients will include:  apples, cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. 

Dirty Jobs | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 8+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 10+)

Life in the 1830s could be smelly, dirty, and messy. What did people do when they started to catch that fall cold in the days before cold medicine? In this workshop, we’ll learn a little about various remedies and hygiene practices of 19th-century Americans, then make a small bar of soap using modern soap-making methods. 

Play with Clay | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+)

People have been using pottery for a long time to hold and store food. Sometimes the pottery is simple and sometimes it’s more decorative. We will learn about pottery in the 1830s and then hand-build a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table using air-dry clay!  

Stories and Crafts: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 5+)SOLD OUT

Read a picture book together and then create a craft inspired by the story! Let’s read this beautifully illustrated tale about Fletcher, a fox who worries something is wrong when leaves start falling from his favorite tree. After, we’ll paint watercolor fall trees, inspired by the book’s lovely pictures. 

Stories and Crafts: The First Blade of Sweetgrass | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 5+)

Read a picture book together and then create a craft inspired by the story! Together, we will read this sweet tale about a young girl who learns how to gather and weave sweetgrass into baskets from her grandmother. After the story, we will learn a little about the Indigenous peoples who lived (and still live) in the Sturbridge area and do a weaving craft. 

Stories and Crafts: Sophie’s Squash | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 5+) SOLD OUT

Read a picture book together and then create a craft inspired by the story! Together, we will read the picture book Sophie’s Squash, a story about a girl who befriends a squash. Then, we’ll talk about the fall harvest season at OSV and how people preserved vegetables for the winter and paint our own squash to take home. 

Make a Boot Jack | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 9+) SOLD OUT

Sign up for 11:00 (Ages 9+)

Make this simple but practical item, meant to help you remove your muddy and snow-covered boots. 

Woodworking for Beginners: Make a Wooden Pumpkin | 50 Minutes | $7

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Practice beginning woodworking skills by making a simple and seasonal pumpkin. Participants will also learn basic safety and try out tools like saws, hammers, and drills. 

Make a Decorative Fall Plate | 50 Minutes | $7

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By the 1830s, New England stores were stocked with products from all over the United States and the world. One of the items New Englanders might purchase would be ceramic plates, bowls, and cups, often made in England. Some ceramics were plain, but others were more elaborate with landscapes and figures. We will decorate our own plates using ceramic paints, inspired by period designs.  

Fall Embossed Tin | 50 Minutes | $7

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Embossing, or the process of creating a raised design, was a popular art form in the 19th century, used to embellish paper, metal, and leather. Use simple methods and tools to create an embossed tin work of art with a fall twist. Participants will look at tin items made in the Village that were important to people in the 1830s, as well as embossed artifacts from the collection. 

Printmaking with Leaves | 50 Minutes | $7

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In the 1830s, many people used natural materials to create gifts, clothing, and more. From decorative boxes covered in shells, to shawls made from milkweed, participants will look at examples of art utilizing natural materials from the collection. Then, we will harvest some fall leaves and experiment with printmaking! 

Farmhouse Breakfast | 90 Minutes | $12 

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 10+) SOLD OUT

Work together over an open hearth to create a delicious and hearty breakfast like the ones farm families would have enjoyed on a 19th-century morning. While breakfast cooks, we’ll talk about the ways that people preserved fresh ingredients for the long winter. Ingredients will include: ham, potatoes, cucumbers, eggs, flour, butter, cheese, bread 

Hearth Cooking: Soup Season! Gourd Soup and Rolls | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 10+)

Follow a 19th-century “receipt” for gourd soup, a tasty, seasonal soup made with hearty root vegetables. Participants will make long rolls to enjoy along with the soup. Ingredients will include: butternut squash, bread, vegetable broth, onions, butter, milk, flour, yeast  

“When You See This, Remember Me” | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 10+)

In the 1830s, mourning the loss of a loved one was a common occurrence. Nineteenth-century people memorialized the deceased through paintings, textiles, and jewelry. During this workshop, we’ll talk mourning customs during the Village’s period and then look at mourning art on display in the museum. After discussing the symbols that artists used in their work, like willow trees and urns, we’ll create our own pieces.  

Village Mystery Tour | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 10:00 (Ages 6+)  SOLD OUT

Enjoy this daytime version of our popular Night at the Museum program! Follow clues and encoded messages on a scavenger hunt through the Village as you try and locate some missing items from the past. Please note: this tour involves a lot of walking and will last about 1.5 hours. Adults are welcome to join on the tour, but registration slots are for students only.  

Village Tour: Harvest Time | 90 Minutes | $12

Sign up for 1:00 (Ages 6+) SOLD OUT

Take a tour around the Village led by a knowledgeable museum educator. The fall was a pivotal time for farm families in the 19th century. As we travel around the museum, we’ll learn how people prepared for the long, New England winter. We’ll also see what is happening in the Village kitchens people ready for one of the most important 19th-century holidays: Thanksgiving.  Please note: this tour involves a lot of walking and will last about 1.5 hours. Adults are welcome to join on the tour, but registration slots are for students only.  

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