Daily events are subject to change.
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Welcome to Old Sturbridge Village, Churn Back Time with Dairy Discovery Days! Step into the rhythm of 19th century farm life as we explore the daily routines of early New England farm families. Stroll among the vibrant CowParade art installations, then watch costumed interpreters hand-churn butter, craft cheese, tend to milk cows, and prepare traditional dairy products using historic tools and methods. Enjoy your visit!
Dairy Discovery Days Programming
9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Making Hard Cheese
(in the Salem Towne House Lower Kitchen, Building #15).
9:30 – 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Making Ice Cream: Watch the historic process of making ice cream and discover the unusual flavors that 19th century people enjoyed in their sweet treats! (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
10:00 a.m. Meet the Calf
(at the Freeman Farm Barn, outside Building #34).
10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. Dairy Games: Try out some cow-themed games and activities (on the Common, indicated by “C” on the map).
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Knitting a Cheese Garter:
Knitting with linen is uncommon, and so are cheese garters! Come see why a garter might be made for dairy goods (at the Fenno House, Building #22).
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Cheese Tasting: Stop by to try a sample of cheese made at local dairy Round Table Farm, similar to that made at Freeman Farmhouse. (in the Gebhardt Barn, Building #13).
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Craft Activity: Decorate and take home a wooden cow ornament
(in the Visitor Center, Building #2).
11:00 a.m. CowParade Tour for Kids: Join an educator for a tour of a few of the CowParade cows inspired by the Village. While you’re at it, draw your own cow design!
(at Simple Machines, Building #42).
2:00 p.m. Craft Activity: Block Print a Cow Postcard:
Use a printing block and ink to make a postcard to take home! (at Simple Machines, Building #42).
2:00 p.m. Red Ware in Dairying: New England potters like Hervey Brooks made earthenware products like milk pans, come learn about how using these dairying tools could be controversial (outside the Pottery Shop, Building #32).
3:30 p.m. Milking Demonstration (at the Freeman Barn, near Building #34).
Households
Small House (Building #4) Costumed interpreters are here to help you understand the past as it relates to the present. Make this your first stop to say "good day" and orient yourself to our 1830s Village.
Fitch House (Building #20) Summer is exciting for everyone, farmers' and mechanics' families alike! Stop by here to see how women in a non-farming family used store bought dairy goods in their everyday cooking.
Freeman Farm (Building #34) During the summer,
a farmhouse is full of activity. Learn about how a traditional, middling farm with cattle would use their dairy to make products for their family and local sale.
Trades
Cabinetmaking Shop (Building #7) Period cabinetmakers made a wide variety of wares including
tables, chairs, chests and other case furniture. Explore this trade shop, and learn more about a patented ‘self-acting’ cheese press from the museum’s artifact collections.
Cooper Shop (Building #35) Coopers make round wooden containers including milk pails, tubs, and cheese hoops for their neighbors.
Community
Asa Knight Store (Building # 10) Rural country stores sold goods from all over the world, brought from seaports like Boston and Providence. They also purchased locally produced goods like butter and cheese from their customers and moved them along to urban commercial centers.
Daily Activities
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Observe New England Botanical Artist Gloria Goguen as she sketches coneflower and other botanicals growing in the Old Sturbridge Village Herb Garden (at the Paul E. Rogers Herb Garden Gazebo, #30).
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. Martial Music: Listen to martial music and learn about the music of the militia in Early America (in the Center Meetinghouse, Building #6).
11:00 a.m. Nature Myths: Fanciful tales about how things came to be (in the Salem Towne House Garden, outside Building #15).
11:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. Music fit for a Tavern: Hear a sample of 1830s fiddle tunes (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
12:00 p.m. Read Me a Story: A read-aloud story for children (in the Salem Towne House Garden, outside Building #15).
1:00 p.m. Parlor Music: Listen to a selection of formal songs set for the parlor (in the Fitch House, Building #20).
2:00 p.m. Unusual Instruments: Listen to and learn about a selection of the more unusual instruments of the time
(in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
2:30 p.m. Meet a 19th Century Midwife:
Learn about childbirth in the 1830s (in the Salem Towne House Garden, outside Building #15).
3:30 p.m. A Reading of Floral Poetry: Listen to poems about the language of flowers by 19th century poets (in the Salem Towne House Garden, outside Building #15).
4:00 p.m. The Hurdy Gurdy: Listen to this strange and unusual instrument (in the Bullard Tavern, Building #3).
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 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.
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!
Village Scoop Shop (Building # 24)
11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Serving Ice cream and cold beverages.