April || May || June || July || August || September || October || November || December || January || February || 2008 Events May 1 Opening Day of the 26th season - Horse-drawn wagon rides and free ice cream! 4 Plowing Match - Watch as teamsters compete with their draft horses and oxen in our 22nd annual competition. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. and the competition runs from 10:30 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m. Visitor plowing with our draft horses, horse-drawn wagon rides, programs with the Billings oxen Harv and Will, and rope making demonstrations. Plan to purchase lunch and snacks at the Teago Volunteer Fire Department tent. 6 Programs for Preschoolers: Earthquack! 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Join Little Chucky Ducky as he warns his barnyard friends including Pam and Sam Lamb - about the rumbling and grumbling underground in this delightful rhyming and repeating story. We'll visit our farm's lambs, calves, and chickens, make a handprint hen, and snack on "quackers and cheese." Members: $3 per person, Non-members: $5 per person. To register: 802-457-2355. 13 Programs for Preschoolers: The Cows are Going to Paris 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. "Bonjour! Bonjour!" The cows have grown tired of the French countryside and decide to board a train for Paris. They dress up royally to tour the city sites but are happy when they return to their tranquil life in the country. We'll learn a few French words, enjoy a treat français, and roll hoops like the les vaches (cows) in Paris! Members: $3 per person, Non-members: $5 per person. To register: 802-457-2355. 20 Programs for Preschoolers: When Pigasso Met Mootisse 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. See the farm as a colorful painting, after reading this wonderful book about a painterly pig and an artsy cow who create an artisitc masterpiece and a close friendship. We'll talk about what we see in the pictures, make our own "moosterpieces," and share a creative snack with friends. Members: $3 per person, Non-members: $5 per person. To register: 802-457-2355. 27 Programs for Preschoolers: Weaving the Rainbow 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. You and I might see white wool on the sheep, but the weaver sees rainbow sheep. Enjoy this beautifully illustrated journey through the seasons to the spring shearing, then visit our Southdown sheep and lambs. Discover how wool is carded, spun, dyed, and woven and weave your own creation to take home. Members: $3 per person, Non-members: $5 per person. To register: 802-457-2355. 24 & 25 Sheep Shearing Weekend - Join us for the spring shearing of the Southdown flock, plus carding and spinning wool, planting the heirloom garden, historic games, and more. Admission includes our 23rd annual commemorative button and children's art show. TOP June 14 & 15 Wagon Ride Weekend - Enjoy the gentle breezes and leafy green of early summer on our 30-minute, narrated horse-drawn wagon rides around the farm fields around the corn fields and along the Ottauquechee River; farm programs and activities. TOP July 4 Old Vermont 4th - A family celebration featuring the reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon, historic debates, making 1890 flags, Presidential silhouettes, and Uncle Sam bookmarks, spelling bee, ice cream and butter making, traditional hand-on activities, plus horse-drawn wagon rides. Every Tuesday July 1 - August 26 Time Travel Tuesdays - Lend a hand with 19th century chores and past times in the farmhouse. There's plenty of work for every age! 12 Children's Day - Our 23rd annual farm celebration designed especially for children. Farm animal programs, historic games, spellings bees, ice cream and butter making, traditional hands-on activities plus horse-drawn wagon rides. 26 Cow Appreciation Day - Dairy education programs, judging Jerseys with the farm manager, butter and ice cream making. Have fun with dairy trivia in the Cowlege Bowl competition for all ages, make a cow pizza, and more. TOP August Every Tuesday through August 26 Time Travel Tuesdays - Lend a hand with 19th century chores and past times in the farmhouse. There's plenty of work for every age! 1 - September 21 Quilt Exhibition - Our 22nd annual juried exhibition of colorful and exquisitely designed quilts made in Windsor County, Vermont. Quilting demonstrations and activites for children and adults. 3 Sheep Herding with Border Collies - Watch as these amazing shepherds demonstrate their instincts and training as they herd sheep in the farm fields. Meeet a ewe from our southdown flock, learn how we care for her, and why this breed was important on this farm a century ago. Spinning, natural dyeing, and weaving. 17 Antique Tractor Day - See tractors dating from the 1930s to the 1960s and learn more from the folks who restored them; don't miss the tractor parade at 1:00 p.m. to see the machines running, witha a narration of interesting and historic background details. Tractor-drawn wagon rides around the Billings fields and tractor-related activities for children. Plan to have lunch at the Teago Volunteer Fire Department tent. TOP September 1 Labor & Leisure Work and fun on the farm! Horse-drawn wagon rides, building a split rail fence, ice cream making, and laundry the old-fashioned way - using a washboard and wringer! through September 21 Quilt Exhibition - Our 22nd annual juried exhibition of colorful and exquisitely designed quilts made in Windsor County, Vermont. Quilting demonstrations and activites for children and adults. 6, 13, 20, 27 Traditional Craft Saturdays - Explore a series of Vermont crafts from experienced crafters, learning about the history, process, and uses of these utilitarian and decorative items through hands-on learning. TOP October 4 & 5 Pumpkin & Apple Celebration - Hands-on activities and educational programs highlight these two versatile fall crops. Apple and pumpkin displays, apple tasting, trivia contest, cider pressing, pruning and grafting demonstrations in the farm orchard, apple scavenger hunt, pumpkin races, apples-on-a-string, making pumpkin ice cream, and cooking apple butter in the farmhouse and the annual pumpkin sale. 11 & 12 Harvest Weekend - A Top 10 Fall Event! Join in this celebration of the Vermont harvest featuring a traditional husking bee and lively barn dance; hands-on activities including cider pressing, shelling corn, putting food by, threshing grain, and historic games; spiced cider & homemade doughnuts! First day of our annual pumpkin sale! 18 & 19 Wagon Ride Weekend - Capture the brilliant colors of a Vermont autumn on a 30-minute narrated, horse-drawn wagon ride around the Billings Farm fields and along the scenic Ottauquechee River; farm programs and activities. 26 A Family Halloween - A not-so-scary celebration designed especially for young children. Doughnuts on a string, pumpkin carving for families, historic games, Halloween tales, plus horse-drawn wagon rides. Costume parades at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Children in costume accompanied by an adult admitted free! 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. TOP November 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23 Wagon Ride Weekends- Horse-drawn wagon rides; visit the dairy farm and farmhouse; programs and activities. 10:00 - 4:00 p.m. 28 - 30 Thanksgiving Weekend - Visit with costumed guides as they prepare a traditional 19th century Thanksgiving meal in the 1890 Farm House. Engaging activities for every age and programs in the parlor each day. Enjoy a traditional homemade treat and a horse-drawn wagon ride. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. TOP December 6 & 7 Christmas at the Farm 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - A Top Winter Event! Visit the authentically decorated farmhouse with preparations underway for the holiday meal; tour the working dairy farm. Holiday programs and activities, plus making historic ornaments. 12, 13 & 14 Wassail Weekend 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Tour the 1890 Farm House-authentically decorated for the season and make a historic Christmas ornament Traditional music performed in the parlor at noon on Saturday. Horse-drawn sleigh rides offered on Sunday. 20 & 21 Christmas at the Farm 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - A Top Winter Event! Visit the authentically decorated farmhouse with preparations underway for the holiday meal; tour the working dairy farm. Holiday programs and activities, plus making historic ornaments. 26 - January 4 Christmas at the Farm 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - A Top Winter Event! Visit the authentically decorated farmhouse with preparations underway for the holiday meal; tour the working dairy farm. Holiday programs and activities, plus making historic ornaments. Traditional music in the parlor on selected days. Horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides, conditions permitting. TOP 2009 Events January 1 - 4 Christmas at the Farm 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - A Top Winter Event! Visit the authentically decorated farmhouse with preparations underway for the holiday meal; tour the working dairy farm. Holiday programs and activities, plus making historic ornaments. Traditional music in the parlor on selected days. Horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides, conditions permitting. January Weekends - Visit the working dairy farm, featuring the Jersey herd, Percheron horse teams, and oxen; tour the restored and furnished 1890 Farm House -- a model of efficiency for its day; A Place in the Land, and Academy Award-nominee film which chronicles the development of the Billings Farm is shown each hour in the theater. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 17, 18, & 19 Sleigh Ride Weekend 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Horse-drawn sleigh rides through the frosty farm fields, sledding with "jack jumper" sleds, visits to the working dairy farm and restored farmhouse, farm programs, and hands-on activities. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. TOP February 7 & 8 - Visit the working dairy farm, featuring the Jersey herd, Percheron horse teams, and oxen; tour the restored and furnished 1890 Farm House -- a model of efficiency for its day; A Place in the Land, and Academy Award-nominee film which chronicles the development of the Billings Farm is shown each hour in the theater. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 14, 15, & 16 Sleigh Ride Weekend - Horse-drawn sleigh rides through the frosty farm fields, sledding with "jack jumper" sleds, visits to the working dairy farm and restored farmhouse, farm programs, and hands-on activities. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 21 & 22 Sleigh Ride Weekend - Horse-drawn sleigh rides through the frosty farm fields, sledding with "jack jumper" sleds, visits to the working dairy farm and restored farmhouse, farm programs, and hands-on activities. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 28 & March 1 - Visit the working dairy farm, featuring the Jersey herd, Percheron horse teams, and oxen; tour the restored and furnished 1890 Farm House -- a model of efficiency for its day; A Place in the Land, and Academy Award-nominee film which chronicles the development of the Billings Farm is shown each hour in the theater. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. TOP Billings Farm & Museum Route 12 & River Road P.O. Box 489 Woodstock, VT 05091-0489 802-457-2355 ~ Fax: 802-457-4663 Visitor Information || Special Events || Billings Farm || 1890 Farm House || Exhibits || School Visits || Group Tours || Membership || Museum Shop || News & Publications || E-mail || Home Copyright 2002-2008 Billings Farm & Museum. Photography Copyright Jon Gilbert Fox. Developed and maintained by Interactive Media Advertising Group, Inc.