2008 Events

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.

13: Free Manure Management Workshop - The workshop is designed to meet the needs of small farmers and livestock owners. Topics include manure storage, land application, composting, manure marketing, and more. Registration is required. See above link for more information.

28 - 30: Thanksgiving Weekend - Visit with costumed guides as they demonstrate the preparation of 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.

December

6 & 7: Christmas at the Farm 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - A Top 10 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 - Tour the 1890 Farm House-authentically decorated for the season and make an 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 - A Top 10 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 - A Top 10 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.

2009 Events

January

1 - 4: Christmas at the Farm 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - A Top 10 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, an Academy Award-nominee film which chronicles the development of the Billings Farm is shown 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.

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, an Academy Award-nominee film which chronicles the development of the Billings Farm is shown 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, an Academy Award-nominee film which chronicles the development of the Billings Farm is shown in the theater. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

May

1: Opening Day of the 27th season - Horse-drawn wagon rides and free ice cream!

3: Plowing Match - Watch as teamsters compete with their draft horses and oxen in our 23rd 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.

23 & 24: 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 24th annual commemorative button and children's art show.

June

20 & 21: 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.

July

4: Old Vermont 4th - A family celebration featuring the reading of the Declaration of Independence at noon, historic debates; horse-drawn wagon rides; making 1890 flags, Presidential silhouettes, and Uncle Sam bookmarks; spelling bee, ice cream making, and the egg toss.

3 - August 28: Foodways Friday - Vist the 1890 Farm House kitchen and explore our use of historic recipies and local, seasonal foods every Friday during the summer. Different recipes each week!

7 - August 25: Time Travel Tuesdays - Lend a hand with 19th century chores and past times in the farmhouse. There's plenty of work for every age!

18: 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.

25: Sheep Herding with Border Collies – Watch as these amazing shepherds demonstrate their instincts and training as they herd sheep in the farm fields. Meet 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, knitting, and weaving.

August

1 - September 27 Quilt Exhibition – Our 23rd annual juried exhibition of colorful and exquisitely designed quilts made in Windsor County, Vermont. Quilting demonstrations and activities for children and adults.

9: 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, with a narration of interesting and historic background details. Tractor-drawn wagon rides around the Billings fields and tractor-related activities for children. Plan to purchase lunch at the Teago Volunteer Fire Department.

September

5, 12, 19, 26: 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.

7: 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!

October

3 & 4: 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, apple scavenger hunt, pumpkin races, apples-on-a-string, making pumpkin ice cream, cooking apple butter in the farmhouse and horse-drawn wagon rides. The first day of the Annual Pumpkin Sale!

10 & 11: 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 include cider pressing, shelling corn, putting food by, threshing grain, and historic games; spiced cider & homemade doughnuts.

17 & 18: Wagon Ride Weekend – Capture the colors of a Vermont autumn on a narrated horse-drawn wagon ride around the fields and along the Ottauquechee River; farm programs and activities.

25: 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!

November

7 & 8; 14 & 15; 21 & 22: Wagon Ride Weekends - Horse-drawn wagon rides; visit the dairy farm and farmhouse; programs and activities. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

27-29: Thanksgiving Weekend – A Top 10 Winter Event! Visit with costumed guides as they demonstrate the preparation of 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.

December

11, 12, & 13: Wassail Weekend - Tour the 1890 Farm House – authentically decorated for the season – and make an historic Christmas ornament. Traditional music performed in the parlor at noon on Saturday. 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Horse-drawn sleigh or wagon rides on Sunday.

December Weekends & Dec. 26-Jan. 3: Christmas at the Farm – A Top 10 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 performed in the parlor on selected days. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dec. 26-Jan. 3 - horse-drawn sleigh ride or wagon rides (weather permitting).

2010 Events

January & February Weekends: Visit the working dairy farm, featuring the Jersey herd, Percheron horse teams, and oxen; tour the restored & furnished 1890 Farm House – a model of efficiency in its day; A Place in the Land, an 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.

Sleigh Ride Weekends – January 16, 17 18; February 13, 14, 15 and 20 & 21 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.