Sturbridge, M.A. – Old Sturbridge Village is full of exciting programs and activities in May.
Starting this weekend, join us for our spring Scout Day on Saturday, May 6! Scout Day allows troops to explore the Village and participate in hands-on activities. This is a great opportunity for scouts to gain exposure to many aspects of 1830s New England life in an interactive way. See what’s happening on the farm, immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature, and learn about how early New Englanders utilized natural resources.
This weekend (May 6) is also Muster Day, a long-time favorite of visitors and members. Twice a year, citizen soldiers were “called to muster” for a day of training in their town, a forerunner of today’s National Guard. Old Sturbridge Village re-creates a typical Muster Day and celebrates our local military history. Demonstrations will include marching, musket and cannon firing, and target practice. Guests are invited to join in and take part in many of the activities.
Muster Day Programming includes:
- Gingerbread for sale outside of the Miner Grant
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Make a Paper Militia Hat
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Making Uniforms for the Militia
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“What is Muster Day?” A Citizen’s Guide to the Militia The Militia Musters on the Common
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The Militia Practices Target Shooting
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Old Sturbridge Academy (OSA) Fife and Drum
- A Sermon on Peace
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Kids Learn to March
- Uncle Ezra Remembers His Militia Days
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Cannon Demonstration:
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Safe and Sound: The Role of Powder Houses in New England Towns
Come see the new re-curated exhibit, For the Purpose of Illumination, opening in the Countryside Gallery on May 19. Learn how New Englanders needed, used, and created artificial lighting methods in the 1830s and see first-hand artifacts from the era. If you ever saw our Early Lighting exhibit in the past, come see this newly curated collection.
This summer’s Blue Star Museum season begins on Saturday, May 20 (Armed Forces Day) and runs through Monday, September 4 (Labor Day.) To gain free admission, military family members will show their military or dependent identification card (see our Frequently Asked Questions for links to those forms of identification).
The weekend of May 20-21 will see the long-awaited opening of our newest restaurant, the Ox & Yoke Café. Come try the new offerings available from salads, soups, and sandwiches to cookies, baked goods, and pies and you do not need to pay admission to enjoy all they have to offer!
Wool Days are May 27-29 and are a favorite of visitors every year. Did you know Each of our sheep produces a fleece of about 5-7 pounds annually, which after washing and processing amounts to about 2-4 pounds of wool? Watch our sheep being sheared, feel the wool, and watch and learn about the spinning and dying processes. Note that we are open on Memorial Day, May 29th!
