February Brings Lively, Winter Fun to Billings Farm & Museum
Adventures abound at Billings Farm & Museum in February, when guests can explore the Vermont landscape by moonlight during a Torchlight Snowshoe or from a daytime horse-drawn sleigh ride through the fields. Romance can bloom while cooking with a loved one or celebrating with friends in a pre-Mardi Gras Music, Film & Food Soiree. This short month is packed with excitement!
The Automat, Woodstock Vermont Film Series, February 4 & 5
Directed by Lisa Hurwitz. 79 minutes. Not rated.
Saturday’s screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker.
The Automat recounts the lost history of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, featuring interviews with Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colin Powell, and other famous fans. Saturday and Sunday showings are at 3:00PM in the Billings Farm & Museum Visitor Center Theater. Tickets are $15/person, $12/members. For tickets and more information, visit billingsfarm.org/filmseries or call 802-457-5303.
Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song, Woodstock Vermont Film Series, February 11 & 12
Directed by Dan Geller and Dayna Goldfine. 118 minutes. Rated PG-13.
A deep dive into the eponymous, iconic hymn performed by a multitude of artists in the film, including Bono, Rufus Wainwright, Bob Dylan, and k.d. lang. Saturday and Sunday showings are at 3:00PM in the Billings Farm & Museum Visitor Center Theater. Tickets are $15/person, $12/members. For tickets and more information, visit billingsfarm.org/filmseries or call 802-457-5303.
Date Night Cooking Class, February 13, 5:00PM – 7:30PM
Love is in the air! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, couples can get a head start with a fun cooking class led by Chef Emery Gray. The menu will feature three delicious and sharable courses starting with a creative crostini appetizer, followed by a fondue for two using Billings Farm Butter and Woodstock Reserve Cheddar Cheeses. The melted decadence will be paired with dippable meats, breads, and pickled vegetables. The evening will conclude with light and fluffy chocolate mousse, chilled to perfection. Participants will learn knife skills, stirring and aeration techniques, and how to balance texture and flavor throughout the menu. For Ages 21+. $190/couple, $170/members. For more information, visit billingsfarm.org/datenightcooking.
Magic of Maple, February 18 – 26, 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Guests can learn all about maple syrup traditions in Vermont and enjoy the beautiful Billings Farm & Museum site in winter. Vermont’s rich maple history will be on display through photographs from the Top Acres Farm and Billings Farm collection, and a showcase of tools used for tapping, sugaring, and processing. Guests can sample sugar on snow, learn about maple trees and why they produce their sweet sap, and enjoy children’s stories, crafts, maple recipes, and more. For more info, visit billingsfarm.org/events/magic-of-maple-2023/2023-02-18.
Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story, Woodstock Vermont Film Series, February 18 & 19
Directed by Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern. 95 minutes. Rated PG-13.
This film not only captures the festival in all of its beauty and glory, but also delves deep into the rich culture of The Big Easy. Saturday and Sunday showings are at 3:00PM in the Billings Farm & Museum Visitor Center Theater. Tickets are $15/person, $12/members. For tickets and more information, visit billingsfarm.org/filmseries or call 802-457-5303.
Jazz Fest: Music, Film & Food Soiree, February 18
Saturday’s screening of Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story will be followed by a Mardi Gras-inspired soiree in the festively decorated Historic Barn. After the film gets your toes tapping, guests can get into the grove with live music by local musicians Michael Zsoldos and Ben Kogan. The evening will feature New-Orleans style cuisine and signature craft cocktails by local distiller, Vermont Spirits. Tickets for Saturday’s film and after party are $75 in advance, $85 at the door. Advance reservations required. url
Winter Wonders Camp, February 20 – 24, 9:00AM – 12:30PM
This unique winter camp is full of “fun”tastic activities such as snow and wildlife explorations, sledding and winter crafts, and a chance to meet some of the farm’s animals and find out what they do in wintertime. Some of the winter activities may include a nature scavenger hunt in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, making cocoa and popcorn over a campfire, and experimenting with oobleck. For ages 6-8 or grades 1-3. Registration opens on January 1. Discounts available for Billings Farm & Museum members. For more information and to reserve a spot, visit billingsfarm.org/winter-wonders-camp.
Torchlight Snowshoe, February 24, 4:30PM – 6:30PM
In this wintry, after-hours adventure, Billings Farm & Museum guests can walk, snowshoe, or ski around the Billings Farm loop illuminated by torchlight. The trail meanders along the Ottauquechee River with views of Woodstock, the East End Park, and the beautiful farmstead. Guests can meet Billings Farm Educators and National Park Rangers from the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park to learn about local wildlife, the history of the land, and the people who lived here. Families and friends can warm up by the crackling outdoor fire with complimentary s’mores, hot cocoa, and coffee. A limited number of adult snowshoes are available to borrow. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children. This event is free for Billings Farm & Museum members. Not yet a member? Join today at billingsfarm.org/join. For more info, visit billingsfarm.org/torchlight-snowshoe
Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides
Guests can enjoy an old-fashioned horse-drawn sleigh ride through the beautiful farmstead in winter on select days through the end of February. Public sleigh rides are included with admission; donations are welcome. Private sleigh rides are available for booking through March. For information on horse-drawn sleigh rides, visit billingsfarm.org/horse-drawn-rides.
Admission to Billings Farm & Museum includes the Animal Barns, Vermont Farm Life Exhibits, and the 1890 Farm Manager’s House featuring the creamery, the kitchen, and in-home innovations that were considered state-of-the-art for the time. Visitors can meet the farm’s Jersey cows, draft horses, sheep, goats, and chickens cozy in the barns. Families can enjoy the Story Walk as page by page, Over & Under the Snow by Kate Messner unfolds along the pasture fence. Guests can walk, snowshoe or ski along the Ottauquechee River with views of Woodstock, the East End Park, and the farmstead.
The Billings Farm Volunteer Program is a way to make meaningful connections with the Billings community. Volunteers make new friends, share their enthusiasm for farming, rural life, and history, and learn new skills. There are a number of opportunities and timeslots available. Volunteers will greet guests, give out Billings Farm Cheese samples, assist with crafts and more. To get involved, please visit billingsfarm.org/volunteer.
