Press Release

Ready for a swing-your-partner and do-si-do, lively good time? Gather the folks and come on down to the Harvest Celebration on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, 10:00AM – 5:00PM at Billings Farm & Museum to learn about harvest traditions of the past and present.   

What better way to honor the harvest than with food, crafts, games, live music, and a barn dance? At the two-day Harvest Celebration, there will be activities for the whole family with tractor-drawn hayrides from 11:00AM – 3:00PM, pumpkin bowling, and a chance to meet the farm’s sheep, goats, and calves up close. Children can turn paper leaves, apples, and pumpkins into smiling Harvest Buddies, make leaf rubbings, or cozy up inside for stories about the harvest at 11:30AM and 2:30PM. Guests can swing through the Historic Barn to view Common Threads: Land, History, Art a vibrant solo exhibition by Artist-in-Residence Margaret Dwyer. 

Throughout the day, there will be Harvest Programs where guests will learn about and reap the rewards of summer’s bounty as they harvest vegetables and herbs from the Farmstead Gardens. There will be an opportunity to husk and shell corn, press apples into delicious cider, and select a variety of sunflower seeds to take home for next year’s garden. For ideas on how to best preserve and process fresh produce, there will be a display with recipes and how-to instructions on canning, freezing, drying, and quick pickling. In 1890 Farm Manager’s House, interpreters will demonstrate historical methods of peeling and drying apples, as well as how to make apple butter and apple sauce using techniques and cooking implements from the past.  

Guests will enjoy the toe-tapping, melodic joy of Shady Rill with Patti Casey and Tom MacKenzie. They will weave together traditional tunes and invite everyone to join the joyful jubilee with barn dancing on the Grassy Oval. With easy-to-learn steps and spins, a caller will guide the moves with simple instructions. On both Saturday and Sunday, barn dancing will commence on the hour between 12:00PM – 3:00PM. 

A celebration of the harvest would not be complete without delicious treats. Along with local ice cream and savory snacks, the Farmhouse Café will feature the quintessential taste of fall: local spiced cider and apple cider donuts, available for purchase from 11:00AM – 5:00PM. The Wicked Awesome BBQ Food Truck will be on site Saturday and Sunday from 11:00AM – 4:00PM, serving traditional American BBQ for purchase.  

New England Dairy’s Mobile Dairy Bar will be stopping by on Saturday, October 8 to serve up flavored milk samples. They will provide a tasty experience on wheels, complete with education about dairy nutrition and sustainable practices. On Sunday, October 9, guests ages 21+ will have the chance to taste “Vermont in a Bottle” with samples of handcrafted, locally sourced liquor from Vermont Spirits.  

The Billings Farm Volunteer Program is a way to make meaningful connections with the Billings community. In October volunteers will have the chance to share their love of the Upper Valley with people from around the world, as groups visit the site to experience the best of fall foliage. Volunteers will greet tour groups, give out Billings Farm cheese samples, serve ice cream bars, and help support the Gift Shop. Volunteers can join Harvest Celebration to help with crafts, read stories to children, play historic games, and do some barn dancing. There are a range of positions and flexible shifts available. To get involved, please visit billingsfarm.org/volunteer/. 

Learn to capture the colors and beauty of the fall leaves with Billings Farm & Museum Artist-in-Residence Margaret Dwyer on Thursday, October 20, 5:30pm-7:30pm in the Autumn Leaves Watercolor Workshop. 

As a palette of red, yellow, and orange leaves blanket the famous Vermont fallscape, participants will learn to paint a slice of the vibrant autumn colors. From a single leaf to a sweeping impression, this watercolor workshop will engage a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature’s display. Participants can learn subtle ways to capture unique characteristics without overworking the subject and explore techniques including wet-into-wet, negative space painting, glazing and more. In this workshop designed for all painting levels, each student will produce an autumn treasure to take home.  

The workshop is $65/person, $60/member with art supplies included. Advanced registration is required. For information visit https://tinyurl.com/AutumnLeavesWorkshop.  

The workshop will take place in the Billings Farm Historic Barn which has been transformed by a display of Margaret Dwyer’s colorful creations.  Dwyer’s solo exhibition, Common Threads: Land, History, Art will take participants on a visual expedition into the threads of history and conservation. The exhibition features recent works including art produced during her residency at Billings Farm & Museum, from June – October of 2022, as well as art from her Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park residency from 2019-2021.  The exhibition will be on display through October 21. 

About the Artist:  

Margaret Dwyer earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Arts in 2008 from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her thesis work involved researching, writing, and creating art based on psychological themes such as trauma, dreams, and the unconscious. She works in 2-D and 3-D mediums, though watercolor is her favorite. Her artwork has been recognized in numerous juried national and international exhibitions and has been published in fine art books and magazines. From 2019 to 2021, Margaret was the Artist in Residence for Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock, VT. As a mural artist, she has created dozens of public and private murals throughout New England. Currently, she teaches art at her studio in Windsor, VT. To view her work, visit MargaretDwyerArtist.com.   

Find out what the cows really do after hours on the farm.  Moos & Brews & Cocktails Too! returns to Billings Farm & Museum on Friday, September 16, from 5:00PM – 7:30PM, with more moos, more brews, and more spirits.  

Against the beautiful backdrop of pastures and hills, guests 21+ can get to know the famous Jersey Moos and enjoy Vermont beer featuring Outer Limits Brewing, Foley Brothers Brewing, and Rutland Beer Works as well as local craft spirits from the SILO Distillery and Barr Hill.  

With a drink in hand, guests 21+ can stroll through the Farmstead Gardens, play lawn games, and enjoy live music from local musicians Em and Nat. Guests can take pictures with a cow, brush a cow, get up close with an adorable calf, and receive plenty of loving cow kisses.  Knowledgeable Farm Educators are happy to share fun Jersey facts and details about the cows’ personalities.  Guests can try butter churning, spin a wool bracelet, and make giant bubbles.  

The Wicked Awesome BBQ Food Truck will be serving up traditional American BBQ for purchase. There will be tasty treats available for purchase at the Farmhouse Café with delicious Vermont-made ice cream, fresh spun maple cotton candy, cider donuts, and Billings Snack Packs with cheese, fruit, crackers, and other savory items.  

For a different kind of taste on tap, the New England Dairy’s Mobile Dairy Bar will be stopping by to serve up flavored milk samples. They will provide an enjoyable experience on wheels, complete with education about dairy nutrition and sustainable practices. 

With improved line flow at the entrance and vendor tents, Billings Farm & Museum is looking forward to welcoming the adult crowd for a fun after-hours evening on the farm.  Tickets are $25/person, $20/members for ages 21+. This includes one beer or cocktail pour, with additional libations available for purchase.  Please bring a valid photo ID to enter the event. IDs will be checked at the Visitor Center Entrance. Infants and children will not be admitted.  

Take a visual expedition into the threads of history and conservation.  With works bound together by technique, style, and incredible watercolor brushwork, Billings Farm Artist-in-Residence Margaret Dwyer will present Common Threads: Land, History, Art, a solo exhibition from September 10 – October 21. 

Billings Farm’s historic barn will be transformed by a display of Dwyer’s colorful creations.  The exhibition will feature recent works including art produced during her residency at Billings Farm & Museum from June – October of 2022, as well as art from her Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park residency from 2019-2021. The exhibition reception will be held on Thursday, September 22 from 5:30PM – 7:00PM. The exhibition is included in the price of admission to Billings Farm & Museum. 

In this body of work Dwyer weaves together images from the shared history and legacy of Billings Farm & Museum and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.  Dwyer comments that “my watercolor paintings celebrate the breathtaking views, gardens, buildings, ponds, ferns, animals, trees, and people of this ‘place in the land’.” Using vibrant color and distinctive brush strokes, she depicts the beauty of the natural world and the stories of both places. Her images honor the conservation efforts and forward thinking of stewards George Perkins Marsh, Frederick and Julia Billings and their descendants. 

The subject matter is inspired by these historic visionaries along with the staff and volunteers who continue to perpetuate their conservation mission, who learn from this beautiful land, and in turn educate and engage guests.  Dwyer explained that “these interlacing historical figures have formed a rich, textured fabric that has been woven together with threads of innovation, conservation, and ongoing beauty. With this fabric, I have tried to piece together a quilted visual narrative.”  

The artwork is for sale with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Billings Farm & Museum.  Dwyer’s prints are also available for purchase in the Visitor Center Museum Gift Shop. 

During her residency, Dwyer has frequently been on site to paint, demonstrate watercolor and needle felting techniques, lead workshops, and engage with guests.  She has brought expertise, patience, and a playful sense of wonder to each community interaction.  Guests, staff, and campers alike cannot suppress a smile as they learn and create, and especially as they make giant bubbles on the Billings Farm lawn and pasture. In October, guests can see demonstrations and register for an Autumn Leaves Watercolor workshop with the artist, taking place on Thursday, October 20 from 5:30-7:30. 

The exhibition will be closed on select dates for private functions including September 23-24 and September 29-30. 

With a crisp chill in the air, autumn is in full swing with beautiful foliage, delicious seasonal foods, and fun fall happenings at Billings Farm & Museum.  

Common Threads: Land, History, Art Solo Exhibition by Artist-in-Residence Margaret Dwyer on display through October 21  

Take a visual expedition into the threads of history and conservation. With works bound together by technique, style, and incredible watercolor brushwork, the Billings Farm Artist-in-Residence Margaret Dwyer will present Common Threads: Land, History, Art, a solo exhibition through October 21. Billings Farm’s historic barn will be transformed by a display of Dwyer’s colorful creations. The exhibition will feature recent works including art produced during her residency at Billings Farm & Museum, from June – October of 2022, as well as art from her Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park residency from 2019-2021. The exhibition is included with the price of admission to Billings Farm & Museum.  

Harvest Celebration, October 8 – 9, 10:00AM – 5:00PM 

Swing your partner and do-si-do as the farm reaps the bounty of the summer. In this season for gathering crops, what better way to honor the harvest than with food, crafts, games, live music, and a traditional barn dance. At the two-day Harvest Celebration, there will be activities for the whole family, including stories and pumpkin bowling. Guests will have the chance to husk and shell corn, harvest sunflower seeds for next year’s garden, and press cider. There will be harvest programs in the garden and an array of demonstrations in the Learning Kitchen including quick pickling, squash processing, and preserving garden produce. In the 1890 Farm Manager’s House, there will be demonstrations of peeling and drying apples as well as apple butter and apple sauce making using techniques and cooking implements from the past. The Farmhouse Café will feature the quintessential taste of fall: spiced cider and apple cider donuts, available for purchase from 11:00AM – 5:00PM. The Wicked Awesome BBQ Food Truck will be on site Saturday and Sunday from 11:00AM – 4:00PM, serving traditional American BBQ for purchase. The Harvest Celebration is included with daily admission to Billings Farm & Museum 

Autumn Leaves Watercolor Workshop with Artist-in-Residence Margaret Dwyer on Thursday, October 20, 5:30pm-7:30pm 

As a palette of red, yellow, and orange leaves blanket the famous Vermont fallscape, participants will learn to paint a slice of the vibrant autumn colors. From a single leaf to a sweeping impression, this watercolor workshop will engage a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature’s display. Participants can learn subtle ways to capture unique characteristics without overworking the subject and explore techniques including wet-into-wet, negative space painting, glazing and more. In this workshop designed for all painting levels, each student will produce an autumn treasure to take home. The workshop is $65/person, $60/member with materials included. Advanced registration is required. For information visit billingsfarm.org/events/autumn-leaves-watercolor-workshop/. 

A Family Halloween, Sunday, October 23, 10:00AM – 5:00PM 

At this spooktacular Halloween on the farm, there will be fun for the whole family with trick-or-treating, hayrides, and costume parades. Guests can get a little scared in the not-too-spooky Sunflower House and the decorated graveyard and exhibits. There will be pumpkin bowling, crafts, and an opportunity to vote for the best pumpkin crafted by Billings Farm & Museum staff. The Wicked Awesome BBQ Food Truck will be serving traditional American BBQ for purchase from 11:00AM – 4:00PM. The Farmhouse Café will feature hot spiced cider, cider donuts, and pumpkin ice cream, available for purchase from 11:00AM -5:00PM. Children in costume receive free admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. 

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 cows, draft horses, sheep, goats, and chickens in the barns and scenic pastures. Guests can learn from the Farm and Museum educators through cow programs at 11:00AM and 2:00PM, sheep programs at 12:00PM and 3:00PM, and harvest programs at 1:00PM and 4:00PM. Families can enjoy the Story Walk as page by page, Before We Eat by authors Pat Brisson and Mary Azarian unfolds along the pasture fence. Guests can walk along the Ottauquechee River with views of Woodstock, the East End Park, and the farmstead. Sweet and savory treats including hot apple cider and cider donuts will be available for purchase at the Farmhouse Café from 11:00AM – 4:00PM. 

The Billings Farm Volunteer Program is a way to make meaningful connections with the Billings community. In October volunteers will have the chance to share their love of the Upper Valley with people from around the world, as groups visit the site to experience the best of fall foliage. Volunteers will greet tour groups, give out Billings Farm cheese samples, serve ice cream bars, and help support the Gift Shop. Volunteers can join Harvest Celebration to help with crafts, read stories to children, play historic games, and do some barn dancing.  Don a costume and join the SPOOKtacular Family Halloween to help with pumpkin bowling and handing out delicious candy. There are a range of positions and flexible shifts available. To get involved, please visit billingsfarm.org/volunteer/.  

The site will be closed on October 31, and will be open on weekends, and select holiday weeks from November through February. 

In the cold of winter, a delicious taste of summer will warm your heart and soothe your belly. In the Billings Backyard workshop “Canning & Preserving Your Garden Bounty” on Saturday, September 24 from 10:00AM – 11:30AM, participants can learn how to capture peak freshness of fruits and vegetables from the garden to treasure year-round. 

For home gardeners with a surplus harvest, or for those want to select fresh ingredients from the local farmer’s market, this workshop will explore various ways to preserve produce for future enjoyment. Chef Emery Gray will take participants through methods of canning and safely preserving food through drying and freezing of herbs and late-season harvest.  Participants will have the chance to observe the preservation of applesauce using the water bath method of canning.  The session will be followed by a 30-minute Q & A. This workshop is part of the Billings Backyard Series, designed to teach sustainable living skills for adults.   

Emery Gray Bio 

Farm to Table Manager at Billings Farm & Museum and former Pastry Chef de Partie at the Woodstock Inn and Resort, Chef Emery Gray had a passion for food at a very young age. Seeing the way that people connected through the growing, sharing and cooking of food, inspired her to make a career in the kitchen. She attended The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY, earning her Associates Degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and her Bachelor’s in Business Management. Traveling the country and the world has translated into a deep appreciation for sustainability of local food systems, and all types of outdoor pursuits year-round.  

Billings Backyard is a series of workshops designed to teach sustainable living skills to adult participants and is underwritten by a generous grant from the SpringRiver Private Foundation Trust.  Each workshop includes hands-on demonstrations and concrete steps for incorporating these skills into everyday life.  All sessions are $15/person, $10/member. Registration and course details are at billingsfarm.org/billings-backyard/   

Past Billings Backyard Workshops are available for purchase including topics in gardening, pickling, canning & preserving, fermenting and more.  billingsfarm.org/billings-backyard/  

Music at the museum will fill the intimate Visitor Center Theater as a simple combination of instruments creates a layered musical conversation for guests to treasure. On Sunday, September 18 from 2:00PM– 4:00PM, Billings Farm & Museum, along with concert organizers David Green and Margaret Edwards, are pleased to present the Billings Farm Chamber Music concert. 

The concert will feature violinist Jean Huang, violinist and violist Amy Galluzzo, and cellist Carol Ou.  This small ensemble will bring their impressive breadth of experience and expertise to the stage.  The concert program will include String Trio in B-flat D471 by Franz Schubert, Zapatos de Chincha (for violin and cello) by Gabriela Lena Frank, Sonata for Two Violins Op. 56 by Sergei Prokofiev, and Serenade for String Trio Op. 10 by Ernst von Dohnanyi. 

For over fifteen years, David Green and Margaret Edwards of Barnard, Vermont, have brought distinctive cultural events and impressive musical talent to the heart of Woodstock, most recently with the North Universalist Chapel Chamber Music Concerts.  Their original mission was to provide opportunities and a venue for accomplished musicians and professional performing artists. As a former treasurer of the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Green forged connections and lifelong friendships within the classical music world.  With Green and Edwards’ shared desire to enhance cultural offerings within the community and this area’s enthusiasm for classical music, the series quickly evolved.   Consultant Victor Rosenbaum, renowned concert pianist and former director of the Longy School of Music and Chair of the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) Piano Department, helped them bring a steady stream of top-tier musicians to Woodstock. 

Music at the Museum: Billings Farm Chamber Music Concert tickets are $15/person. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended.  For more information, visit: https://billingsfarm.org/events/chamber-music-concert/ or call 802-457-2355. 

Billings Farm & Museum is seeking new ways to engage the community with a variety of events, and programs featuring arts and music that inspire connections to each other and our world. Along with food and fiber arts workshops, upcoming cultural events include the Common Threads- Land, History, Art Exhibition by Artist-in-Residence Margaret Dwyer opening on September 10- October 21, with a reception on September 22. TEDxHartlandHill is coming to Billings Farm & Museum on September 24 with “Home, Heart, and Hearth- What is Community”, and the Woodstock Vermont Film Series will be kicking off the season on November 19.  

August blooms are brimming with buzzing bees and humming pollinators busily preparing for the hard Vermont winter ahead.  On August 20, 10:00AM – 11:30AM, Hall Apiaries founder Troy Hall returns to Billings Farm & Museum for a Beekeeping & Pollinator Care Workshop.  In this practical, inspirational, and fun workshop, participants will learn how to support an autumn honey harvest, how to winterize the hive, and preserve late-season food sources. 

For the curious backyard beekeepers and enthusiasts, beekeeper Troy Hall will provide an overview of beekeeping fundamentals, winter hive management, and preserving and establishing spaces for bees and pollinators.  This will include promoting plant awareness to help colonies better survive the winter.  The session will be followed by a 30-minute Q & A. This workshop is part of the Billings Backyard Series, designed to teach sustainable living skills for adults.  

Troy Hall Bio 

On a mission to support bees and improve their environment, what started as a hobby turned into a full-time occupation and passion for Troy Hall.  After visiting apiaries in the Champlain Valley region and working alongside two commercial beekeepers, he founded Hall Apiaries in Plainfield, NH.  Hall found he could make a peaceful living working alongside the honeybee and has become an advocate for finding long term solutions for bee population health.  Currently, Hall manages 100 hives for honey production and 100 hives for queen propagation, all without using treatment for mites and other ailments.  Hall is humbled to be working alongside the tenacious and resilient honeybee and is continually grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a complex and amazing creature. 

Billings Backyard is a series of workshops designed to teach sustainable living skills to adult participants and is underwritten by a generous grant from the SpringRiver Private Foundation Trust.  Each workshop includes hands-on demonstrations and concrete steps for incorporating these skills into everyday life.  All sessions are $15/person, $10/member. To register, visit billingsfarm.org/billings-backyard/ 

Past Billings Backyard Workshops are available for purchase including topics in gardening, pickling, canning & preserving, fermenting and more.  billingsfarm.org/billings-backyard/ 

Summer is in full bloom at Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock, Vermont, where travelers can be enveloped by a cascade of blooms in all shapes, sizes, and colors in the Sunflower House throughout the month of August, or meander through the new Billings Farmstead Gardens.  

The Sunflower House at Billings Farm & Museum, a 20,000-square-foot floral labyrinth with more than 100 varieties of sunflowers, will open to guests on July 30. Peak blooms are expected in mid-August through early September. The Instagram-worthy must-see is created and maintained by Benjamin Pauly, Creative Director of Landscape and Design at Billings Farm & Museum’s partner organization, the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Pauly has merged his passion for landscape design and a degree in architecture to create the largest congregation of sunflowers in the United States. 

Ranging in size from 18 inches to 14 feet, the sunflowers are planted in a maze-like structure, outlining rooms and hallways, and nearly endless photo opportunities for the #VTSunflowerHouse Instagram Challenge; visitors who post a photo using this hashtag will be entered to win Billings Farm cheese. For more information, visit https://billingsfarm.org/sunflower-house-and-billings-farmstead-gardens/.   

Sunflower Sunday on August 21, 9AM – 9:45AM, check in begins at 8:45AM  

Billings Farm & Museum would like to invite the community to enjoy a quiet, mindful morning experience as the Sunflower House reaches full bloom.  Sunflower Sunday begins with breathing exercises to ground and center guests, followed by light stretching, and yoga-inspired movement.  A mindful stroll among the blooms and a seated meditation will culminate this reflective moment. Complimentary herbal tea will be served after the class.  This event is free to all.  Please register online in advance to reserve your space. Visit billingsfarm.org/events/sunflower-sunday-2/ 

Roundup for Ukraine in August 

As guests take in the beauty of the Sunflower House, Billings Farm & Museum also asks them to take a moment to reflect on the people of Ukraine as they fight for sovereignty.  The sunflower is not only the national Ukrainian flower but also signifies happiness, optimism, and peace.  To help show support, Billings Farm will donate 100% in round up contributions from all sales during the month of August to the World Central Kitchen for their work to help feed Ukrainians who have fled their homes. 

New Billings Farmstead Gardens  

The Billings Farmstead Gardens, also designed by Pauly, features five distinct gardens, including the Heirloom Garden, Permaculture Garden, Chef’s Garden, which includes the Victory and Pizza Gardens, Pollinator Garden, and Herb Garden. The five gardens form one cohesive space with pathways, arches, trellises, and tunnels along with self-guided educational signage throughout.  

The Heirloom Garden features produce grown in 1890s Vermont, including heirloom plants selected from an 1886 Billings Farm seed order, such as Bull Noes Peppers, Bear Paw Popcorn, and Tall Telephone Peas. The Permaculture Garden is a low maintenance garden that mimics the balance and beneficial relationships found in nature through perennial plantings, and includes asparagus, blueberries, elderberries, and more. The Chef’s Garden serves as inspiration for visitors who wish to start their own gardens and includes the Pizza Garden, with wheat, tomatoes, and basil, that features fresh ingredients to make pizza at home, and the Victory Garden, a WWII necessity to promote gardening at home, consists of sweet corn, lettuce, onions, and more. The Pollinator Garden promotes pollinators as well as other insects critical to the health of plant life, including bee balm, milkweed, and honeysuckle. The Herb Garden is planted with herbs for cooking, tea, and medicinal use.   

Weekly Programs 

Billings Farm & Museum incorporates weekly themes into daily offerings through July and August to expand education and enjoyment of the beauty and breadth of the farm experience. 

• Billings Farm & Museum hosts Mindful Mondays for guests interested in meditative experiences. The focus is on wellness through rejuvenating programs or a stroll through the gardens, Sunflower House, and around the farm. Guests can sip on herbal tea and breathe in the serenity of the farm.  

• Time Travel Tuesdays demonstrate 19th century pastimes with games, artifact guessing and activities in the 1890 Farm Manager’s House and around the site. Interpreters dress in historic clothing from the 1890s. 
• On Wagon Ride Wednesday, from 11AM – 3PM guests enjoy a wagon ride around the scenic farm. 
• Thursday Threads is a celebration of fiber arts with demonstrations of textile-related crafts such as weaving, knitting, felting, or crocheting. Guests can create a take-home craft. 
• Billings Farm is hosting Foodie Fridays in July and August, which features culinary demonstrations, and delicious recipes using seasonal ingredients from the Farmstead Gardens, including pesto, and ricotta cheese, made from Billings Farm milk.         

Hear the distinct rumble of antique farm equipment coming to life for a day of tractors, tractors, and more tractors! Billings Farm & Museum’s 22nd Annual Antique Tractor Day on Sunday, August 7, 10AM – 5PM, will feature Tractor Parades and a Slow Race, along with tractor-drawn wagon rides, crafts, lawn games, food, and more!  

The tractors on display predate 1980, including models dating back to 1935. Visitors can meet the tractor exhibitors and ask about their tractor’s story. In Tractor Parades at 12PM & 4PM, an announcer will regale the crowd with fun facts about each tractor’s history, make, and model. As exhibitors shift into the lowest gear, guests can cheer for who will be declared the slowest machine in the “Slow Race” at 2PM.  

There will be fun for the whole family with tractor-drawn wagon rides through the farm fields from 11AM – 3PM and a chance to take a photo with a tractor. Children can ride pedal tractors through an obstacle course, make a wooden tractor to take home, or enjoy stories about…you guessed it, tractors!  

Guests can curb their appetite with traditional American BBQ from The Wicked Awesome BBQ Food Truck from 11AM-4PM. What better complement to a hearty meal than a cool, Vermont-made ice cream from the Farmhouse Café, open 11AM – 5PM.  Also available for purchase is the pure delight of fresh spun cotton candy. There will be samples of Billings Farm Butter, Smoked, and Woodstock Reserve Cheddar Cheeses, with all styles available at the Museum Gift Shop.  

The newly expanded Billings Farmstead Gardens will be open for visitors to take a stroll or enjoy the peaceful view. Guests can explore the living floral labyrinth of the Sunflower House. The iconic flowers begin opening in early August, and the colorful palette, ranging from oranges and reds to golden yellows, is a magical sight to behold. The sunflower, known as the Ukrainian national flower, signifies happiness, optimism, and peace.  During the month of August, Billings Farm & Museum will show support for the people of Ukraine by donating 100% in round up contributions from all sales to the World Central Kitchen for their work to help feed Ukrainians who have fled their homes. 

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, gardening, and history, and learn new skills. On Antique Tractor Day, there are a number of positions and time slots available. Volunteers will greet guests, give out Billings Farm Cheese samples, assist with crafts and more. To get involved, please visit billingsfarm.org/volunteer/.