Celebrate with Billings Farm & Museum in July July 4th Festivities, Quilts, Grilling, Ice Cream and Farm to Ballet!

Woodstock, Vermont…Experience Billings Farm & Museum in July with a variety of summer events. Stroll through the gardens, sit on the bench and enjoy the vistas and watch as the summer progresses into full bloom on the farm. Meet our farm animals and learn about their care. Step back into time in the 1890 Farm Manager’s House and Farm Life exhibits. Savor the taste of delicious ice cream and sample traditional and modern farm fresh recipes offered throughout the month.

 

Join us for these special events in July: 

  • Old Vermont 4th – A weekend of traditional celebration (July 3 & 4) for the whole family! Special on July 4th: a reading of the Declaration of Independence, historic speeches, wagon rides, music, and games including an old-fashioned game of “base ball” – join in or cheer on the teams! Trail Break Taps and Tacos food truck will be serving a variety of tacos, quesadillas, street corn and more plus a beer garden and refreshing non-alcoholic options from 11am-4:30pm.
  • 35th Annual Quilt Exhibition, July 17-August 22 – Billings Farm hosts this unique annual display of juried contemporary quilts made by Windsor County, Vermont quilters, historical quilts from the museum’s collection, and challenge quilts created by the Heart of the Land Quilt Guild.
  • Billings Backyard: Grilling with Chef Emery, July 17, 10-11:30 am – Summer means fresh air and grilling! Join Billings Farm’s Chef Emery as she prepares a delicious meal entirely on the grill using local ingredients, and helps participants master the art of the grill. Space is limited. Additional fee and preregistration required.
  • National Ice Cream Day, July 18 – Sample ice cream, sundae toppings and homemade cones. Enjoy wagon rides, live music, and an afternoon game of “historic base ball.” The Dairy Bar will feature our Celebration Sundae topped with chocolate and caramel sauce, available for purchase that day only.
  • Farm to Ballet – July 25, 6:30 pm – This colorful ballet performance uses dance to explore the relationship between farmers and the land, natural food cycles, and the human role in ecosystems. Bring your blanket and a picnic or purchase Billings Farm Grilled Cheese Sandwich prepared by the Woodstock Inn & Resort. Prepurchase tickets – see link on our website.
  • Sunflower House, opening July 31 – Thousands of sunflowers and over 100 different varieties ranging from 18 inches to 14 feet form the rooms and hallways of this “a-maze-ing” natural structure. In bloom through mid-September.

 

Weekly programs in July: 

  • Billings Bookworms – Children ages 6-8 will read a farm-themed book and explore the farm through hands-on activities from milking a cow to feeding the chickens, planting in the garden and learning about native plants. Mondays, 10-11:30AM, from July 12-August 16. Space is limited. Additional fee and preregistration required.
  • Time Travel Tuesdays– Experience chores and pastimes from the 1890 era led by interpreters in period costumes. View demonstrations of historic recipes and sample the delicious creations, play Guess the Artifact and engaging activities and games from the past. July 6-August 31.
  • Wagon Ride Wednesdays – Enjoy a wagon ride around the farm from 11 am-3 pm. July 7-August 25.
  • Thursday Threads– Celebrate the fiber arts with ongoing demonstrations of textile-related crafts such as weaving, spinning, and quilting, and create a craft to take home. July 22-August 19.
  • “Foodie” Fridays– Discover how we use seasonal ingredients from our farm and gardens to make delicious recipes. Culinary demonstrations, food samples and interactive garden programs. Weekly through October.

 

Visiting safely. We take the safety of our staff, animals, and our guests seriously. Billings Farm & Museum follows guidance from the CDC and the State of Vermont’s Universal Guidance to determine our protocols. For the continued safety of our staff and guests, all guests over the age of 2 are required to wear a face covering in all indoor spaces and outdoors when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained from people who are not in your traveling party.

 

The Billings Farm & Museum is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation Inc., a charitable non-profit institution. Billings Farm & Museum is committed to providing educational opportunities and experiences to our visitors, whether here in Woodstock, Vermont or at home wherever you are through our online resources at Billings Farm at Home. Visit us on billingsfarm.org, and find us on Facebook at facebook.com/BillingsFarmMuseum/ and Instagram at instagram.com/billingsfarm/.

 

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Billings Farm & Museum. Square in a Square, Quilt by Judi Simon Bouton, 2020 Quilt Exhibition, july4: BF&M staff in period clothing for the July 4th celebration.

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