Billings Farm

Magic of Maple
2022-02-19 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-02-18 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-02-17 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-02-16 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-02-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-02-14 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-02-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-02-12 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | VT
Ever wonder how the sweet, sticky syrup on your breakfast pancakes was made? Learn all about maple sugaring in Vermont during the Magic of Maple, daily from February 12 – 27, 10am – 4pm.
Vermont’s rich maple history will be on display, through photographs from the Billings Farm collection and a showcase of tools used for tapping, sugaring and processing. Come learn about maple trees and why they produce their sweet sap. On Feb. 19 & 20, local maple sugarer, Mary McCuaig of Top Acres Farm, will be on site to share the maple sugaring process from tree to bottle. Top Acres Farm Syrup will also be available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop.
Sample the treat of Sugar on Snow and see video demonstrations on how to make a delicious Maple Popcorn snack at home. Create a paper snowflake craft, read children’s stories by the outdoor fire and warm up with hot chocolate, coffee and s’mores, available for purchase on site from 10am-3pm.
During the Magic of Maple, enjoy:

Billings Farm Snow Creations Challenge Construct, create or decorate a snow creation at Billings Farm! Hats, mittens, scarves, gloves and other decorations will be provided. Post photos to Facebook and Instagram, and tag @billingsfarm with #BFMSnowCreations. Winners will be announced February 28 and will receive delicious Billings Farm Cheese.
Public Sleigh Rides Conditions permitting, Billings Farm & Museum will offer horse-drawn sleigh rides on February 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 24 & 25 from 11 am – 3 pm. Reservations for rides will be taken upon arrival at the Ticket Desk, on a first come, first served basis. The cost is $5 per person in addition to the purchase of a general admission ticket. Ages 2 and under are free. Rides are approximately 10 minutes long.
Private Sleigh Rides by reservation. Reserve online in advance

Daily Activities at Billings Farm include:
Meet Our Farm Animals. The sheep, calves, chickens and goats are all cozy for the winter in the Small Animal Barn and ready to greet guests. Learn about our herd and our dairy operations in the Activity Barn and find the award-winning cheeses produced with Billings Farm milk in the Museum Gift Shop.
Outdoor Adventures Beckon. Venture through the picturesque snow-covered farm fields and along the Ottauquechee River on snowshoes – bring your own or rent from the nearby Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Nordic Center or Activity Center. Bring your sled to speed down the small hill next to the orchard. Gather round the fire pit and warm up with hot chocolate and s’mores.
Explore Vermont’s Rural History. Take a self-guided tour of the 1890 Farm Manager’s House. Considered state-of-the-art when it was built in 1890, the farmhouse has features quite uncommon for the times. Tour the Farm Life Exhibits to explore what life on the farm was like in the 1890’s and search for snowflakes hidden within the exhibits. Learn about the families and history of Billings Farm in our Upon This Land Exhibit. A Place in the Land, the Academy Award® – nominee film which chronicles the development of Billings Farm is shown throughout the day in the Visitor Center Theater.

Winter Wonders Camp
2022-02-18 09:00 - 12:30, 2022-02-17 09:00 - 12:30, 2022-02-16 09:00 - 12:30, 2022-02-15 09:00 - 12:30, 2022-02-14 09:00 - 12:30 | VT
For ages 6-8 or grades 1-3
Enjoy the wonders of winter!
“Fun”tastic activities will include outdoor adventures, cooking over a campfire, snow and wildlife explorations, sledding, and winter crafts. A camper’s day might include:

Making hot cocoa and popcorn over an open fire
Scavenger hunt in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
Making a bird feeder and experimenting with oobleck
Meeting our farm animals and learning what animals do in the winter

Learn more here.

We take the safety of our staff, animals, and our guests seriously. Winter Wonders Camp will follow the State of Vermont guidelines, including health screenings, face coverings and physical distancing. The group size will be kept small, consisting of a maximum of 15 campers and 3 counselors.

2022 Dates:
February 14-18
Time: 9 AM – 12:30 PM; drop off from 8:55-9:00AM.
Refunds can be given if notice is received prior to January 15th with a $50 processing fee. No refunds after January 15th.
Contact Alec at afannin@billingsfarm.org for registration information.

REGISTER FOR CAMP
2022 Pricing:
$200 for Billings Farm members (see membership for all the perks!)
$250 for non-members
$50 discount for a sibling
Not yet a member? Join today!
Note: Payment is required to reserve your slot.

Woodstock VT Film Series: The Ants and The Grasshopper
2022-02-12 17:30 - 19:00, 2022-02-12 15:00 - 16:30 | Billings Farm and Museum, 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT, 05091, United States
Two Showings
Saturday, February 12th
3:00pm & 5:30pm
Price: $15/person or $12/BFM member
Where: Billings Farm & Museum Theater
2021 | 85 minutes | Rated PG-13
Anita Chitaya has a gift; she can help bring abundant food from dead soil, she can make men fight for gender equality, and she can end child hunger in her village. Now, to save her home from extreme weather, she faces her greatest challenge: persuading Americans that climate change is real.
View the official trailer
Click here for more info or to purchase tickets
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Reservations are strongly recommended for film series showings as seating is limited. Online and phone ticket sales close at noon on the Friday before the showing. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
FILM SERIES SAFETY
In re-opening our theater to the Film Series, we will prioritize the health and safety of our guests. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system. Film attendees are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We recommend that you provide your proof of vaccination in advance using our online form, to avoid a wait at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film. We will accept a vaccination card, photocopy of the card, or digital photograph of the card.
All guests will be required to wear masks at all times during film viewings in the Theater. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation this season and adopt additional safety precautions as necessary.

Homeschool Club - History Detectives
2022-02-09 10:00 - 11:30 | VT
Join us for the Billings Farm Homeschool Club, where history, education and appreciation of the farm meets wonder!
In Billings Farm Homeschool Club, students will be guided through an educational exploration of history and farm-related topics while participating in fun, hands-on activities. Each session will feature a unique topic with themes like “Sheep & Felted Soap” or “History Detectives”. Instructors will lead exciting and participatory activities such as:

Exploring the 1890 Farmhouse
Making ricotta cheese
Meeting a sheep
Making felted soap
Tasting Sugar on Snow
And more!

The Club is for children ages 6-10. Sign up for individual sessions or join us for the whole series.

Price: $20/person or $15/BFM member
Where: Billings Farm & Museum
When: Wednesday, February 9th 10:00-11:30AM

Solve the mystery of history and learn what life in Vermont was like long ago using photographs, letters, and objects from the past. We will examine special artifacts from our collections and the 1890 Farm Manager’s House and see what we can learn from historic photographs. Students will put on their “history detective” hats to examine primary sources for themselves and present their findings to the group.
Learn More & Register Here

Woodstock VT Film Series: Storm Lake
2022-02-05 17:30 - 19:00, 2022-02-05 15:00 - 16:30 | Billings Farm and Museum, 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT, 05091, United States
Two Showings
Saturday, February 5th
3:00pm & 5:30pm
Price: $15/person or $12/BFM member
Where: Billings Farm & Museum Theater
2021 | 85 minutes | Rated PG-13
NOTE: There will be a Q&A with Director Beth Levison and Phil Camp, Owner of The Vermont Standard at 4:30PM, between showings of the film.
Meet the Cullens — Iowa’s most impressive journalism family. For more than 30 years, Art Cullen, brother John, son Tom, wife Delores and sister-in-law Mary — plus Art’s dog, Peach the newshound — have published The Storm Lake Times, a small-town, twice-weekly newspaper that covers critically important local issues and serves as the glue that holds the community together.
View the official trailer
Click here for more info or to purchase tickets
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Reservations are strongly recommended for film series showings as seating is limited. Online and phone ticket sales close at noon on the Friday before the showing. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
FILM SERIES SAFETY
In re-opening our theater to the Film Series, we will prioritize the health and safety of our guests. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system. Film attendees are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We recommend that you provide your proof of vaccination in advance using our online form, to avoid a wait at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film. We will accept a vaccination card, photocopy of the card, or digital photograph of the card.
All guests will be required to wear masks at all times during film viewings in the Theater. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation this season and adopt additional safety precautions as necessary.

Homeschool Club - Delightful Dairy
2022-01-31 08:00 - 17:00 | VT
Join us for the Billings Farm Homeschool Club, where history, education and appreciation of the farm meets wonder!
In Billings Farm Homeschool Club, students will be guided through an educational exploration of history and farm-related topics while participating in fun, hands-on activities. Each session will feature a unique topic with themes like “Sheep & Felted Soap” or “History Detectives”. Instructors will lead exciting and participatory activities such as:

Exploring the 1890 Farmhouse
Making ricotta cheese
Meeting a sheep
Making felted soap
Tasting Sugar on Snow
…And more!

The Club is for children ages 6-10. Sign up for individual sessions or join us for the whole series.

Price: $20/person or $15/BFM member
Where: Billings Farm & Museum
When: Wednesday, May 4th 10:00-11:30AM

Learn about all things dairy! Students will delve into the world of dairy by meeting one of our Jersey cows and seeing how she is milked. We will also meet the farm’s calves, and talk about the life cycle of our dairy cows. From farm to table, we will travel full circle, ending with an interactive ricotta cheese-making demonstration in our Learning Kitchen.

Learn more & register here: https://billingsfarm.org/billings-farm-homeschool-club/

Special Member Event: Torchlight Snowshoe
2022-01-29 16:30 - 18:30 | VT
Thank you Members!
We are so grateful for your generous support. Join us for this special Torchlight Snowshoe, complementary for all members.
~ Snowshoe or walk the Billings Farm trail by torchlight as evening begins
~ Meet a National Park Ranger from the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and learn about local wildlife, the history of the land, and the people who lived here.
~ Gather around the fire pit and warm up with complimentary s’mores and hot drinks
Enjoy this family-friendly event for all ages
Saturday, January 29 ~ 4:30-6:30
Thank you to Members!
No fee to attend
RSVP by January 28 to membership@billingsfarm.org with the number of guests who will accompany you, or call 802-457-2355
Don’t have snowshoes? A limited number of adult snowshoes will also be available, but to guarantee you have the
equipment you need, we recommend renting snowshoes at the Woodstock Inn & Resort’s Nordic Center in Woodstock. The Nordic Center closes at 4PM.
Bring a light! We highly recommend a headlamp or a flashlight to find your way between torches on the trail.
Want to bring additional guests? Membership level benefits apply. Guests must be accompanied by a member.
Want to bring a friend who is not a current member? Invite them to become a member!
Memberships can also be purchased at the Ticket Desk at the event.
VISITING SAFELY Billings Farm & Museum requires all guests over the age of 2 to wear a face covering in all indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Our current safety policies.

Woodstock VT Film Series: Try Harder
2022-01-22 17:30 - 19:00, 2022-01-22 15:00 - 16:30 | Billings Farm and Museum, 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT, 05091, United States
Two Showings
Saturday, January 22nd
3:00pm & 5:30pm
Price: $15/person or $12/BFM member
Where: Billings Farm & Museum Theater
2021 | 85 minutes | Rated PG-13
This humorous and heartfelt look at the reality of the American college application process focuses on San Francisco’s top public high school, Lowell High school, where seniors are stressed out. As they prepare for the emotionally draining college application process, students are keenly aware of the intense competition for the few open spots in their dream colleges. They scrutinize how every element of their application, from their classes to their extracurricular activities to their racial identities, might be read by admission officers.
View the official trailer
Click here for more info or to purchase tickets
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Reservations are strongly recommended for film series showings as seating is limited. Online and phone ticket sales close at noon on the Friday before the showing. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
FILM SERIES SAFETY
In re-opening our theater to the Film Series, we will prioritize the health and safety of our guests. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system. Film attendees are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We recommend that you provide your proof of vaccination in advance using our online form, to avoid a wait at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film. We will accept a vaccination card, photocopy of the card, or digital photograph of the card.
All guests will be required to wear masks at all times during film viewings in the Theater. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation this season and adopt additional safety precautions as necessary.

Billings Backyard: Kimchi, Kraut and More!
2022-01-22 10:00 - 11:30 | – An Online Program
Expand your knowledge and skill in the kitchen and follow along with Chef Emery as she leads our next cooking workshop, Kimchi, Kraut, and More!, Saturday, Jan. 22 on Zoom from 10-11:30am. In this class Chef Emery will demonstrate how to make your own sauerkraut and kimchi. Learn about other “lacto-fermented” foods, and how they can be used in unique and delicious ways in your everyday kitchen as you make a multi-purpose sauce using Kombucha! Register by January 19 to receive advance instructions, recipes and preparation details. Registered participants will receive a recording following the live presentation.
A Q&A period with the presenter may continue for up to 30 minutes past the scheduled end time.
Register by January 19.
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. Find more Billings Backyard Series workshops
Cancellation Policy: There are often waitlists for our workshops, so please let us know in advance if you are unable to attend. Refunds are available up to 14 days before the class is held. There are no refunds within 14 days.
About Chef Emery
Emery Gray, Farm to Table Manager at Billings Farm & Museum and former Pastry Chef de Partie at the Woodstock Inn and Resort, 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.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Weekend
2022-01-17 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-01-16 10:00 - 16:00, 2022-01-15 10:00 - 16:00 | VT
Billings Farm & Museum is open Jan. 15-17, 10am-4pm, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend. Visitors of all ages can enjoy engaging activities indoors and out during the long weekend.
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we will show A Time for Justice, the 38- minute award-winning documentary film by Charles Guggenheim that captures the spirit of the civil rights movement. The film will be shown daily in the Visitor Center Theater. On Saturday, the last showing begins at 1:15pm.
Enjoy samples of Billings Farm Cheeses from 11am-3pm in the Lobby, and see video demonstrations on how to make Billings Farm’s delicious hot chocolate, cheddar biscuits, cheese fondue and butter in your own kitchen.
Create a dove of peace paper craft, hunt for the snowmen in the Farm Life Exhibits, and follow the StoryWalk along the pasture fence, featuring “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost. Take a step back in history with a self-guided tour of the 1890 Farm Manager’s House.
Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides will be offered on Saturday-Monday from 11am-3pm, conditions permitting. Reservations for rides will be taken upon arrival at the Ticket Desk, on a first come, first served basis. Rides are approximately 10 minutes. The cost is $5 per person in addition to the purchase of a general admission ticket.
Meet the Farm’s animals including Jersey cows, sheep, chickens and goats all cozy in the Animal Barns. There will be daily milking starting at 3:15pm in the Cow Barn.
Explore the Billings Farm Trail on snowshoes or cross-country skis and venture through the picturesque snow-covered farm fields and along the Ottauquechee River. Bring your own or rent from the nearby Woodstock Inn & Resort Nordic Center. Bring your sled to speed down the small hill next to the orchard. Gather round the fire pit and warm up with hot chocolate, coffee and s’mores, available for purchase on site from 10am-3pm.
On Saturday, January 15, the Woodstock Vermont Film Series is featuring The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 with showings at 3:00 & 5:30pm in the Billings Farm Theater. Tickets and additional information are available at billingsfarm.org/filmseries/ or call 802.457.5303. Proof of vaccination is required.
Visiting safely. 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. All guests must wear masks when around people and unable to maintain 6’ physical distances outdoors. No entry is permitted without a face covering. Visit billingsfarm.org/safety for details.

Woodstock VT Film Series: The Loneliest Whale
2022-01-15 15:00 - 16:30 | Billings Farm and Museum, 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT, 05091, United States
Two Showings
Saturday, January 15th
3:00pm & 5:30pm
Price: $15/person or $12/BFM member
Where: Billings Farm & Museum Theater
2021 | 90 minutes | Rated PG-13
The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 is a cinematic quest to find the elusive creature known as the “52 Hertz Whale,” because the animal’s call broadcasts at 52 hertz, a frequency believed unique among whales — which was first recorded in 1989 by the U.S. Navy that suspected they were hearing a Russian submarine.
View the official trailer
Click here for more info or to purchase tickets
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Reservations are strongly recommended for film series showings as seating is limited. Online and phone ticket sales close at noon on the Friday before the showing. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
FILM SERIES SAFETY
In re-opening our theater to the Film Series, we will prioritize the health and safety of our guests. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system. Film attendees are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We recommend that you provide your proof of vaccination in advance using our online form, to avoid a wait at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film. We will accept a vaccination card, photocopy of the card, or digital photograph of the card.
All guests will be required to wear masks at all times during film viewings in the Theater. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation this season and adopt additional safety precautions as necessary.

Woodstock VT Film Series: Street Gang
2022-01-08 17:30 - 19:00, 2022-01-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Billings Farm and Museum, 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT, 05091, United States
Two Showings
Saturday, January 8th
3:00pm & 5:30pm
Price: $15/person or $12/BFM member
Where: Billings Farm & Museum Theater
2021 | 107 minutes | Rated PG-13
It’s no shock that Sesame Street was born from a mixture of idealism and academic seriousness. Created by TV producer Joan Ganz Cooney and psychologist Lloyd Morrisett, then the vice-president of the Carnegie Foundation, the show aimed to bridge socioeconomic rifts and reach kids who were falling behind in their education before they had even started kindergarten. What does come as a bit of a surprise when watching the documentary Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street is the reminder that the legendary series was thought of as an attempt to harness the addictive powers of an inescapable mass medium for the forces of good.
View the official trailer
Click here for more info or to purchase tickets
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
Reservations are strongly recommended for film series showings as seating is limited. Online and phone ticket sales close at noon on the Friday before the showing. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
FILM SERIES SAFETY
In re-opening our theater to the Film Series, we will prioritize the health and safety of our guests. The theater has been upgraded with a MERV 13 filtration system. Film attendees are expected to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We recommend that you provide your proof of vaccination in advance using our online form, to avoid a wait at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film. We will accept a vaccination card, photocopy of the card, or digital photograph of the card.
All guests will be required to wear masks at all times during film viewings in the Theater. We thank you in advance for your cooperation. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation this season and adopt additional safety precautions as necessary.

Billings Backyard: Homemade Felted Soap
2022-01-08 10:00 - 11:30 | Billings Farm and Museum, 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT, 05091, United States
Have some good clean fun as we bring back the popular Making Felted Soap on Saturday, Jan. 8 from 10-11:30am onsite at Billings Farm. Using locally made soaps and wool from our own Billings Farm & Museum sheep, Fiber Artist Tiana St. James will walk participants through the processes of both wet felting and needle felting to make a charming and sustainable product. Register by January 7 to reserve a spot.
A Q&A period with the presenter may continue for up to 30 minutes past the scheduled end time.
Cancellation Policy: There are often waitlists for our workshops, so please let us know in advance if you are unable to attend. Refunds are available up to 14 days before the class is held. There are no refunds within 14 days.
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. Find more Billings Backyard Series workshops
This workshop will be held at Billings Farm & Museum.
About Tiana St. James
Tiana St. James, an Upper Valley native, has been an Interpreter at Billings Farm and Museum for seven years. She loves helping others learn about the history of anything and everything, particularly domestic arts. Tiana’s love of knitting and crochet led her to discover the fascinating and full world of fiber arts, and she has participated in all stages of the wool and flax to linen processes. Through her association with the Aker Fiber Farm in Enfield, NH, she has developed and taught classes for a variety of ages on a wide array of textile crafts. Tiana has been known to knit in such unique situations as hurricane force winds and on New England hikes. When she is not crafting, she enjoys gardening and cooking, often while listening to books. In recent years, she has also embraced the role of the fairy godmother to the Billings fairy gardens.
