Holiday Charm & Heartwarming Fun At Billings Farm & Museum’s Christmas at the Farm
Step into Victorian Christmas past and experience the wonder as Billings Farm & Museum is transformed by swags of evergreen, natural décor, and glowing lights. From December 17 – January 1, 10:00AM – 4:00PM, Christmas at the Farm will bring holiday charm and heartwarming fun to Billings Farm & Museum.
In the Historic Barn, holiday spirit will come to life with a 12-foot-tall Christmas Tree, an historic sleigh, and rustic grapevine wreaths with glass ornaments, the perfect setting for photos. Traditional nineteenth century decorations will adorn the 1890 Farm Manager’s House where visitors can take a self-guided tour. To delve into the history of Victorian Christmas, there will be programs at 12:00PM and 2:00PM, a children’s story at 3:00PM, or guests can stop by the barns to Meet a Jersey Cow at 11:00AM and 1:00PM and see the daily milking at 3:15PM. Guests can step outside into the snow-covered landscape for a light snowshoe or ski along the Ottauquechee River, weather permitting. Warmed by the crackling outdoor fire, guests can enjoy roasted s’mores and hot cocoa, available for purchase.
To connect with traditions of the past, guests can dip candles, take-home farm recipes, and vote for their favorite artfully crafted gingerbread house made by the creative Billings Farm & Museum staff. Voting runs from December 9 – January 1. For a hands-on cooking experience, from 11:00AM – 3:00PM throughout the holiday weeks, guests can stop by the Learning Kitchen to make a traditional sweet and spiced mini mince pie to take home or savor on the spot.
On select days, there will be old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon or sleigh rides through the beautiful farmstead, conditions permitting. 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.
For unique, local, and Vermont-made holiday gifts for family and loved ones, guests can peruse the Museum Gift Shop located in the Visitor Center Lobby. Billings Farm & Museum partners with local artisans and family-owned businesses to bring to the community agricultural and farm-based products with a focus on education. From adorable, plush stuffies made from recyclable material and beautifully crafted cow-stamped pottery by local artisan Laura White, to delicious and shippable Billings Farm cheddars, the Gift Shop features a great selection. Admission is not required to enjoy this delightful shopping experience. Members can take advantage of additional savings and receive 20% off Gift Shop items through December 23. Select items, including cheeses, are also available online at billingsfarm.org/museum-shop-farmhouse-cafe.
On December 17 at 3:00PM, The Woodstock Vermont Film Series will screen Come Back Anytime. This documentary is centered on the life of a self-taught Japanese ramen master and the community that is built around the food and friendship he provides. Tickets are available online and for walk-ins as space permits. Billingsfarm.org/filmseries.
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 cozy in the barns. Families can enjoy the Story Walk as page by page, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost 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. For more details, visit https://tinyurl.com/ChristmasAtTheFarm22.
