November is Family Stories Month!
November is Family Stories Month!
In Honor of Billings Farm’s 150th Anniversary Year:
Learn How the Women of Billings Put Billings Farm on the Map
November Weekends
Celebrate Thanksgiving Traditions at the Farm, Nov. 26-28, 2021
WOODSTOCK, VERMONT… Did you know that all three daughters of Frederick Billings oversaw the operations of the farm and estate after their father’s death in 1890? And that Elizabeth Billings, as an amateur botanist, collected 1,128 specimens within a 6-mile radius of the Billings estate? These fascinating women are featured in a special program throughout the month of November.
Billings Farm & Museum is open November 6 & 7, 13 & 14, and 20 & 21, from 10 am – 4 pm. Weekend guests can:
- Learn about the Women of Billings Farm and the important roles they had in the farm, offered at 12 pm & 2 pm.
- Meet one of our prizewinning Jersey cows, get up close and experience brushing a cow in our Gentle Jersey program at 11 am & 1 pm.
- See the afternoon Milking of the Herd beginning at 3:15 pm.
- Families can make a paper pumpkin or apple to take home, hunt for the hidden pumpkins in the Farm Life Exhibits and enjoy the Giving Thanks StoryWalk along the pasture fences.
- Warm up by the fire pit with hot cider and cider donuts.
Billings Farm is also open Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday – Sunday, November 26 – 28, 10 am – 4 pm. Discover how Thanksgiving was observed at the Billings Farm in the 1890s. The event will feature the traditional farmhouse Thanksgiving table setting, holiday programs and activities. Find out the history of foods typically served on the Farm for this holiday.
The Thanksgiving festivities continue with horse-drawn wagon rides around the farm on Friday & Saturday and tractor-drawn wagon rides on Sunday. Guests can sample Billings Farm cheddar cheese and make a mini pie. Families are encouraged to share their own stories and traditions on our “Sharing Wall.” Outdoor experiences include a “Thankfulness Walk” around the farm. Families will also enjoy holiday-themed crafts, the Farm Life Exhibit scavenger hunt, Thanksgiving-themed children’s stories in the Theater and the Giving Thanks StoryWalk along the pastures.
During November guests can also:
- Meet our Jersey cows, draft horses, chickens, sheep, and goats.
- Explore what life on the farm was like in late 19th century Vermont through the Farm Life Exhibits and the 1890 Farm Manager’s House, considered state-of-the-art when it was built.
- Learn about the families and history of Billings Farm in the Upon This Land Exhibit.
- Go deeper into Vermont’s place in conservation history with A Place in the Land, the Academy Award® – nominee film which chronicles the development of Billings Farm.
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.
Billings Farm & Museum, now in its 39th season, is open daily, 10AM-5PM through October 31 and weekends 10AM-4PM, November-February. Find the Special Events Calendar, daily schedules, admission pricing and membership information at billingsfarm.org. Celebrate Billings Farm’s 150th Anniversary with a visit this season and support its education mission at billingsfarm.org/donate.
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/.
