Christmas In The Country

A Child’s Christmas this Weekend at Westfield

 

 

 

Looking for something special to do with your children this weekend?  Westfield Heritage Village is the place to be, with two special programs to get your family into the holiday spirit.  On Saturday, December 13, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas will be in full swing from 5-9:00 pm.  On Sunday December 14, Westfield’s Christmas in the Country will delight visitors from noon until 4:00 pm.  Westfield is a special place where visitors can step back in time and visit more than thirty-five historical buildings, decorated in their holiday best, to discover the history of Christmas traditions, from the Georgian, Victorian and modern eras

On Saturday evening, a magnificent fireworks display, set to traditional Christmas music, will light up the winter sky at 6:30 pm.  From 7:00 – 8:00 pm., the extraordinary Rosewood Consort will present their gorgeous music in the Mountsberg Church.  Directed by Bob Rivers, Rosewood is an elite group who perform a repertoire of Early and Baroque music on a full range of recorders, from Sopranino through Contra Bass and Viola da Gamba.  They will present A Rosewood Christmas at Westfield, a rich programme of seasonal music developed just for this event. 

On Sunday afternoon, come out and enjoy free horse and wagon rides, complete with jingling bells.  At the one room log schoolhouse, young visitors can take a seat and make a traditional craft to take home.  Step back in time at the General Store, where traditional sweet treats are available for purchase.  The lively children’s entertainers, Turkey Rhubarb, will have everyone singing along and tapping their toes in the church from 2:00 – 3:00 pm.  Little ones will enjoy a visit with Father Christmas at the Hardware Store, where they can try out some old fashioned wooden toys.  Children of all ages are invited to visit the 1898 Jerseyville Train Station, where they can telegraph a message to the North Pole.

In the spirit of the season, Westfield will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items for distribution to local food banks.  Please give generously!

 

Westfield Heritage Village celebrates ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on Saturday, December 13^th from 5:00-9:00 pm.  Christmas in the Country will take place on Sunday, December 14 from 12:30 - 4:00 pm.  Admission is $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and people with disabilities, and $6.50 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are admitted free.  Parking is free.

Westfield Heritage Village is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road (Regional Road 552) in Rockton, just off Highway 8, between Hamilton and Cambridge. For more information please call 519-621-8851 or visit www.westfieldheritage.ca

 

Christmas is Coming!

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

A Sensory Feast Awaits you at Westfield

 

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the scent of freshly baked bread, fresh pine and cinnamon.  Envision twinkling lanterns and a brilliant display of fireworks lighting up the winter sky.  Hear the sounds of traditional music wafting through the crisp night air, the hearty laugh of Father Christmas, the clatter of a woodstove being stoked.   Taste the sweetness of an old-fashioned candy stick, a steaming cup of hot cider, a morsel of roasted chestnut, sprinkled with salt.  Westfield Heritage Village will be the setting for this feast of sensory delights during its ‘Twas the Night before Christmas, program, which will take place on the evenings of December 6^th, 13^th and 20^st from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Lit by lanterns and candlelight, the village is a magical place for families and children of all ages.  At Westfield you can step back in time and enjoy the sights, sounds, aromas and tastes of Christmas in the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras.

The program on Saturday December 6 will be sure to put you into the Christmas spirit.  Visitors to the village can explore more than thirty-five historical buildings decorated in their holiday best, meet costumed interpreters and have a special visit with jolly Father Christmas.  Young ones will enjoy a holiday craft in the one room log schoolhouse.  A magnificent fireworks display will light up the skies over the Village Green at 6:30 p.m.  You won’t want to miss a special concert by the popular and much-loved Albertones Men’s Chorus, who will present a delightful Christmas program at the historic Mountsberg Church from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

Hungry visitors can enjoy moderately priced light fare in the Ironwood Hall, including warm homemade soup, sandwiches, baked goods and hot chocolate and cider.  Visit the General Store to purchase old fashioned sweet treats.  Munch on some free, hot popcorn as you take in the sights and sounds of the village. 

In the spirit of the season, Westfield will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items for distribution to community food banks.  These items can be dropped off at the admissions kiosk.  Please give generously.

 

Westfield Heritage Village celebrates ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on Saturdays, December 6^th, 13^th and 20^th from 5:00-9:00 pm.  Christmas in the Country will take place on Sunday, December 14 from 12 noon to 4:00 pm.  Admission is $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and people with disabilities, and $6.50 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Westfield Heritage Village is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road (Regional Road 552) in Rockton, just off Highway 8 between Hamilton and Cambridge. For more information please call 519-621-8851 or visit www.westfieldheritage.ca

Buying a New Wand - A Witches' and Warlocks' Convention at Westfield

Witches and Warlocks at Westfield

Star Party on Friday!

Westfield is all ready for our very first Star Party. The cookies are baked and the weather looks good. See you there starting at 7:00 p.m.

Westfield and Fall Colours

Enjoy Westfield until the end of October!

Westfield is still open on Sundays from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. until the end of October. Westfield will also be open on Monday, October 13 from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. for Thanksgiving. Enjoy the beautiful fall colours. There are some great opportunities to take photographs.

Telling Tales is Tomorrow!

Looking forward to Telling Tales on

September 14!

Monkey Face Cookies! Yum! Lots of yummy treats and books - of course!
See you there.



Westfield Star Party

Come Visit Westfield at Night

 

The Westfield Star Party will take place on the evening of Friday, September 26. This event will be presented in partnership with the Astronomical Society of Canada, and will also welcome the Let's Talk Science teaching group from the Astronomy department of McMaster University. From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. visit some of our historical buildings including the General Store where you can purchase a refreshment and sweet treat. Following this, guests will be invited to stay on site and learn about modern astronomy through meeting local astronomers and looking through modern and antique telescopes. This is an event for all ages, and there will be several children's activities offered on this evening. 

Telling Tales Festival Celebrates 6th Year.

Westfield Welcomes Telling Tales Festival
Sunday, September 14, 2014
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
www.tellingtales.org

The Telling Tales Organizing committee invites you to "let your imagination run wild" as you explore stories of every kind by leading Canadian writers, illustrators, storytellers and musicians. Westfield Heritage Village will be the setting once again for this Children's Literacy event and fundraiser. The Selection Committee is very excited to welcome back Dennis Lee to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Alligator Pie. Make sure to click on the web address above to get all the details about this free event. (Just remember to park in Rockton at the Fairgrounds and take the free shuttle bus to Westfield.)

You never know whom you will meet at Telling Tales.
Check out the photo gallery for some other pix from 2013.

Christmas Table at Westfield

 

The Heatheringtons are coming

to Westfield- one more time!

 

 

Once again Westfield will be hosting a special dinner program on Sunday, December 21 at 4:00 p.m. Tickets for this program will go on sale Tuesday, September 2 at 8:30 a.m.

 

This popular program sells out each year early and this year should be no different. Fans of Downton Abbey will enjoy Westfield's version with the Heatherington Family. For the last couple of years guests have come to know the many characters who make up the family and servants who work for the family. From weddings to scandalous activities the Heatheringtons have made themselves at home in Westfield Village. Just a year ago the world could not be more idyllic, however, the age of innocence comes to an abrupt end with the start of the Great War. Newspaper articles claim that it will be over by Christmas, but as the holiday approaches it is obvious it will not be over. Mr. and Mrs. Heatherington are shocked to hear the news that their eldest son, Edward James Kenneth Heatherington Jr. has enlisted. Find out how the family and servants grapple with this news as they try to celebrate Christmas 1914.

 

Mr. Heatherington (played by Scott Roberts) reads the headlines of August , 4, 1914.
Canada is at War!
 

 

Coming Soon...

Featured Demonstration

The OTHER Kind of Fibre!

Jerra Lindsay processing flax!

Feeling sluggish?  Lost your Get-Up-and-Go?  Perhaps you could use a little extra fibre.  Westfield Heritage Village can help!

On Sunday August 24, Westfield will feature demonstrations and activities that are focused on how different types of textile fibres are produced and used.  Watch the labour-intensive process that transforms the coarse flax plant into lovely linen fabric.  Try your hand at carding raw wool or using a drop spindle or watch a master spinner at the wheel. Chat with a weaver, hard at work on a massive mid-nineteenth century barn loom, and learn about warps and wefts.  The Cambridge Spinners and Weavers Guild will be on hand to demonstrate the elaborate process of creating and using natural dyes to tint wool and other fibres.  Tour the village and see antique textiles, such as quilts, clothing, decorative arts and floor coverings.

Visit Westfield Heritage Village for Fibre Day on Sunday August 24 from 12:30 to 4:00 pm.   

Regular Admission Prices - Adults $8.50, Seniors (65+) $7.50 and Children 6-12 years $5.50.  Children 5 and under are admitted free.   Parking is free. 

 

Minnie Traill comes to Westfield

Minnie Traill

Hits the Stage at Westfield Heritage Village

 

In 2003, a very rare and unusual little volume called, “Minnie Traill or, The Woman of Wentworth” was donated to the collection at Westfield Heritage Village.  Minnie Traill is a play that was written by W.P. Wood of Ancaster and published by the Hamilton Evening Times in 1871.  The story of Minnie Traill is best described as a quintessentially Victorian, melodramatic, crazy tale.

The story of Minnie Traill will be presented at Westfield on Sunday August 17, beginning at 4:00 pm.  An adaptation of the play has been written by Westfield historical interpreter Rose Usenica, whose talents and experience as an actor, writer and director make her the perfect person for the task.  With several successful productions under her belt, Usenica is directing a combined cast of Westfield interpreters and actors from the Hamilton area who will present a staged reading of Minnie Traill.  Presented as a dress rehearsal of a local Victorian theatre company, the play will provide a fascinating window into the style, quirks, complexity and melodrama of Victoria amateur theatre. 

The play Minnie Traill or A Woman of Wentworth will be presented on Sunday August 17 at 4:00 pm. The village will be open for regular programming on that day from 12:30 – 4:00, and the play will follow. Additional tickets are not required.

For more information, please visit westfieldheritage.ca or call (519) 621-8851.  Westfield is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road, off Hwy #8, midway between Hamilton and Cambridge.

Regular Admission Prices - Adults $8.50, Seniors (65+) $7.50 and Children 6-12 years $5.50.  Children 5 and under are admitted free.   Parking is free. 

 

 

 

Ice Cream Carnival Success

Check out some of our pictures in the Photo Gallery. It was a beautiful weekend!

 

The Malik Family enjoyed their treat. (LtoR: Aasiyah (4), Ibrahim (12), Abubakr(7)

 



Ice Cream Carnival is Almost Here!

Cool, Creamy, Delicious!

Westfield’s 10^th Annual Ice Cream Carnival

 

Making ice cream is hard work, and the people at Westfield Heritage Village need your help!  During its popular Ice Cream Carnival, the costumed interpreters of the village will be cranking out many, many batches of delicious, cool, hand-churned ice cream, and this takes a lot of muscle!  Step right up to help to turn those cranks, and you will be rewarded with a sample of cool, creamy, authentic ice cream.  (Those who cheer them on can have some, too!)  If you’ve never tasted ice cream made with real cream, fresh fruit and other delicious ingredients, you are in for a wonderful surprise!

The Ice Cream Carnival will be held at Westfield on Sunday August 3^th and Monday August 4^th from 10:00 am. to 4:00 p.m. There will be lots to see and do during this special two day event.  Share a laugh and test your skill with Edwardian carnival games.  Let a travelling salesman give you his pitch.  Peek inside a colourful tent and see what awaits you.  Enjoy a free ride on a horse-drawn wagon, beginning at noon.  

Traditional carnival foods will add to the fun.  Saratoga chips, Pickle-on-a-Stick, cool lemonade, bottled soda, baked goods and old-fashioned candy will be available for purchase at the General Store.  Enjoy some free cotton candy in the village green (while quantities last).  Reasonably priced ice cream cones and top-your-own sundaes will also be available at the Ironwood Ice Cream Parlour.  The Copetown Lions food truck will also be at available.  Families are always welcome to bring their own picnic to enjoy under a shady tree.

The beautiful rural setting of Westfield Heritage Village is the ideal place to escape to on a hot summer day.  Cool off with come delicious summer treats , take in the carnival, and enjoy a day with your family and friends tasting a little history.  See you there!
The 10^th Annual Ice Cream Carnival will take place at Westfield Heritage Village on Sunday August 3^rd and Monday August 4^th from 10 am to 4 pm.  Adult admission is $11.00, seniors (65+) $10.00 and children 6-12 years $6.50.  Children five and under are free.   Parking is free.  Westfield is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road, Rockton.  For more information, visit westfieldheritage.ca or call (519) 621-8851.

Ice Cream Carnival Coming Soon!

You know when it's summer time at Westfield. It's time for Ice Cream Carnival. The event is taking place on Sunday, August 3 and Monday, August 4 from 10:00 to 4:00 p.m. The following advice was found in an advertisement book at the turn of the 20th Century. I'm sure it was meant to be taken in a light hearted way.

Eating The Ice Cream Cone

Gentle Advice for the Gentlewoman

 

If the occasion should arise when a Gentlewoman is offered an ice cream cone,

she should refrain from eating it in a public place.

Exposure of the tongue by using its tip to lick the ice cream from the cone

will serve only to mark her as a woman of unsavoury and unattractive appetites.

The woman should take the ice cream cone home,

place it upside down in a shallow dish,

discard the cone and eat the ice cream with a spoon. 



Sunday Summer Afternoons

Westfield is a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Take a walk down a country lane and step into the past. During July and August there is a fashion show at 2:00 p.m. This past Sunday as a special treat Joy modeled the replica Queen Victoria Wedding Dress. Sweet treats and cold drinks are available to buy in the General Store. See you there on Sunday!

 

 

The Glass House at Westfield

Today's Guest Blogger is Alyson Prokop. Alyson started to volunteer at Westfield in 2013 and looks after the plants in the Gillen Greenhouse.

It has certainly been a busy spring for Westfield with so many new buildings being renovated and opened, and I am absolutely thrilled to let you know that the Gillen Glasshouse is finally up and running!

Most people have walked by the Gillen House with a brief glance into the backyard, only to notice a relatively untouched glasshouse. In times past this Victorian inspired glasshouse would otherwise be over flowing with annuals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, market flowers and orchids, all of which would be used for cooking, medicine and decorating. As a nature interpreter and botanist at Royal Botanical Gardens Canada, it only seemed natural to indulge in my love of heritage interpretation and take on the task of reviving the glasshouse and filling it with heritage plants.

 

 

 

So, after a few painstakingly cold days scrubbing with cold water back mid-April (I was going for an authentic experience) I fixed the glass panes, pulled up and swept away the bugs and dead weeds, and had the carpentry shop prepare transplant trays for the 30+ perennials and annuals that will be started this season.

The glasshouse is aptly named as it is made with panes of glass making it possible to grow essential, colourful, warmth loving fruit and vegetables, even in this climate, such as tomatoes and chillies!

Now when you venture into the Gillen backyard you are welcomed by horehound for coughs, wild strawberries for jam and native Echinacea.  Market cabbages from Denmark and tomatoes that date back to 1910, 1902 and 1898 are just some of the vegetables you may encounter.

 

I have tried to theme plants that pre-date the Gillen House (c. 1912) to give visitors an idea of the fruits, vegetables and herbs one could find in an Edwardian garden.

You’ll also notice that many of the herbs and native flowers will continue to grow and overwinter for next year’s gardens. With enough planning, I hope to get seeds started mid-March so we can offer unique heritage vegetables for the spring Westfield Plant Sale.

Brandon, who often volunteers in the print shop, has also been assisting with transplanting and watering on weekends and has certainly out done himself. His handiwork at the forge has revived a couple of tired secateurs to their former glory, and has also crafted a handy transplanting trowel!

A special thanks also goes to the Westfield staff who have taken time during their day to make sure the plants get watered. This is the most important task as we currently hand water all the crops and we all really appreciate your help!

So, next time you are visiting Westfield, be sure to stop by the Gillen Glasshouse and have a look for yourself and imagine yourself 100 years back; the vegetables and herbs we are growing today are the same as you’d find growing in gardens of rural Ontario in 1912.

Westfield's 50th Anniversary Continues

The weather could not have been finer for Westfield's big celebration weekend on June 14 and 15. Check out the 50th Anniversary page for more photographs highlighting the weekend.

 

Some of the volunteers gather for a group shot at the end of the day.

Spirit of the 1860s

Come and Discover the Spirit of the 1860s

At Westfield this Sunday

 

Westfield Heritage Village is very pleased to be presenting a new program on Sunday June 22, 2014 from 10:00 am. - 4:00 pm. The Spirit of the 1860s will be an opportunity to explore what life was like in Southern Ontario (Canada West), just prior to Confederation.  With an emphasis on foods, fashions, technology, etiquette, politics and pastimes, Westfield will be a feast for the senses, allowing visitors to discover what daily life was like at this pivotal point in our history. Fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, food samples, medical scenarios, political debate and live music are just some of the activities that will be featured on this special day.  Visitors of all ages can take a seat in the one room log school house to discover what education was like in the 1860s.  Children are also invited to take part in traditional children’s games in the school yard from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.  In the Gillen House yard, Mrs. Watson will be “at home,” providing a peek into the complex etiquette of visiting in this period.

An important part of the Upper Canadian story is what was happening south of the border, and Westfield has invited American Civil War re-enactors to demonstrate and describe the conflict.  Military and civilian encampments will be set up in close proximity to the village, and visitors will be able to “cross the border” to meet re-enactors and learn about the issues and circumstances of the American Civil War.  A battle demonstration is not planned, but visitors will be able to watch military drilling exercises, an officer’s meeting, artillery demonstrations and visit soldiers in their camp.

Westfield Heritage Village preserves and interprets more than thirty-five heritage buildings where you can meet authentically costumed interpreters demonstrating life in earlier times and places.  Visit the baker at the bake oven to see what’s cooking.  Find out what the printers, weavers or blacksmith’s are up to in their shops.  Say hello to the storekeeper and purchase an old-fashioned treat.  There’s always something new to see and do at Westfield!

The Spirit of the 1860s will take place on Sunday June 22 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. For more information, please visit westfieldheritage.ca or call (519) 621-8851.  Admission Prices - Adults $11.00, Seniors (65+) $10.00 and Children 6-12 years $6.50.  Children 5 and under are admitted free.   Parking is free. 

 

Birthday Cake and a Parade!

Westfield Celebrates its

50^th Anniversary on June 15th

Where can you run your hand along the wall of a 1793 log cabin, help operate a Victorian printing press, check out the sleeping quarters in an 1830 inn and admire the “modern” plumbing of an Edwardian home?  And that’s just a small sample of what you can experience?  Westfield Heritage Village, of course!

On Sunday June 15^th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Westfield will be celebrating its 50^th Birthday, and what a party it’s going to be!  Visitors on this day will be able to enjoy a deluxe program with free birthday cake and popcorn, a lively parade, carnival games, special guests and live music throughout the day.  Featured musicians include Love Banshee, The Ever-Lovin’ Jug Band, Tethera and the award winning Crusaders Drumline.  In the Ironwood Hall, there will be a special exhibition highlighting the history of Westfield.   Antique vehicles, steam engines and free steam traction engine rides will add to the fun.  On this day only, special anniversary tours will highlight the original seven buildings of Westfield’s 1964 opening day.  A special commemorative ceremony, costumed interpreters, food samples and lots of surprises will mark this incredible day.

Whether you are a long-time fan or have not yet discovered Westfield, you won’t want to miss this extra special, once-in-50-year event!  Westfield Heritage Village is a magical place for visitors of all ages, with something interesting to see and do around every corner.  The village’s more than thirty-five heritage buildings are staffed by authentically dressed interpreters who will take you back to earlier times and places.

Westfield is also planning a special reunion event on June 14 for past and present volunteers, donors and other community supporters.  If you have made a contribution to Westfield in the past, please call Westfield for more information.

The Westfield 50^th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Sunday, June 15 from 10:00 am. - 4:00 p.m.  Admission rates for this event are $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for Seniors and $6.50 for children 6-12 years.  5 years and under are free.  Parking is free.

Westfield is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road, Rockton, just off Hwy 8, midway between Hamilton and Cambridge.  For more information on the Anniversary Celebration, and other upcoming programs, please call (519) 621-8851 or visit westfieldheritage.ca.

 

Glenn Kilmer and Goldie MacDonell- Founders of Westfield.

Historical Interpreters in the early 1970s.

Before the Cabinetmaker Shop was moved.

Jerseyville Station in a new home.

 

Victoria Day May 19, 2014

Westfield Celebrates Victoria Day

 

 

Did you know that celebrating Queen Victoria's Birthday is distinctly Canadian since 1845?

 

Here are some snaps from our 2014 celebrations.

 

 

Queen Victoria played by Pauline comes to visit.

This dress made by Joy and Lloyd is a replica of Queen Victoria's wedding dress. 

Photos of Queen Victoria wearing her dress and head piece.

The Dress on display!



Westbrook House Opens

 

Raise a Glass of Lemonade!

Historic Westbrook House

Opens at Westfield

 

Come to Westfield on Sunday May 18^th and celebrate the grand opening of the village’s latest addition - the newly restored c. 1810 Westbrook House.  Believed to be one of the oldest surviving buildings from Brant County, this one-and-a-half storey timber-frame house was built by Haggai Westbrook, one of the first settlers in Burford Gore, a community that would later be known as the Township of Oakland.   The building has particular historical significance in that, in its original location, it would have overlooked the last land battle of the War of 1812: the November 1814 Battle of Malcolm’s Mills.  The home has now taken on a new life at Westfield Heritage Village, where it joins the site’s remarkable collection of nearly forty early Ontario buildings.

Skillfully restored by a talented crew of historic carpenters, architects, engineers and construction specialists, many of them volunteers, the historic home will now be a rich setting in which visitors can learn about life in Upper Canada.  Even with its modest 16’ x 24’ footprint, there will be much to explore.   Costumed interpreters will welcome visitors to discover the stories of not only the original family, but also the social context in which the home existed.  The building is one of the oldest at Westfield, and is situated within the scenic Early Settlement area. 

The Grand Opening of the Westbrook House will recognize the many contributions of those who have made its relocation and restoration possible.  The event will take place on Sunday May 18^th at 4:00 pm, after the other village buildings close.  Lemonade and sweets will be served, courtesy of the Friends of Westfield.

For further information, please contact Lisa Hunter, Program Coordinator, Westfield Heritage Village at (519) 621-8851.

 

Last Chance for Syrup!

Just Two More Maple Sundays at Westfield

There are just two Sundays left to visit Westfield Heritage Village’s Sweet Taste of Spring maple syrup program!  On Sundays March 23 and 30, you can visit the village between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and learn how maple syrup was made in three different time periods.  In the village’s Early Settlement area, see how maple sugar was produced by Canada’s First Nations communities using hot rocks and a hollowed out log, and how these techniques were shared with early European immigrants.  At the D’Aubigny Inn, find out how early 19^th century pioneers used three cast iron cauldrons, hung over roaring fires, to produce large quantities of delicious syrup.  A picturesque walk into the sugar bush leads to the modern sugar shack, where you can see the village’s shiny new evaporator and taste some of Westfield’s very own maple syrup.  The new evaporator was recently donated by the Friends of Westfield, the volunteer organization that raises funds for a variety of Westfield projects and activities.

Modestly priced, delicious pancakes, ham, sausage and of course, maple syrup, will be served by the St. George Lion’s Club throughout the day at the Ironwood Hall.  This year, the club is celebrating ten years of flipping pancakes at Westfield!  Visit the General Store for old-fashioned candy, hot apple cider and baked goods.  The Gift Shop will be selling a variety of maple syrup products and other one-of-a-kind items.  You won’t want to miss the free horse and wagon rides that will be making the rounds of the village throughout the day.

Check out these photos from the last couple of days at Westfield. Fun for all.

Finally!  Sap is Flowing at Westfield

 

 

After much anticipation, the maple trees are finally ready to share some of their sweet sap, and the people at Westfield Heritage Village are more than ready to collect it and turn it into delicious maple syrup!  The village has more than 130 taps in place in their sugar maple bush, and this week’s rising temperatures promise a good flow in the coming days. 

At Westfield, visitors can learn about one of Ontario’s sweetest and oldest culinary traditions.  Follow the lovely scent of wood smoke and steaming sap to the Early Settlement area, where you can see the methods taught to the European settlers by the First Nations people.  At the D’Aubigny Inn,  you can find out how early 19^th century pioneers used a series of iron cauldrons to produce large quantities of delicious syrup.  A picturesque walk into the sugar bush will lead you to the modern sugar shack, where you can taste some of Westfield’s very own maple syrup.   The tours and demonstrations run from 10 am. to 4 pm., on Wednesday March 12, Thursday March 13 and every Sunday in March.

Those looking for a tasty treat will enjoy visiting the Ironwood Hall, where the St. George Lions Club will be selling a delicious all-day breakfast of hot pancakes, with either ham or sausage.  A variety of maple syrup products are available at the Gift Shop.  Visitors to the General Store will find baked goods and sweet treats available for purchase.  Free horse-drawn wagon rides will be available to take you around the village and sugar bush.  A special feature on March 23 only will be a demonstration of maple taffy making.

Nearly 70,000 Pancakes Served

(And Counting!)

For ten sweet years, the enthusiastic crew from the St. George Lion’s Club has been flipping pancakes at Westfield Heritage Village during the Sweet Taste of Spring maple syrup festival - 66, 960 of them, at last count! Served with a side of freshly grilled ham or sausage, with a healthy dose of maple syrup, these pancakes have become an annual tradition for many families who come out to the festival each spring.  Priced at only $1.00 per pancake, this has got to be one of the sweetest deals around!  The Lion’s Club crew will work their magic at Westfield every Sunday in March, with the festival running from 10:00 am. - 4:00 p.m.  They will also be serving up pancakes during March Break, when the village is open for the maple syrup program on two days - Wednesday March 12 and Thursday March 13.

Pancakes are just one great part of a day at maple syrup time at Westfield.  Free horse and wagon rides will take you on a tour of the village throughout the day.  In the village’s Early Settlement area, you can learn how maple syrup and sugar were produced for generations by Canada’s First Nations communities, and how these techniques were shared with early European immigrants.  At the D’Aubigny Inn, find out how early 19^th century pioneers used a series of iron cauldrons to produce large quantities of delicious syrup.  A picturesque walk into the sugar bush will lead you to the modern sugar shack, where you can taste some of Westfield’s very own maple syrup made using a modern evaporator.   The tours and demonstrations run from 10 am. - 4 pm., Sunday March 9, 16, 23 and 30, as well as Wednesday March 12 and Thursday March 13.

Westfield is a special place for families, with something interesting to see and do around every corner.  The village’s nearly forty heritage buildings are staffed by authentically costumed interpreters, who will take you back to earlier times and places.  Children will enjoy taking a seat in the one-room, log school house and having a lesson about maple syrup.  Stop by the General Store for some sweet treats and baked goods.  In the spirit of the season, a variety of maple syrup products and other one-of-a-kind items will be available at the Gift Shop.  A special feature on March 9 will be a demonstration of maple taffy making.

The Sweet Taste of Spring Maple Syrup Festival is a fun way for families to get out together and enjoy the day while learning about our past.  Admission is $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and $6.50 for children ages 6-12.  Children and 5 and under are free.  For more information regarding this event and future Westfield events, call 519-621-8851 or visit westfield.heritage.ca .

Westfield Heritage Village is located in Rockton, Ontario on Kirkwall Road (Regional Road 552), just off Hwy 8, between Hamilton and Cambridge.

Photo Credit: Jacklyn Brown

 

Maple Syrup at Westfield- Coming March 2

 

With spring in the air, many families are searching for something fun to do together outside.  Look no further than the Sweet Taste of Spring maple syrup festival at Westfield Heritage Village.  The village’s gorgeous rural setting is a fun place to learn all about how maple syrup is made.  Free horse and wagon rides, a trip to the sugar bush and a chance to taste one of Canada’s sweetest traditions make for a great day out.

In the village’s Early Settlement area, visitors can learn how maple sugar was first produced by Canada’s First Nations communities, and how these techniques were shared with early European immigrants.  At the D’Aubigny Inn, find out how early 19^th century pioneers used three iron cauldrons to produce large quantities of delicious syrup.  A picturesque walk into the sugar bush leads to the modern sugar shack, where you can sample some of Westfield’s very own maple syrup.  This year, Westfield is very pleased to have a brand new maple syrup evaporator, recently funded by the Friends of Westfield.  The tours and demonstrations run from 10 am. to 4 pm. on Sundays March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 and during March Break on two days only - Wednesday March 12 and Thursday March 13.

Modestly priced, delicious pancakes and syrup, with ham or sausage, will be served by the St. George Lion’s Club throughout the day at the Ironwood Hall.  This year, the club will celebrate ten years of flipping pancakes at Westfield!  For more sweet treats, visit the General Store for old-fashioned candy, hot apple cider and baked goods.  The Gift Shop will be selling a variety of maple syrup products and other one-of-a-kind items.  Free horse-drawn wagon rides throughout the day will take you on a lively tour around the village. 

Westfield is a unique place for families, with something interesting to see and do around every corner.  The village’s more than thirty-five heritage buildings are staffed by authentically costumed interpreters, who will take you back to earlier times and places.  Children will enjoy taking their seat in the one-room, log school house, meeting the blacksmith, or visiting the Jerseyville Train Station.

Admission to the Sweet Taste of Spring Maple Syrup Festival is $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and people with disabilities and $6.50 for children ages 6-12.  Little ones 5 and under are free.  For more information regarding the Sweet Taste of Spring and future Westfield events, call 519-621-8851 or visit Westfield online at www.westfieldheritage.ca .

Westfield Heritage Village is located in Rockton, Ontario on Kirkwall Road (Regional Road 552), just off Hwy 8, between Hamilton and Cambridge.