The summer season is in full swing at Genesee Country Village & Museum, and the month of August is packed with programs and events for the whole family. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and presents daily programming in the Historic Village, opportunities to interact with costumed interpreters and see 19th-century trades in action, meet farm animals, enjoy lunch or a craft beer in the Depot Restaurant and Freight House Pub, shop in the Flint Hill Store, and more. Daily admission tickets are available for purchase online at a discounted rate: https://shop.gcv.org/daily-admission-ticket-2022-season.html
A Novel Weekend – With a Sherlock Holmes Twist
On Saturday and Sunday, August 6 and 7, step into the history, mystery, and culinary delights of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes during A Novel Weekend at GCV&M. Explore the life and times of Doyle and the world which inspired his works. Try solving a Sherlock Homles-style mystery as it plays out throughout the Historic Village, sample the sweets and treats adapted from the Sherlock Holmes cookbook, and more. This literary weekend will also feature book sales and signings by local authors and booksellers, first edition copies of the Sherlock Holmes books on display in the John L. Wehle Gallery, a tea house experience in historic Hosmer’s Inn, a talk in the Gallery exploring smoking jackets, carved pipes, and related paraphernalia (Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m.), a Gallery talk entitled “Silent Seduction – The Language of the Fan” on Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m., and more. August 6 and 7 are also Share the Museum Days, during which time GCV&M Members are invited to bring two guests for free to enjoy all the museum has to offer. A Novel Weekend is sponsored by KidsOutandAbout.com. Learn more and purchase tickets now: https://www.gcv.org/events/a-novel-weekend/.
Kids Free Days on Thursdays in August
Thursdays in August are Kids Free Days at GCV&M. On August 11, 18, and 24, all kids 12 and under will receive free general admission. Families will find a wide array of activities in the Historic Village for kids to enjoy, with special themes each Thursday: The Science of Cooking (August 11), Crafts and Trades (August 18), and Fun and Games (August 24). Families can also visit the John L. Wehle Gallery, where they will find hands-on opportunities to create a waterfowl clothespin craft inspired by the new exhibit Duck, Duck, Shoot! The Story of American Waterbirds, as well as a ditty bag craft. The nature trails at GCV&M’s Nature Center will be open for outdoor adventures, families can enjoy lunch in the Depot Restaurant or Pavilion Garden Restaurant, and historic treats will be available for purchase in the D.B. Munger & Co. Confectionery. On the way out, visitors can explore the Flint Hill Store to shop for traditional gifts, historic toys, fudge and goodies, and hand-crafted items made on-site in the Historic Village. It’s the perfect time to bring the whole family out to enjoy all that the museum has to offer. Kids Free Days are sponsored by ESL. Learn more: https://www.gcv.org/events/kids-free-day/
Summer Sunset Concert Series
GCV&M’s Summer Sunset Series continues on Friday, August 12, with The GateSwingers, and Friday, September 2, with The SkyCats. Visitors will enjoy live music from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. This series presents a rare opportunity to enjoy the museum grounds after-hours and watch as the sun sets over Flint Hill and enjoy a meal from the Depot Grill. The Freight House Pub and deck will be open for drinks and the Depot Restaurant will be open for dinner, snacks, and ice cream. These events are sponsored by Mercury Print Productions. Learn more and purchase tickets at https://www.gcv.org/events/summer-sunset-series/
National Silver Ball Tournament
Base ball fans (modern, and vintage alike) are invited to gather at GCV&M on Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14, for the National Silver Ball Tournament, which takes place in Silver Ball Park – a 19th-century base ball park replica. Vintage clubs from around the East Coast, Midwest, and Canada will visit GCV&M during this tournament weekend to compete in a round-robin tourney. Teams play using 19th-century rules and gear. Tickets are just $10 on Saturday and Sunday, and include access to all the museum has to offer. The Silver Ball Tournament is sponsored by LandPro Equipment. Learn more and purchase tickets at https://www.gcv.org/events/silver-ball/
Fiddlers’ Fair & Making Music Weekend
The museum will dig into the country’s musical roots during Fiddlers’ Fair & Making Music Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, August 27 and 28. Visitors will enjoy an extraordinary musical experience that brings together musicians on multiple stages for a weekend of non-stop entertainment. Explore the influence of Irish musical stylings brought to New York State by laborers on the Erie Canal, meet a luthier crafting stringed instruments on site and learn about his process, listen to a song series focused on the history of the Underground Railroad, and more. Settle in to hear the variety of performers, enjoy food and drinks, explore the Historic Village, and spend the day immersed in live musical performances. This event is sponsored by National Grid and WXXI. Learn more and purchase tickets at https://www.gcv.org/events/making-music-weekend/
Historical happenings every day
Visitors to GCV&M this season will find something fascinating happening around the Historic Village on any day. Meander through expertly tended heirloom gardens and orchards, explore historic kitchens and see 19th-century cooking in action, meet heirloom breeds on the Pioneer Farmstead, enjoy a historical craft beer in the Freight House Pub, chat with knowledgeable costumed interpreters working on trades like coopering, blacksmithing, or weaving, and so much more.
Explorations in nature
The Genesee Country Village & Museum’s Nature Center and its surrounding miles of nature trails are open to the public for explorations into the flora, fauna, and geological character of the Genesee Valley region. Plus, families can take advantage of private fishing excursions to Oatka Creek (Sunday, August 7, and Sunday, August 21), as well as creek wading on Sunday, August 14. Pre-registration is required for both experiences. Learn more about booking a private fishing excursion at https://www.gcv.org/events/fishing-at-lake-surprise/ or book a creek wading experience at https://www.gcv.org/events/wading-in-the-oatka-creek/
In John L. Wehle Gallery
This month in the John L. Wehle Gallery, visitors have the opportunity to join Tonia Galban of the Mohawk Nation Bear Clan on Saturday, August 13, for a day-long class and learn how to craft a reed duck decoy, much like the Indigenous reed decoys featured in the new exhibit, Duck, Duck, Shoot! The Story of American Waterbirds. Learn more and purchase a ticket at https://www.gcv.org/events/reed-decoy/. In addition to exploring the new exhibit, visitors can still enjoy “Consuming Desires: The Great American Wedding” on display through the 2022 season in the Gallery, and can attend a series of curator- and guest speaker-led talks including “Sexing the Body: Garments as Gender Artifacts” with curator Brandon Brooks on Saturday, August 20, from 2 to 3 p.m. View a full list of this season’s Gallery talks and programs at https://www.gcv.org/john-l.-wehle-gallery-talks-tours/
Order 19th-century treats from the D.B. Munger & Co. Confectionery
Online pre-orders of handmade 19th-century baked goods from museum’s Historic Confectionery are back this season. Visitors can pre-order cookies, breads, and other confections online at https://www.gcv.org/explore/historic-village/d.b.-munger-confectionery/ and pick them up on select Saturdays from the Flint Hill Store. During the month of August, the Confectionery has Blueberry Hand Pies, Raspberry Preserves Star Bread, and Chelsea Buns. Museum visitors can also shop in the Confectionery on-site Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Thursdays in August during Kids Free Days.
Purchase tickets online in advance and save
With a full schedule of special events on weekends, plus demonstrations and activities throughout the week, Genesee Country Village & Museum will be bustling with fun for all ages in August. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purchase tickets online in advance to get early bird discount pricing – there is a small additional fee at the door for daily admission and special event tickets purchased day-of. Visit https://www.gcv.org to learn more and purchase tickets online.
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