Lang Pioneer Village Bringing Halloween Traditions to Life With Spooky All Hallows’ Eve

By Scott Arnold

From a ride through the darkened village to old-fashioned Halloween games, Spooky All Hallows’ Eve returns to Lang Pioneer Village Museum on October 23rd and 24th.

Spooky All Hallows’ Eve returns to Lang Pioneer Village Museum on October 23rd and 24th, featuring Halloween-themed activities, historic traditions and family-friendly fun. (photo courtesy of lang pioneer village)

Halloween traditions have plenty of history behind them, and visitors can explore some of their origins during two evenings of spooky activities at Lang Pioneer Village Museum.

Spooky All Hallows’ Eve runs from 6pm to 9pm on Friday, October 23rd and Saturday, October 24th, transforming the historic village into a series of Halloween-themed scenes.

Visitors can take a tractor and wagon ride through the village, learn about the history of coffins and body snatching at the Carpenter Shop and hear the legend behind the jack-o’-lantern from storyteller Glen Caradus, who brings the tale of Stingy Jack to life.

The event also includes a look at paranormal investigations conducted at the museum by the Paranormal Seekers, an 1890s-style Halloween party with traditional games and a magic show inside the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building. Magic show performances take place at 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 8:30pm each night.

Other activities include visiting a witch’s lair, meeting Madam Fortune, trying hula-hooping tricks with a ringmaster, making a Halloween craft and entering a colouring contest. Visitors can also test their courage with mystery crocks, visit the Botched Bakery and search the village for items on a pirate treasure map.

Hot chocolate and sweet treats will be available for purchase at the Hotel, while Ben’s Kettle Corn will be on-site making fresh kettle corn. Candy and other sweets will also be available at the General Store. Visitors can wear their Halloween costumes or have their faces painted by Faces By 2.

Although some of the Halloween origin stories explore darker history, organizers note that the event is designed for all ages and is not intended to be a frightening experience.

Admission is $17 for adults, $12 for students and seniors aged 60 and older, and $9 for youth aged two to 14. Children under two can attend for free. A $45 family admission option includes two adults and up to four youth aged two to 14.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the door. On-site parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information and tickets, visit Lang Pioneer Village Museum’s website.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Applefest Set to Bring Fall Fun and Flavours to Lang Pioneer Village

By Scott Arnold

Apples, live music, wagon rides and old-fashioned activities will fill Lang Pioneer Village Museum on Sunday, September 27th for the annual Applefest celebration.

Applefest takes place Sunday, September 27th from 10am to 4pm at Lang Pioneer Village Museum. (photo courtesy of lang pioneer village)

Running from 10am to 4pm, Applefest celebrates the fall harvest with a full day of demonstrations, activities, food and entertainment.

Visitors can see the Cider Mill in operation, take a horse and wagon ride with Highview Farm, and catch threshing and sheep-shearing demonstrations. There will also be demonstrations of natural dyeing, chair caning and woodworking by the Peterborough Artisan Centre Wood Turners and Kawartha Wood Turners Guild.

For families, the event includes apple tic-tac-toe, apple crafts, old-fashioned schoolyard games, and a children's area featuring story times and crafts with the Otonabee-South Monaghan Public Library.

There will be plenty to browse and taste as well, including fresh apples, apple cider and candy apples, along with freshly popped kettle corn and candy floss. The Bewdley Lions Club Food Truck will be serving barbecue, while Call Creations Catering & Events will also have food available for purchase.

The day will also feature traditional music from Lotus White on the Weaver Shop porch, antique clocks and timepieces from the Quinte Timekeepers, a Marie Dressler Foundation Vintage Film Festival display, and the Peterborough Agricultural Society Homecraft Show in the PCAHB.

Visitors are encouraged to bring cash, as there is no ATM on-site. Some food, activities and products have an additional cost.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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Peterborough County Declares May As Museum Month

Peterborough County has proclaimed May as Museum Month to celebrate the region's rich cultural heritage and the vital role museums play in communities, as announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth King and Lang Pioneer Village.

This year, Museum Month also includes International Museum Day on May 18, a global celebration that recognizes museums as centers of education, innovation, and cultural connection, according to Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden.

“During Museum Month, we invite everyone to explore the charm, heritage, and stories that make Peterborough County and The Kawarthas so special,” she said. From scenic rural landscapes to immersive historic experiences, the region offers meaningful opportunities to connect with the past. A standout destination is Lang Pioneer Village Museum, where a recreated 19th-century village brings early rural life to life through heritage buildings, traditional skills, and hands-on experiences. It offers visitors an authentic taste of the history, landscapes, and traditions that define The Kawarthas.” 

Peterborough County highlighted Lang Pioneer Village, noting that they do more than preserve history — they foster learning, inspire curiosity and contribute to our local economy and shared identity.

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Fleming College Museum Management and Curatorship Students Develop Exhibit Through Lang Pioneer Village Museum

Lang Pioneer Village Museum and Fleming College present Less Work, More Play; a self-guided, interactive exhibit developed by Fleming College’s Museum Management and Curatorship students.

Photo courtesy of Fleming Museum Management, Instagram.

Over the course of the program, MMC students have been working to design and construct the hands-on and self-directed exhibit within the Ayotte Cabin. The exhibit encourages visitors of all ages to explore, play and reflect on the enduring role of leisure in building connections and fostering creativity across generations. Visitors will gain an understanding of the difference between creative pastimes and necessary domestic tasks, discovering how creativity emerged naturally through daily life.

There will be a welcoming address by a student MC with speeches from students, faculty and friends of the program beginning at 2:15 p.m. Guests will then have the opportunity to interact with hands-on activities developed for the exhibit.

The exhibit opening will take place April 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (PCAHB), located at 146 Lang Rd.

Lang Pioneer Village Museum notes that while the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building is fully accessible, the Ayotte Cabin in which the new exhibit is within is not. Pictures will be taken of the interior of the cabin and interactive activities will be brought out by interpreters to show visitors who are unable to step inside the exhibit during the open season.

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Lang Pioneer Village Sets May 20 As Opening Day

May 20 is opening day at Lang Pioneer Village Museum to kick off its 2025 season, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., announced on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth King and Lang Pioneer Village.

The museum’s summer hours and special event season kick off with the annual Father’s Day Smoke & Steam Show on Sunday, June 15. Special events this year include Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show and Christmas by Candlelight.

The Keene Hotel, which underwent flooring upgrades over the fall and winter, will also reopen this spring.

“Spring is an exciting time for us here at the Museum as we switch gears and look forward to welcoming visitors back to the site for our Spring and Summer programming,” said Elizabeth King, museum operations manager. “Whether you are joining us for the hustle and bustle of an event day, digging in deeper at a workshop, or are here for the slower pace of a regular day - we invite you to experience history and learn with us.”

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Peterborough County Officially Declares May As Museum Month

Peterborough County has proclaimed May as Museum Month to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the region and the vital role museums play in communities, announced on Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Heather Doughty and Lang Pioneer Village

This year, Museum Month also includes International Museum Day on May 18, a global celebration that recognizes museums as centers of education, innovation, and cultural connection according to Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden.

“Residents and visitors are encouraged to take this opportunity to explore the many museums, galleries and heritage sites across Peterborough County, including Lang Pioneer Village Museum, one of our region’s premier historical attractions,” she said. “With its immersive 19th-century village experience, Lang Pioneer Village offers a unique window into the past and showcases the stories that shaped our communities.” 

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'Christmas By Candlelight' Hits Lang Pioneer Village To Get In the Holiday Spirit

Lang Pioneer Village is celebrating a traditional pioneer Christmas with ‘Christmas by Candlelight’ for Dec. 7 and 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Heather Doughty Photography and Lang Pioneer Village.

The village is being lit with candles, lamps and lanterns. The nights feature horse-drawn wagon rides, campfire stories, old holiday treats, photo shoots and Christmas carols.

Events and activities include holiday treat samples, reindeer games, meals, raffles and more.

Sunday at 7 p.m. will feature a live nativity complete with animals and a choir by the Keene United Church.

Lang Pioneer Village is requesting one or more non-perishable food item(s) to donate to the Otonabee South Monaghan Food Cupboard (drop off in the Museum Shop).

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Lang Pioneer Village Hosting Annual Christmas Bazaar Nov. 16

Get ahead on holiday shopping as Lang Pioneer Village is hosting its annual Christmas Bazaar taking place on Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy of HEather Doughty and Lang Pioneer Village.

This market is being held indoors and outdoors at the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building. Various local vendors will sell hand-crafted gifts.

Several handmade items will be available for purchase at the bazaar. The kitchen will also sell food and drink such as soup, hot dogs and refreshments.

A photo booth and raffles are other available amenities at the event.

Admission is by donation on a pay-what-you-want basis.

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Lang Pioneer Village Museum Bringing Halloween of the Past to Life With 'Spooky All Hallows' Eve'

Lang Pioneer Village is inviting everyone to an evening of fun and games with origins of some favourite Halloween traditions at the Spooky All Hallows’ Eve On Oct. 25 and 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Heather Doughty and Lang Pioneer Village.

The night features a 19th-century All Hallows’ Eve celebration with a modern twist.

Events and amenities include a wagon/tractor ride, history of confines, party games, graveyard stroll, a witch’s lair, Pirate Hall with a treasure hunt, potions/poison class, shopping, magic show, fortune telling and more.

Listen to the Michi Saagiig people’s tale of the Wendigo. Learn about paranormal investigations undertaken at Lang Pioneer Village Museum by ghost hunters, the Paranormal Seekers and see some of the specialized equipment they use to make their discoveries. Warm up by the fire and witness the magic of the Samhain Celtic fire festival.

Take a break by the Cider Barn for some delicious hot chocolate and monster cookies or visit the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (PCAHB) for a hot dog or grilled cheese sandwich (additional fee applies). You can also purchase candy and sweet treats in the General Store as you learn about the origins of trick-or-treating.

Remember to come disguised to blend in with the spirits and ghosts lurking in the Village or have your face painted in the PCAHB Great Hall by Faces by 2. At the end of the evening, children will receive treat bags to enjoy on their way home.

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Lang Pioneer Village to Hold Corn Roast On Aug. 18

Join the harvest season as the Corn Roast at Lang Pioneer Village Museum is happening on Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Heather Doughty and Lang Pioneer Village.

The family-friendly day has historic demonstrations, live music, and plenty of fire-cooked corn. Tour with a free horse-drawn wagon ride and tour the historic village.

The village will teach visitors how corn was used back then such as cornbread, popcorn, dried corn, corn soups and corn relish in the Fitzpatrick House. They will also sample some Johnny cake with maple syrup in the Milburn House.

The village will have demonstrations including threshing, bagging, fanning mill and corn grinding.

A corn-on-the-cob eating contest will take place on the Village Green at 2 p.m. Corn crafts and corn hole by the Ayotte Cabin are some activities that will be run.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages 5-14) and free for children under five. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes two adults and up to four youths (ages 5-14). Visitors may purchase admission in advance via the Museum’s online shop but advance purchase is not required.

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