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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum, ON
Aerial view of the Village
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
David Fife's cabin
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Jacquard loom
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang grist mill
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Pop Culture Days
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Sawyer-Massey steam engine
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
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Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
By Elizabeth King, photos courtesy Lang Pioneer Village
Have you ever wanted to step back in time? Well, just outside of Peterborough there’s a place where people have been doing just that for almost half a century. Lang Pioneer Village Museum, just north of Keene, Ontario was established in 1967 as Peterborough County’s major project to commemorate the centennial of Confederation. The village is set in a picturesque valley on the banks of the scenic Indian River. The museum features over 25 restored and recreated buildings including David Fife’s cabin (of Red Fife Wheat fame), a First Nations camp, a blacksmith, a working gristmill and much, much more. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life and experience life at a more-gentle pace. Put your cell phone away and talk face to face with costumed interpreters who demonstrate the life and trades of the 1800’s. The village is complete with farm animals, vegetable and herb gardens and other authentic details of a 19th-century hamlet.
In its 49th season, Lang Pioneer Village Museum educates and entertains an average of 20,000 every year. It is open seven days a week from Father’s Day to Labour Day and features a number of special events throughout the summer and fall. At Lang, visitors can see one of the few remaining water powered grist mills in Ontario in operation. You can also marvel at one of North America’s few remaining operational jacquard looms, essentially the great grandfather of the modern day computer and dating from the early 1800’s. Traditional music can often be heard at special events over the summer and there is something new, or should I say old, to experience almost every day. Head to Peterborough County this summer, and join in on some good old fashioned fun!
- 20th Annual Father’s Day Smoke & Steam Show: Sunday, June 19, 10 am to 4 pm - Enjoy the largest show of its kind in the Kawarthas featuring tractor and power equipment displays, games, a parade through the village and more.
- Lang Celebrates Confederation Dominion Day: Friday, July 1, 10 am to 4 pm - Celebrate Canada’s 149th birthday with an 1860’s celebration!
- Fenian Raid Re-enactment: Sunday, July 3, 10 am to 4 pm - Witness a Fenian Raid re-enactment to mark the 150th anniversary of the 1866 “Invasion of Canada”.
- 20th Annual Antique & Classic Car Show: Sunday, July 10, 10 am to 4 pm - Car enthusiasts from across Ontario showcase their antique & classic cars, and vintage motorcycles with over 50 trophies to be won.
- Festival of Textiles: Sunday, August 14, 10 am to 4 pm - See demonstrations and displays from local artists and guilds working in textile traditions. Watch a working jacquard loom, the technology that lead to the birth of the computer age.
- Harvest Day Corn Roast: Sunday, September 4, 10 am to 4 pm - Join us as we celebrate the harvest season and the 170th anniversary of the Lang Grist Mill. Featuring threshing demonstrations, samples using Red Fife Wheat, plenty of fire-cooked corn and more.
- Historic Literary Walks: Thursday & Friday, September 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23, 7 pm - Experience part of the cultural history of the County of Peterborough during a twilight guided tour of the stories of Peterborough’s pioneer authors and poets. Pre-booking is required.
- Applefest: Sunday, October 2, 10 am to 4 pm - Tempt your taste buds with the sweetest event of the year! Come out to Lang for a colourful fall celebration of apples and the harvest season.
- Historic All Hallows’ Eve: Friday & Saturday, October 28 & 29, 6 pm to 9 pm - Discover the origins and traditions of Halloween. Featuring storytelling, games, palm reading and more, this family event is sure to get you into the Halloween spirit.
- Christmas by Candlelight: Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, 5 pm to 9 pm - Get into the merriment of the season with a traditional Pioneer Christmas at Lang Pioneer Village Museum. Delight in the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season!
Experience the 1800s; the sights, sounds and interpretations of life in Peterborough County at Lang Pioneer Village Museum. For more information on the Museum, please visit langpioneervillage.ca.