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Pickering Museum Village, the largest living history pioneer village in Durham Region, is now open for the 2025 season.
There are over 19 heritage buildings from 1810-1920, charming gardens, and orchards in the village — it is like stepping into a time machine but with a quirky twist!
If this is your first time, you can explore the village on a self-guided tour using the booklet or downloading audio tours.
There are two incredible options for your audio tour. Strap on your headphones and embark on a self-guided audio adventure to the Roaring 1920s. Learn about Pickering’s jamming music scene and how prohibition created a thriving bootlegging business. It’s like being in The Great Gatsby, minus the drama and flapper dresses.
Prefer a different era? Join Nellie, the ultimate time-travelling companion, as she transports you back 170 years to Pickering’s 1850s Boom.
If you are a frequent visitor, here’s a rundown of all the experiences offered this summer:
Pickering Museum Village
- Museum Masterpiece: Paint in the Village (May 30)
Create an acrylic painting on canvas with step-by-step guidance from a professional artist. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters, this workshop is open to participants aged 12 and up. - Little Sprouts – Caregiver and Tots (May 25, June 29, July 27, Aug 31)
Caregivers and tots (18 months–4 years) enjoy garden play, hands-on activities, and a cozy story or songtime. A relaxed, parented program encouraging early learning and nature exploration. - Blacksmith Workshop: BBQ Skewers and Steak Flipper (June 14 & 15)
Craft your own BBQ skewer and steak flipper in this hands-on blacksmithing experience. Learn metalworking techniques from a professional blacksmith in a unique, fire-forged workshop setting. - Saturday S’mores (1st Saturday of each month, starting in June)
Celebrate summer with campfire s’mores, outdoor crafts, and themed activities at Pickering Museum Village. A family-friendly event full of tasty fun and creativity, running monthly. - Plot to Plate: Heirloom Edition (May 31–September 20)
Plant and harvest your own heirloom vegetables. Includes a personal garden plot, rare plant varieties, and guidance from a gardening expert. Grow history-rich produce all season long. - Family Adventure Day: The Amazing Museum Race (June 28)
Compete in a fun-filled race with challenges across Pickering Museum Village. A perfect day of bonding, laughter, and adventure to kick off the summer with your family. - Pickering Paranormal Tours (Thursdays & Saturdays in July & August)
Explore Pickering’s eerie past with ghost stories, tales of crime, and lantern-lit cemetery walks. A chilling, history-filled evening tour not for the faint of heart. Ages 14+ recommended. - Woodworker’s Apprentice: Charcuterie Board (July 5 | Aug 16): Create a custom charcuterie board while learning woodworking basics. Cut, sand, wood-burn, and finish a beautiful piece perfect for entertaining or gifting.
- Woodworker’s Apprentice: Porch Sign Painting (July 19 | Aug 30): Design and paint a personalized porch sign. Learn stenciling techniques and create a seasonal welcome sign that adds charm to your front entryway.
- Woodworker’s Apprentice: Jar Vase Holder (June 21 | August 2): Build and personalize a rustic jar vase holder using wood-burning or chalk paint. A creative and hands-on workshop perfect for flower lovers and DIY enthusiasts.
- Fairy Tour (Sept 20 & 21): Discover fairy homes hidden throughout the village and garden. Enjoy themed crafts, magical stories, and folklore in a whimsical outdoor setting. A family-friendly fantasy experience.
- Fairy Tour After Dark (19+) (Sept 18 & 19): Uncover the darker side of fairytales after dark. Explore stories of fae, sirens, and changelings in this eerie, adults-only tour through Pickering Museum Village.
Admission costs are $4.65 for adults, $3.54 for students/seniors, $3.00 for children, and $14.80 for families, excluding tax. Event costs vary.
Getting There:
Pickering Museum Village
Getting to Pickering Museum Village is as easy as pie. Just hop in your horseless carriage (a.k.a. car) and drive for a mere 10 minutes from Pickering Town Centre. The village is located at 2365 Concession Road #6, accessible via Hwy 7 between Brock Road and Westney Road. You can’t miss it unless you have a knack for getting lost in time loops.
