These youngsters are getting a first-hand lesson in tapping maple trees at the Maple Festival. Photo by Melody Burri
The winter season at Genesee Country Village & Museum is packed with activities to keep visitors warm and busy, regardless of the weather. Beginning January 5, GCV&M hosts weekly Nature Sundays featuring hikes on the Nature Center trails, stories, and crafts. A special feature of Nature Sundays is the opportunity to snowshoe and cross-country ski on not only the trails but right through the Historic Village as well! Guests can bring their own equipment, or borrow snowshoes from the Nature Center (as available). Nature Sundays run every Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm.
February and March bring events for all ages and interests to the Museum, beginning on Saturday, February 8 with an evening of fun and adventure at Owl Moon from 5 – 8 pm. Under an almost-full moon, guests will take a guided walk through frosty, wooded trails, then enjoy getting up close with some owls during a live presentation by Wild Wings, Inc. This family-friendly night out also includes owl stories and a campfire marshmallow roast. It’s a perfect evening celebrating the outdoors and the majestic owl! Reservations are required for this event and can be made online at gcv.org.
Next, GCV&M answers the question “What is Kohlfahrt?” On Saturday, February 15, you and your most adventurous friends can hike on trails through the wintry landscapes of the Nature Center and Historic Village, stopping for fun and increasingly hilarious competitive games, as well as beer and wine samples, followed by a hearty German-style meal of sausages, brats, potatoes, strudel, and more beer. That’s what you call a Kohlfahrt adventure! Reservations are required for this 21 and over event.
Life is sweet during March’s Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugar Soiree. For two weekends, March 21-22 and 28-29, guests can head into the woods to discover all things maple. Following the Nature Center’s Maple History Trail, visitors will learn how various maple-collecting methods evolved, and get hands-on with the tools of the trade. Along the way, you’ll see how sap is made into thick, amber maple syrup, and try a sample of the finished product at the Museum’s sugarhouse. In addition, guests can enjoy a pancake breakfast each day of the Maple Sugar Festival, with all the delicious trimmings, including maple syrup! On April 4, GCV&M hosts the Maple Sugar Soiree, a grown-up party celebrating the maple sugar harvest featuring music, maple-themed food and drinks, a cozy campfire, and more. This sweet celebration will cure all manner of winter doldrums. Reservations are encouraged to this 21 and over event.
As winter turns to spring, the Museum will host its annual Antique Show and Sale on Saturday, April 25, in addition to a Preview Party on Friday, April 24 that offers an exclusive sneak peek at the show during an evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and includes an all-day pass for Saturday. Collectibles of all types will be under one roof for this perennial favorite.
