The Village Harvest
Before freezers and grocery stores, survival meant preparation. Learn the time-tested techniques of preserving, pickling, and putting away that kept families fed through long New Brunswick winters – Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6 from 10am to 5pm.
A weekend built around the work of getting ready for winter.
Our villagers are making butter churned by hand, apples pressed into cider, corn broom straw bundled and bound by hand, and candles dipped in beeswax. Real 19th-century processes, hands-on and open for anyone to watch or try. Bring the family, wander at your own pace, and see how a community once got itself through the toughest season without today’s tools and technology.
Come for an hour or stay for the day. Events run throughout the weekend and welcome all ages, so follow your nose to the cider and let our Village Harvest take you back.
What’s Happening – ALL WEEKEND
Pickling Demonstration – At the Hagerman House, all day
Mrs. Hagerman would love your help processing her vegetables for the winter. Drop by and witness how a household would preserve its harvest before refrigeration existed.
Harvest-Themed Lessons – At the Prince William School, all day.
Settle in at the Prince William School & sit behind the desk for a lesson built around the harvest, with storybooks, slates, and chalk.
Harvest Scavenger Hunt – The entire village, all day.
Enjoy a self-guided route across the site built around harvest-themed clues. A good excuse to see the whole village with friends and family. Pick up your scavenger hunt at the Welcome Centre.
Cider Press Demonstration – at the Hagerman Orchard at 11am
The Hagermans need your help loading apples and turning the press as they make traditional cider in the fresh air of the orchard.
Corn Broom Demonstration – At the Summer Stage at 11am
See corn broom straw bundled and bound by hand using traditional broom-making techniques: the process that turns raw broomcorn into a finished, functional broom.
Butter Churning – At the Joslin Dairy at 1pm
Step up to the churn and try your hand at one of the most satisfying kitchen tasks of the 19th century. It takes a little patience and a little elbow grease, but the results speak for themselves. Fresh, real, and made by your own hands – it doesn’t get much better than that.
Candle Making Demonstration – At the Jones house at 2pm
The Jones’ are dipping traditional beeswax candles. Come see how a household stocked up on light before winter.
What’s Happening – SUNDAY ONLY
Church Service – At the Prince William School at 2pm
Join us for a traditional church service at Kings Landing, led by our interpreters and rooted in the rhythms of 19th-century community life. Whether you come to worship, to listen, or simply to experience a quieter moment in the village, all are welcome through the doors.
Plan Your Visit
The Village Harvest is included with site admission – Tickets are available online or at the gate. See our Hours & Prices page for current rates and to book your Kings Landing tickets. See our Plan Your Visit page for information on what to expect, suggestions on what to do bring, and much more.