Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene will once again be welcoming drop-in visitors five days a week beginning Wednesday (August 4), with the museum resuming its traditional self-guided living history format.
Previously, the museum was only offering pre-booked and time-limited guided tours as permitted under the pandemic restrictions of Ontario’s reopening plan. However, now that Ontario has entered step three of the reopening plan, the museum is again able to allow visitors to tour the museum on their own — with COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
“We’ve had our sights set on the day when we can open up again to a living history experience for our visitors,” says museum manager Laurie Siblock in a media release. “It is finally here. Staff and volunteers are excited to welcome visitors back to a village filled with the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of the 19th century.”
With the museum open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until the Labour Day weekend, visitors can tour the historical buildings of the village at their own pace on the date and time of their own choosing. Costumed interpreters, who will be stationed in some of the historic homes and businesses, will introduce visitors to the building’s history and demonstrate traditional trades.
Visitors will be required to wear face masks when entering all buildings on the property, as well as maintaining two metres distance between themselves and visitors from outside of their group, and are asked to practice proper hand sanitization and follow all posted signage while on site.
Following the end of the summer season on Sunday, September 5th, the museum will be offering pre-booked guided tours for groups of 10 or more from Monday to Friday (September 7 to December 17, with some dates unavailable). These tours must be booked at least two days in advance.
VIDEO: Discover the Sounds of History – Fitzpatrick House (Lang Pioneer Village Museum)
The museum will also once again be hosting special events this fall, beginning with Village by Lanternlight on Friday and Saturday, September 17th and 18th.
Other popular events returning this fall and winter include Applefest (Sunday, October 3rd), Historic All Hallows’ Eve (Friday and Saturday, October 29th and 30th) and Christmas by Candlelight (Saturday and Sunday, December 4th and 5th). Advanced booking will be required for all fall and winter events.
For more information on Lang Pioneer Village Museum including upcoming events, visit www.langpioneervillage.ca.
