Flavours of Autumn at Upper Canada Village
Candy Pollard

For the first time, Upper Canada Village is opening its gates on select days in October, and welcoming visitors in to be part of the action! Spend your day in style, by starting with a head-to-toe makeover using authentically reproduced 1860s attire. Get a taste of 1860s Villager life observing some behind-the-scenes activity as Upper Canada Village’s heritage professionals get ready for winter, and try your own hand at 1860s chores. Enjoy the antics of an 1860s troupe of musicians, take a ride in a private horse-drawn carriage, plus savour the season through taste samples, heritage refreshments, or even a full-course meal at Willards Hotel.

For anyone who has wondered what it’s like to be a Villager at Upper Canada Village, the site’s new “Flavours of Autumn Villager Days” will allow them to get a real taste of 1860s life. For four days only, on Saturday and Sunday October 11 and 12, and again on Saturday October 18 and 25, visitors are invited to undergo a “head-to-toe” 1860s makeover in the Village costume department, then spend a few hours on site “in style”! A complete, authentically reproduced costume as worn by the Village’s own heritage professionals will be provided, all for only $20 per person plus admission. (Although the Village prides itself in carrying a range of every size of costume, quantities of some sizes are limited, and an early arrival is recommended). For only $9 more, visitors who rent a costume for the day can also sit for an 1860s keepsake portrait … a perfect way to create a special memory of the day!

There will be no time for just “milling around”, with lots of behind-the-scenes action as three 19th century mills are made ready for winter. At Bellamy’s Steam and Flour Mill, not only will visitors see how the heritage Miller grinds flour, but also how he meticulously dresses the millstone for next year’s season; they can also watch in fascination as the Village’s expert steam engine operator carefully dismantles piece-by-piece the 1860s-model engine for winter storage. Visitors will have the chance to watch heritage sawyers clean, service and winterize Beach’s Saw Mill, and check out what goes on at Asselstine’s Woollen Mill to ready it for the winter shutdown. A stop at the Cheese Factory will reveal how vats and equipment are drained before the cold sets in.

With summer crowds long gone, visitors will also have a better chance to get up close and see first-hand some 1860s trades. They will see how the Tinsmith fashions cups, sconces and other tinware. They can learn the secret of making brooms using 1860s technology from the Broommaker, and marvel at how horses are shod and iron is skilfully crafted into shape by our 19th century Blacksmith. Best of all, many of the products being made on site can be purchased at the Village Store.

Visitors can get in on the action too, and are invited to try their hand at 1860s chores, including ploughing the old-fashioned way at Loucks Farm (a real harrowing experience!) Help is also welcomed in stuffing mattresses with straw in the Cook’s Tavern Livery, and children will love dipping candles at McDiarmid House.

All this activity and fresh autumn air is sure to work up an appetite, and there will be no shortage of great food to satisfy anyone’s hunger. After sharing in the tradition of cidermaking at the Loucks Farmhouse, visitors can stop and pick up apple baskets and baked goods, for sale at Barkley’s Apple Stand outside the Village Store. The Village Bakery will be offering up taste samples of fresh-baked bread, warm out of the oven, and fresh loaves will be sold from the Village Store, where visitors can taste-test other treats such as jams and jellies, cider and more. Cook’s Tavern’s will be serving up 1860s refreshments such as Sarsaparilla and Ginger Beer, for only $2 a glass.

Willard’s Hotel will also be nserving up hearty harvest dinners. Visitors can sit back and relax over a full-course dinner. Willard’s is the ideal setting for a Thanksgiving family get-together or a delightful afternoon fall outing later in the month. Reservations are recommended by calling 613-543-0660. Thanksgiving dinner/admission packages are $22.95 for adults and $14.95 for children (12 and under) on October 11 and 12. A separate menu package will be available on the following two Saturdays.

As a special enhancement to the day, visitors can also experience the prestige and excitement of their very own horse-drawn carriage ride in the eloquent Pommier Carriage (only $20 per ride plus admission, cost will cover up to 4 adults per ride). In addition to the carriage, children will love the fact that the miniature train will also be in operation for tours around Crysler Park (train fares range from $1.50 to $4.00).

Clap-along, sing along and laugh-along entertainment will round out each day’s activities, when the Travelling Tiltons, a 19th century minstrel troupe cause a ruckus as they stroll into town each day . These boisterous and rowdy entertainers will give the crowd a taste of their "stand-up" comedy, singing, and lively instrumental music played on the banjo, bodhran, flutes, harmonica, fiddle, horns and accordion.

Admission fees to Upper Canada Village during its “Flavours of Autumn” program are up to half-price off the Village’s regular season admission rates, at only $8.95 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 5 – 12 (children 4 & under FREE). www.uppercanadavillage.com

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