Black Creek Pioneer Village Activities

Black Creek Pioneer Village Activities

The Black Creek Pioneer Village is Toronto’s largest outdoor history site. It’s part of a rich network of recreational areas across Toronto. It’s great for families to just get outside and explore the Black Creek Pioneer Village together.

Before you head into the Village, make sure to visit the McNair Gallery, located in the Visitors’ Centre to see authentic artifacts and browse special exhibits. What did women wear under there? Explore 19th century fashion and the undergarments women wore to achieve the fashionable female figure of the day.

Ongoing activities:

Pioneer Folk Productions: Visitors explore pioneer times with an interactive activity. Quilting, spinning and more. It’s a different activity every weekday.

Meet the animals: Visit with hens, geese, turkeys, horses, pigs, cows, new born lambs in the barnyard.

Behind closed doors: You can tour buildings not open to the public and discover what went on behind closed doors in Victorian Society.

PastPort to the past: Kids can grab a PastPort and go behind the counters in historic buildings, do hands-on activities and get their PastPort stamped. This activity can be enjoyed all season long. Additional fee is required.

Printing Office House. Photo by Elena

Seasonal activities:

Village Folk: Who would you be if you lived at Black Creek. Pick a card, complete the activities and discover what life was like in a Pioneer town.

Wagonette Rides: Travel the Village in style in a horse-drawn wagonette.

Cabinet of curiosities: What on earth? Guess the origins of these mysterious thingamajics from the past.

Victorian Dancing: Tap your toes and learn the steps to a popular Victorian dance.

Pitch in: Help finish pioneer daily tasks like making candles and teasing wool. A different activity every weekday.

Hands-on History: Kids can build a log cabin, weave on a giant weaving wall, dress up in pioneer clothes and more.

Games on the Green: Try your hand at 19th century games like croquet, badminton, graces, and waling on stilts.

Carrots & Apples: Discover the foods that pioneer grew in their gardens and then plant a seed to help vegetables grow.

Sherlock Holmes and the Mystery of the Golden Egg: In March. Kids will enjoy finding clues in and out in the village buildings and helping Sherlock Holmes solve the Mystery of the Golden Egg. Free horse-drawn wagon rides are also a highlight.

Mothers’ Day Tea: Mothers will enjoy this fantastic day which includes a delicious meal and a tour of the historic village (reservation required).

Pirates & Princesses: Three days of Fairy Tale family fun in May. Kids will love lovely characters, interactive activities and great crafts.

Don’t miss the Fairy Tale family Tea Character Brunch.

Doors open Toronto in May.

Fathers’ Day Weekend fun: Revolutionary War re-enactment. In June, over one hundred soldiers set up for the colorful Battle of Black Creek. Kids will love the rubber band shooting gallery. Enjoy a special Father’s Day BBQ’d ribs lunch.

Canada Day Celebration and Citizenship Ceremony: Celebrate Canada’s past and future. Special activities include a Citizenship Ceremony, live music, special Village tour, sampling in the Brewery, traditional games and horse-drawn wagon rides.

WW1 Anniversary Ceremony: The British Home Child Advocacy & Research Association and Black Creek Pioneer Village honour all the British Home Children who were affected by this historical event.

Quilts at the Creeks in August: Come and view this outdoor art exhibit of hand-made quilts. Get inspired, buy a one-of-a-kind quilt or pick up supplies to make your own (this event is held in partnership with the York Heritage Quilters Guild).

Hop Harvest in August: Help harvest the hops, watch the beer being made, try some great soft hop yeast bread and beer brownies and sample some ale in the Brewery (reservation is required).

Pioneer Harvest Festival: In September, this Mennonite and Pennsylvania German festival is full of delicious foods and traditional pioneer demonstrations. Don’t miss the fast-paced, one of a kind quilt auction and horse-drawn wagon rides.

A Spirited Affair: Celebrating Beer, Whiskey and Wine. In September, step back in time and enjoy food, drinks and dancing of the Victorian 1860s at this fun evening event. Interact with lovely characters, while sampling drinks and pairing them with gourmet foods.

Enjoy live music, fun game and a silent auction.

British Home Child Day: Is there a question mark in your family tree? You can be part of the ten percent of Canadians who are British Home Child descendants and not know it. Discover this hidden gem of Canadian history. Browse stories, photographs, shipping lists and artifacts to uncover the little-known stories of British Home Childer from 1863 to 1939.

Thanksgiving Dinners: Celebrate Thanksgiving with your friends and family with a delicious, traditional feast. Enjoy a sample of historic ale or take a horse-drawn wagon ride around the Village.

Howling Hootenanny: A favourite time of year for many kids will love trick or treating through the historic buildings and flinging apples with the Apple Sling Shot.

Ghost Walks: Join one of three tours with expert guides as they take you on an intimate candlelit tour through some of the most active historic buildings.

Howling Hootenanny: In October, experience something different during Halloween. Bring your kids to Black Creek Pioneer Village for a “scary” good time. Enjoy old-time Halloween traditions in the historic Vilalge and catch its spooktacular shows on the main stage.

Say Cheese, Say Cheers: Walk through a splendid pairing of artisanal cheeses and craft beers including the Black Creek Historic Ales.

The working lives of Chinese Canadian Women, 1923 – 1967. Fascinating interviews, stories and photographs document Canada’s 20th century Chinese women’s history.

Christmas

Christmas in the Black Creek Pioneer Village: Step back in time to the Christmas of yesteryear and enjoy old-fashioned family fun. Weekends are filled with Christmas tours, traditional treats and ballroom dancing. On December weekends visit with Santa and take a ride on a horse-drawn wagon.

Christmas Feasts & Flaming puddings: Learn about the origins of Christmas foods, marvel as the flaming pudding enters the room and then taste the delicious Christmas treat.

Tour of Traditions: Tour historic homes and discover the origins of Christmas traditions popular today.

Holiday Greetings: Make a Victorian Christmas card.

Christmas Treats: Sample traditional Christmas goodies baked right here at the Village. Traditional Christmas Dinners. Bring your friends and family for a delicious traditional feast and enjoy the magic of the Village at Christmas.

Christmas by Lamplight: Make your holiday season a memorable one at this truly Victorian Christams evening event. Enjoy live music, ballroom dancing, traditional treats, singing choirs in the Church, chestnuts roasting over an open fire and more. A traditional dinner option is also available to complete your evening (this is a pre-ticketed event).

Events:

Pioneer Birthday Parties: Celebrate your child’s birthday with a journey to the past. Black Creek Pioneer Village creates fun and unique party opportunities for time-travellers. Pioneer costumes for party-goers; pioneer birthday cakes; Mystery History loot bags;

Choose from three exciting party themes.

Celebrate your wedding in a historical & enchanting setting.

Corporate Meetings and Events. Full-day Meeting & Flexible Packages Available. On-site Catering.

Get in on the Action:

Pioneer Day Camps, July & August. Get into period costume and experience life as it was in the 1860s.

Young Apprentice Program: Want to time travel? Wonder what it’s like to work in a historical costume? Go behind the scenes to apprentice as a costumed museum educator and in a historic trade or craft. A unique week for youth!