Shaker Village releases fall, winter lineups
Stargazing, artwork, farm animals and more at Mass. museum
Hancock Shaker Village’s fall and winter schedule includes everything from musical performances and dinners to yoga with goats and the venue’s 22nd annual country fair.
Here is a partial list of events at the living history museum located in Hancock, Mass. For more events, go to hancockshakervillage.org.
Sept. 6: Stargazing night.
■
Talks and demonstrations from astronomers and the chance to win a telescope.
■ Sept. 14: Food for Thought series will feature Shaker Village director Jennifer Trainer’s film “Museum Town,” about the making of MASS MOCA.
■ Sept. 28: Contra dance (6:30 p.m.). A string instrument jam session and a talk and performance from Grammy-nominated musician Tim Eriksen about the connection between songs and the birth of science fiction both follow in mid-october.
■ Sept. 28-29: The 22nd annual country fair. Events include pony and wagon rides, quilt displays, craft beer and barbecue, broommaking workshops, knitting and needlefelting instruction, and a fiber festival. Some events require pre-registration and tickets.
■ Oct. 26: The Best and the Wurst (5-7 p.m.). Enjoy regional beers, hard ciders, live music and food.
■ Oct. 26: Halloween at Hancock celebration (10 a.m.-3 p.m.)
■ Nov. 9: Food for Thought series will feature Jake Levin — butcher, charcuterie expert, and author of “The Smokehouse Handbook” — demonstarting smoking and curing methods.
■ Nov. 30: Traditional candlelit dinner with live music.
■ Dec. 6-8: Hancock Holiday events, including an ugly sweater party featuring live music and food trucks, brunch with Santa, and a carol service.
■ On Thursdays in October at 7 p.m., visitors can explore Haunted Hancock, which explores the Shakers’ role in the spiritualist movement.
■ Those who want to get up close with the farm animals can pet, brush, walk and cuddle the Shaker Village calves on Oct. 6, enjoy morning yoga with the goats on most Sundays in September and Oct. 5 and 6, or learn about what it takes to care for those animals at an open stall session. Young children and their families can also participate in Farm Friends sessions every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. through Oct. 24 to learn more about one animal each week.
■ Workshops, which can accommodate anyone from beginners to skilled tradespeople, include instruction on making a hanging cupboard (Sept. 14) and oval boxes (Oct. 12-13), blacksmithing (Sept. 21-22), basket weaving (Sept. 21), timber framing (Sept. 25-29), light painting photography (Oct. 17), making wreaths (multiple dates) and weaving holiday ornaments (Nov. 16).
■ Ongoing exhibits through Nov. 11: “Borrowed Light”: Barbara Ernst Prey, which features 10 large-scale watercolors depicting spaces in and around the village, and “While Mighty Thunders Roll”: Popular Artists Sing the Shakers, a presentation featuring a cappella versions of Shaker songs by popular artists.
Shaker Village is open daily from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. through Oct. 27; daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 28 to Nov. 11; and on weekends only Nov.16-dec. 22 (except for Nov. 29 and Dec. 6).