Genesee Country Village and Museum will begin its 50th anniversary season in May with plans for a new playground and exhibits and several special events.
The museum, which opened in 1976 with 35 historic buildings, now has 68 as well as the John L. Wehle Gallery and the Genesee Country Nature Center. It is the largest living history museum in New York and the third largest in the United States, President and CEO Becky Wehle said in a news release.
“We’re thrilled to be celebrating our 50th season with the community,” said Wehle, president and CEO, whose grandfather, John L. “Jack” Wehle founded the museum. “… We’re proud of what has been built here over the past 50 years. There is an incredible depth of experiences here that many people are still discovering.”
The new natural playground between the Great Meadow and the Genesee Country Nature Center will offer a space for children to play while connecting to the museum’s broader nature programming, the news release said. Two working farm animals, heritage breed Randall Lineback oxen Tom and Abe, will arrive in June.
Details for all upcoming events, classes and tickets can be found at www.gcv.org/events. Among its numerous events are:
May 1, Antique Show Preview Party and 50th Anniversary Exhibit Opening
The Annual Antiques & Artisans Show, which begins May 2, will be previewed and an exhibit will open in the gallery. “An Extraordinary Attraction: 50 Years of History, Art, and Nature”willlook at the museum’s past, present and future.
May 10
All mothers will receive free admission on Mother’s Day. A brunch will be served; reservations are required.
May 15-17, 1812: The Genesee Valley at War
Both sides of the war and its impact on this region will be explored. From 2 to 4 p.m. May 15, a homeschool guided tour will discuss that and other 19th century wars, including the Civil War, including soldiers’ lives, the importance of naval battles and how the wars forced advances in medicine and technology. “Night at the Museum” from 5 p.m. May 16 to 10 a.m. May 17 will include historical gams, a campfire, a hike and a campout.
Friday, May 22, 50th Anniversary Day
Admission will be reduced to $5, hours will be extended, special tours will be offered, and birthday cake will be served.
May 29, History on Tap
Live music, food and samples of craft beer, wine, cider and GCV&M’s historical brews will be available, and Grieve’s Brewery, a working 19th-century brewery, can be toured. Grieve’s is a reconstruction of a circa 1803 brewery from Geneva with parts of Rochester’s Enright Brewery, which closed in 1907, and a West Bloomfield structure. In 1850, New York became a leading producer of hops.
June 14-15, Celtic Faire
Celtic traditions. tartans and clan histories will be explored; bagpipe bands and Irish dancers will perform; Highland games will be played; traditional foods will be sold; and artisans will give demonstrations. Visitors will be able to turn wheat stalks into Celtic designs, try hurling and play Celtic tabletop and lawn games.
July 4, Liberty in Action: 1776 – 2026
A naturalization ceremony, a pie-eating contest and a 19th-century parade are among the planned patriotic activities. The Freedom Day Celebration on July 5 will explore stories of freedom and the roots of U.S. democracy.
July 11, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Concert
Starting at 5:30 p.m. on the Great Meadow,music director Andreas Delfs will conductRPO as it performs pieces recognizing the nation’s 250th anniversary.
July 25, Centennial Expo, Celebrating Innovation from 1776 to 1876: America’s First 100 Years
Learnabout American innovations during its first 100 years, including who came and went in this regionCent.
Sept. 19: The Whirl fundraiser
The evening will include a farm-to-table meal, live music, auctions and a wine pull.
Kids Free Days
Kids 12 and under receive free admission June 19 (Juneteenth), July 4 (Independence Day), Aug. 6, 13, 20 and 27, and Oct. 12 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day).
Tickets
General admission in May and June and from Sept. 1-Oct. 13 costs $17 at the door, $15 for students aged 13 to 17 and seniors 62 and older; $11 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for younger children. Tickets purchased online are $1 less.
General admission in July and August costs $20 at the door, $18 for students aged 13 to 17 and seniors 62 and older; $15 for children ages 4 to 12 and free for younger children. Tickets purchased online are $1 less.
Special event pricing may vary; go to www.gcv.org or email info@gcv.org for details.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Genesee Country Village launches 50th season with events, new exhibits
Reporting by Laura Nichols, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
