Christmas in the 1920s
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Guests experienced Christmas, 1920s style! Guest strolled through the Leacock Museum, stopping at different stations, to participate in 1920s Christmas traditions. Guests learned about the history of each tradition as they went and left with classic decorations and new traditions for their own home! Light refreshments were served throughout the night.
Though the outside of the home was decorated with beautiful lights, the event took place fully indoors.
Offered December 20, 2024
Drop-in from 5:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. (pre-registration was required)
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Holiday Bouquet Workshop
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Once again the Leacock Museum partnered with Florillia Floral Design to offer a bouquet workshop just in time for the holidays! Guests participated in a flower arranging class and built their own bouquet to gift to someone else or keep for themselves!
Offered December 18, 2024
Arrival between 5:30p.m. and 6:00p.m. (workshop began at 6:00p.m.)
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The Nutcracker Tea
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The highly requested Nutcracker Tea returned for 2024! Guests enjoyed a three-tiered treat selection prepared by Krew Catering with unlimited tea while seated in the decorated and historic living room or dining room of the Leacock Museum. Tickets to the Nutcracker Tea also included a self-guided tour of the museum.
Menu:
Orange Truffle Balls, Thumbprint Cookies, Custard Tarts, Wild Blueberry Scones, Cranberry Chicken Salad on Mini Croissants, Spinach Tomato Feta Mini Quiche, Chive & Dill Egg Salad
Offered November 24, December 8, and December 15, 2024
11a.m., or
2p.m.
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Wire Wrapping Jewellery Workshop
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Guests learned a new hobby, met new people, and made a gift for themselves or someone else! Guests joined us for a Wire-Wrapping Jewellery Workshop in partnership with R.L.B. Creations. Guests were led in the creation of a wire-wrapped necklace AND pair of earrings. The workshop began at 6:00p.m., but guests were invited to arrive anytime after 5:30p.m. if they liked to do a self-guided tour of the museum beforehand (museum admission was included with the purchase of a ticket).
Offered November 13, 2024
Arrived between 5:30p.m. and 6:00p.m. (workshop began at 6:00p.m.)
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Ghost Walks on the Leacock Museum Grounds
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The Leacock Museum was back with our wildly popular Ghost Walks on the Leacock Museum Grounds! This year was the biggest ghost season we've seen so far with surprise guests, treats and spooky happenings told that made guests get goosebumps! Guests joined one of our spooky tour guides to learn about the haunted happenings on historical Old Brewery Bay. Ghost walks took place on the grounds of the Leacock Museum. Refreshments were served after the tour!
Offered October 18, 19, 25 and 26, 2024
6 p.m. or 8 p.m.
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Halloween Crafts and Stories for Kids
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A drop-in program took place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. A wonderful day of Halloween activities for kids was had by all! Activities included pumpkin carving, making monster bookmarks, and our special guest author, Jeremy John (author of "The Strange Grave of Mikey Dunbar, and other stories to make you poop your pants") who told his spooky camping stories and created balloon creatures!
Children 3+ were welcome. Children were to be accompanied by an adult.
Offered October 20, 2024
Drop-in between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (pre-registration was required)
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Special "Monster, She Wrote" Ghost Walk
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in celebration of the Monster, She Wrote exhibit opening!
This year, in celebration of the Leacock Museum's new temporary exhibit Monster, She Wrote, a special one-night-only ghost walk took place. The Leacock Museum had a spooky new exhibit on its way! The museum welcomed guests to join the exclusive opening event on October 5th to welcome, "Monster, She Wrote."
This exhibit explores horror novels through the centuries, written by women and is planned in collaboration with authors, Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson!
But, we couldn't let the spookiness begin without first performing a special Ghost Walk for a select number of guests! For this tour only, guests were touring inside the house...at night!
Refreshments were served after the tour.
Offered October 5th, 2024
7:30p.m.
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Jeremy John Author Event at Shop by the Lake
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Jeremy John is a Canadian treasure. His stories are hilarious, heartwarming, and sometimes bone-chilling.
The Leacock Museum and the Orillia Farmers' Market welcomed Jeremy John, author of two collections of short stories, “Robert’s Hill (or the time I pooped my snowsuit) and other Christmas stories", as well as "The Strange Grave of Mikey Dunbar, and other stories to make you poop your pants" both published by Dundurn Press. His career in broadcasting has included co-hosting shows on 680 NEWS, KiSS FM, and Breakfast Television.
Offered Sunday September 22, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00p.m. on the front porch (entertainment and light readings)
3:00 p.m. on the front porch (specially scheduled book reading)
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Shop by the Lake - Pop-Up Orillia Farmers' Market
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The Orillia Farmers' Market was back at the Leacock Museum this fall! Guests stopped by to see the grounds come to life with more than 40 vendors, featuring food, crafters, and artisans!
Offered September 22, 2024, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You didn't want to miss author, Jeremy John, who read his humorous short stories and provided entertainment on the front porch of the museum. Jeremy also performed a special reading at 3 p.m. on the porch.
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Doors Open 2024
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Guests celebrated Doors Open 2024 at the Leacock Museum and Boathouse! For two days only, the Leacock Museum openedg all its doors to the public and provided FREE access to everyone!
Offered September 14 and 15
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry 3 p.m.)
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House and Grounds History Tour
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Guests to the museum enjoyed a tour of the Leacock house and grounds led by one of our experienced tour-guides. Guests learned about Leacock, his family and Old Brewery Bay. With the purchase of a History Tour ticket, guests had special access to Leacock's Boathouse to see the exhibit "Boating Old Brewery Bay."
Offered May 18 to August 31, 2024.
11:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m.
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Pirate Day at the Leacock Museum
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In association with the Port of Orillia's Pirate Party Event
Arrrr! The Port of Orillia's Pirate Party was upon us and this year, Old Brewery Bay was under threat of attack! The "Pirates of the Orillian Sea" had set their eyes on the Leacock Museum and were headed our way! We were asking for the help of the community to work on boat-building crafts and to try to solve the museum's treasure hunt! Crafts and the treasure hunt were available all day long. Guests just had to visit the museum's giftshop to get their supplies (please note these activities were created for kids, but if you were a child at heart you could participate also)!
We'd gotten word that the pirates would be attacking Old Brewery Bay at the Museum around 11:30 a.m. so if you heard cannons fired, you made sure to let us know! The waterfront and the boathouse dock were both great spots to get a good view of the pirates and their ships!
Offered August 31, 2024
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No tickets or preregistration was required! Watching the pirates in the bay was free of charge. Crafts and boatmaking were free with regular museum admission ($5/person).
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K. Valerie Connor Poetry Competition Celebration
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Our annual celebration was held in the living room of the historic Leacock Museum! At this event, winners were awarded their certificates and prizes, and given the opportunity to read their winning poems. The event was accessible via the ramp at the front of the museum and the double-wide doors from the porch. This free event was open to the public, giving all guests the opportunity to hear the winning poems and form connections in the literary and arts communities. Available judges, winners, and members of the Connor family were in attendance. Cake and light refreshments was served. More information can be found here.
Offered August 25, 2024 at 2 p.m.
No tickets or registration was required.
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"How To" Workshops in the Boathouse
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"How To" Workshops -- Guests learned a new skill while enjoying the atmosphere in the historical boathouse on the Leacock Museum grounds. Event took place on select Sundays throughout the summer.
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Sunday Serenade
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Sunday Serenades took place on the Leacock Museum grounds this summer! Guests enjoyed the beautiful gardens with different local musicians and lawn games! Guests were encouraged to bring picnics, blankets or chairs to enjoy a calming Sunday afternoon.
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Jeremy John Author Event at the Orillia Farmers' Market
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Jeremy John is a Canadian treasure. His stories are hilarious, heartwarming, and sometimes bone-chilling.
The Leacock Museum and the Orillia Farmers' Market welcomed Jeremy John, author of two collections of short stories, “Robert’s Hill (or the time I pooped my snowsuit) and other Christmas stories", as well as "The Strange Grave of Mikey Dunbar, and other stories to make you poop your pants" both published by Dundurn Press. His career in broadcasting has included co-hosting shows on 680 NEWS, KiSS FM, and Breakfast Television.
Offered Sunday June 9th, 2024 in the Leacock Museum living room.
12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
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Shop by the Lake - Pop-Up Orillia Farmers' Market
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Nestled along the picturesque Lake Couchiching, a pop-up Orillia Farmers' Market took place at the Leacock Museum on Sunday, June 9, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market came to life with more than 40 vendors, featuring food, crafters, and artisans. The Orillia Secondary School Band filled the market with music.
Vendors at the market included a vast array of familiar favourites and unique craftspeople, including those selling butterfly release kits, mobile dog nail trimming, on-site massage therapy, mediums, and more.
The Leacock Museum was open for self-guided and guided tours.
An author event was also planned for 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. with author Jeremy John, who read his humorous short stories.
The Orillia Farmers' Market will return to the Leacock Museum in September, 2024!
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A Bouquet from Me - Kid's Activity
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Children 3+ welcome! Join the Leacock Museum for a hands-on activity to celebrate someone special this May! Your child can select flowers and create a lovely bouquet and greetings card that they can give as a gift.
This activity took place in the Leacock Museum boathouse. Children had to be pre-registered and accompanied by an adult.
Offered Saturday May 4, 2024.
Between 10:00a.m. and 3:00p.m.
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How we Kept Mother's Day Mini-Exhibit Tour
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The tradition of celebrating Mother's Day began in 1908. In the early 1900s, Canadian author, Stephen Leacock, observed the idea with a funny short story about a family who takes advantage of the holiday by going fishing while they left their mother at home to enjoy her special day (after doing all of the cooking, cleaning, and preparation for the occasion, of course).
Stephen Leacock's real-life mother, Agnes Butler Leacock, was a force to be reckoned with. Agnes's life tells the tale of a strong, independent woman with a very interesting backstory. Agnes spent much time at the Leacock summer home at Old Brewery Bay during her life and even had her own room in the household.
To help celebrate this mini-exhibit, the Leacock Museum provided tours and a reading of "How We Kept Mother's Day."
Offered May 3 and 4, 2024
11:00a.m. or 2:00p.m.
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Roses and Rosé Spring Package
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This packaged experience included:
A specialized flower arranging class, courtesy of Florillia Floral Design
A flower bouquet to take home that guests made themselves
An intimate tour of the Leacock Museum showing original photographs from the late 1800s/early 1900s, as well as a look at the museum's newest exhibit, "From War to Wonders: Mapping Escapism in a Time of Turmoil"
A specially-crafted Rosé beverage at Orillia's only waterfront dining experience, Fare Restaurant, to end off the day (mocktail also available!)
Offered April 11, 2024
5:30p.m.
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A Leacock Love Story Valentine's Tour
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Stephen Leacock's house in Orillia was a labour of love. He built it for his wife, Beatrix. Unfortunately, Beatrix did not live to see it completed. Something did survive though... Discovered during restoration inside Stephen's bedroom closet -- Beatrix's final letters. Guests saw the letters up close and heard the romantic story in detail.
Guests learned about their love story and life together and why Beatrix was not simply, Stephen Leacock's wife on a walking tour led by Leacock researchers.
Offered February 3 and 17, 2024
11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
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