The Nutcracker Tea
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The Leacock Museum's final event of 2025 was a sold out occaision! The highly requested Nutcracker Tea returned! Guests were invited to enjoy a three-tiered treat selection prepared by Krew Catering with unlimited tea while seated in the decorated and historic living room, dining room, and sunroom of the Leacock Museum. Tickets to the Nutcracker Tea also included a self-guided tour of the museum.
Menu:
Chocolate Dipped Cara Cara Orange Wheels
Green Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
The Nutcracker’s Chocolate Baton With Peppermint Dust
Wild Blueberry Scones Served With Butter Ramekins, Clotted Cream and Jam
Cranberry Chicken Salad on Mini Croissants
Savory Winter Tartlet With Spinach, Artichoke and Pecorino Snow
Tarragon/Dill Egg Salad
Offered November 30 and December 7 & 14, 2025
11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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"You Slay Me" 1920s Murder Mystery Event
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Something suspicious was afoot at the Leacock Museum this autumn. Someone had been MURDERED. Guests solved the mystery during the Leacock Museum's murder mystery event. Guests sipped on some wine, beer, or non-alcoholic beverages, and enjoyed a 1920s-themed dress up event. "You Slay Me" was all the rage in Orillia, no one wanted to miss it!
Tickets were very limited. This event was age 19+
Offered November 16, 2025
7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
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Paint by the Lake - Fall
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NEW FALL DATES WERE ADDED - Guests were invited to join us for an outdoor (or indoor, in the case of inclement weather) painting experience at the Leacock Museum! Participants were guided through basic colour theory for mixing colours. M Nowick started with teaching some techniques for composing a landscape. A focus was on creative expression for completing the scene. Inspiration was taken from autumnal nature surrounding the Leacock Museum. Space was very limited for these workshops.
Offered October 5, 19, and 26, 2025
1 p.m. to 2 p.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! Guests joined us for our biggest year yet with surprise guests, treats, and haunted happenings on historical Old Brewery Bay that left them with goosebumps, including a jaunt into the haunted basement!
Refreshments were served after the tour!
Offered October 17, 18, 24, and 25, 2025
6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
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Pumpkins & Pinot
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Guests enjoyed a relaxing afternoon with friends! The Leacock Museum and artist, M Nowick provided a pumpkin painting workshop. A complimentary glass of pinot (or a non-alcoholic alternative) was served. This event was for one-day only and a very limited tickets were available.
Offered October 11, 2025
2:00 p.m.
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Indigenous Beading Workshop
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Guests joined us on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at the Leacock Museum for a meaningful, hands-on beading workshop led by the Orillia Native Women’s Group. Participants created a beaded poppy, offering a thoughtful way to honour and prepare for Remembrance Day through the lens of Indigenous artistry and tradition.
Two sessions were available:
Morning: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Both sessions were FREE and open to all, providing a welcoming space to learn traditional beading techniques, explore their cultural significance, and hear the stories they carry. All materials are provided, and no prior experience is required. Space is limited and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must be 12 years of age or older.
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1920s Millinery and Fashion Talk
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Meaghan Armstrong, milliner and owner of Le Petit Chapeau, specializes in vintage-inspired, handcrafted hats. Outside of her work, she has spent over 27 years exploring fashion history—particularly how fashion, especially hats, reflect the people and social shifts of their time.
Meaghan was offering a talk at the Leacock Museum on 1920s fashion and the evolving role of women during that transformative decade. Using pieces from her personal collection of hats and clothing, she explored the changing designs of women’s hats, the influences behind them, and how they reflected the broader shifts happening in society at the time. This talk was a visual and engaging look at a fascinating decade of social change.
Offered September 24, 2025
6 p.m.
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Doors Open 2025
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Guests celebrated Doors Open 2025 at the Leacock Museum and Boathouse! For one day only, the Leacock Museum opened all its doors to the public and provided FREE access to everyone!
Offered September 13, 2025
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry 3 p.m.)
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Paint by the Lake
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Guests were invited to join us for a summer outdoor (or indoor, in the case of inclement weather) painting experience at the Leacock Museum! Participants were guided through basic colour theory for mixing colours. M Nowick started with teaching some techniques for composing a landscape. A focus will be on creative expression for completing the scene. Inspiration will be taken from nature surrounding the Leacock Museum. Guests painted the views of Old Brewery Bay! Space was very limited for these workshops.
Offered July 26, August 9, August 30, and September 13, 2025
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
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Shop by the Lake
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The Orillia Farmers' Market was back at the Leacock Museum this autumn! Guests stopped by to see the grounds come to life with more than 40 vendors, featuring food, crafters, and artisans! Self-guided tours of the museum were available throughout the day, and tickets were purchased in the giftshop.
Offered September 7, 2025
10 a.m. to 3 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! The crafts and treasure hunt were available all day long. They just had to visit the museum's giftshop to get their supplies (please note these activities were created for kids, but some were children at heart and participated also)!
We got word that the pirates would be attacking Old Brewery Bay at the Museum around 11:30 a.m. so when cannons fired, guests 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 30, 2025
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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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House and Grounds History Tour
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Guests to the museum were invited to enjoy 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, 2025
11 a.m. or 2 p.m.
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Author Talk: Beyond the Sites
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Beyond the Sites: Epic adventures at Canada's UNESCO World Heritage Sites
This book tells the fascinating story of Lynn Holden’s adventures and experiences visiting all of Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With humour and wit, she chronicles her journeys over 40 years travelling across Canada, including a stop in Quebec City, travels through grizzly country, and a helicopter rescue.
Guests joined us on August 24th for an author's talk to hear from Lynn Holden, the author of Beyond the Sites!
Offered August 24, 2025 at 3 p.m.
By Donation Event
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K. Valerie Connor Poetry Competition and Celebration
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Back for its 10th year, winners were announced for the K. Valerie Connor Poetry Competition! A celebration to honour the winners was hoffered on August 17, 2025 at 1 p.m.
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Roses and Rosé
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Guests joined us for another Roses and Rosé event! In partnership with Fire Hall Flowery, guests arranged their own hand-tied bouquet to take home using a variety of seasonal blooms, enjoyed a self-guided tour of the museum, and sip some rosé! All happening at the Leacock Museum on July 30th! Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
Offered July 30, 2025
5:30 p.m.
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Authors' Talk: The Red Canoe
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The Red Canoe: A Spiderweb Mystery
Once upon a time, a certain woman thought it would be fun if the book club she belonged to wrote a book. Six of the members agreed to give it a try. What began as a “lark” and provided many laughs soon took on a life of its own. Over two years, not only did the writers develop their characters, but as is often written, “the plot thickened.”
Guests joined us on July 27th for an authors' talk to hear from the authors of The Red Canoe!
Offered July 27 at 3 p.m.
By Donation Event
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Speakeasy Exhibit Opening Event
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Guests celebrated the Leacock Museum's "For the Love of Liquor" exhibit with a special opening event in July! The exhibit, which opened the basement floor to guests for the first time in years, focuses on elements of prohibition, historical Orillia breweries, the Leacock family port wine company, billiards, and liquor in the 1920s. Costumed interpreters offered an array of activities inside the 1928 Leacock home. Costumes were not mandatory -- but they were encouraged!
Special performance from Timothy Wilford - Music of the Prohibition Era and a period costume display by Le Petit Chapeau made the night special! A Leacock Lager developed in partnership with Couchiching Brewery will be served! Each event ticket purchase includes one drink ticket (wine and non-alcoholic options available).
Offered July 12, 2025
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
19+ event
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Family Fun Day
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Guests joined us at the Leacock Museum for a day of family fun! On June 28, admission to the museum was free for all children with the purchase of an adult self-guided tour ticket! Children completed activity guides, colouring, bubbles, story-time, boathouse crafts, and various other activities! Events took place inside the museum, boathouse and on the front porch!
No pre-registration was required for this event; self-guided tour tickets could be purchased in the museum gift shop upon arrival.
Activities were while supplies last!
Offered June 28, 2025
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entry to the museum at 3 p.m.)
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Shop by the Lake - Pop-Up Orillia's Farmers' Market
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The Orillia Farmers' Market was back at the Leacock Museum this spring! Guests stopped by to see the grounds come to life with more than 40 vendors, featuring food, crafters, and artisans! Guided and self-guided tours of the museum were available throughout the day.
Author Jeremy John joined us for the day as well, creating balloon animals and telling his humorous short stories for all to hear!
Offered June 8, 2025
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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A Bouquet From Me: Mother's Day Kids Activity
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Children 3+ were welcome! Kids joined us for a hands-on activity to celebrate someone special this May! Kids select flowers and create a lovely bouquet and card that they gave as a gift.
This activity took place in the Leacock Museum boathouse.
Offered Saturday May 10, 2025
Register and drop-in between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., or 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
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Valentine's Tea
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Guests brought their friends or partner and joined us February for a special Valentine's themed tea! Krew Catering provided a three-tiered Valentine-themed food selection and guests were served unlimited tea while seated in the living room and dining room of the historic Leacock home! Tickets also included a self-guided tour of the Leacock Museum.
Menu:
Pink Sugar Cookies, Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, Mini Danishes, Blueberry Scones with Clotted Cream and Jam, Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches, Curry Chicken Sandwiches, and Two Varieties of Mini Quiches
Offered February 9 & 16, 2025
11 a.m. and 2 p.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 were invited to see the original letters up close and hear 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 14 & 15, 2025
11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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Galentine's Workshop
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Valentine's Day came early when friends gathered at the Leacock Museum for a Galentine's themed bracelet workshop! Guests made three bracelets using lava stones, howlite, amethyst, and a variety of other semi-precious gems! Tickets also included a self-guided tour of the museum.
Offered February 8, 2025
1 p.m.
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Wire-Wrapping Jewellery Workshop
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After a sold out class in November, the Leacock Museum returned with another jewellery workshop! Guests chose from a variety of stones to make their own necklace and pair of earrings, and took home a new skill as well. Guests were invited to arrive at 5:30p.m. to do a self-guided tour the museum before the workshop began.
Offered January 11, 2025
Arrival was between 5:30p.m. and 6:00p.m. (workshop began at 6:00p.m.)
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