Village News

After being closed for almost two months due to COVID-19, it now gives me great joy to let you know that the Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) will be opening again Wednesday, May 13th. We will continue to monitor the Covid situation and as long as it is safe to do so we plan to be open to the public every day except Mondays. Even our Livery Barn Restaurant with its outdoor sitting area will be open. Enjoy cool spring weather and hot food, under the watchful eye of the windmill. We also plan to be open Thursday evenings and have live music while you eat. We call it ‘Rhubarb Jam’. Let us know if you are interested in participating in a jam session.

I have never seen so many people walking around town as I have this past month. It is so good to get outside. If there ever was a year to get a membership to MHV – 2020 would be it! While we won’t be hosting major events just yet, we are actively planning to have a steady stream of ‘Pioneer moments’ throughout the summer. This may include more frequent demonstrations and interpretations, but not everything on one day like during Pioneer Days. For as little as $30 you can enjoy MHV for a full 12 months. Stroll our grounds every week. Pick a couple buildings to explore in-depth. Have a picnic by the pond. Most of us won’t be travelling far, so get a membership for your family at MHV this year!

The Fujiwara study out of the UK has recently shown that one way to maximize your wellbeing is to visit historic buildings and historic parks. We all need help with our wellbeing. The study states that, “the good effect on wellbeing was found to be the same or more than doing other activities, including sports…” MHV is a great place to get rooted, to learn how the pioneers before us endured so much, to enjoy the grounds and of course to get your fill of Mennonite prairie soul food.

The staff and MHV are preparing for your arrival and doing what we can to make it safe and clean. We have the plexi-barriers installed, sanitizer readily available, a regular cleaning regimen and we will make it easy for people to practice physical distancing while at MHV. We also welcome those who are interested in volunteering and will be sure to take good care of you too. We love our community, our story and look forward to helping you decompress this summer. It is good to get away and that is what our historic village provides.