COLUMN: Village News – March moments you won’t want to miss
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As we head into March, the Mennonite Heritage Village’s programming shifts gears. Winter programming is wrapped up as plans for spring and summer get underway. We are excited about all that’s coming up in the month of March, and we hope that our programming is a benefit to the community.
March 12 and 26: Exhibit Explorers
Exhibit Explorers is MHV’s craft and story time happening twice a month in our indoor gallery. We began this program in December of 2025, and it has been a lovely addition to our winter schedule of events. It’s been wonderful to see curious young minds explore our indoor gallery and engage in stories and interactive games. Exhibit Explorers runs from 45 minutes to an hour. We start off at the indoor gallery, reading a few books and playing some movement games. It’s exciting to see young ones come out of their shell and engage in the books and have fun moving around during the games. When our story time has ended, we transition to craft time – doing a fun craft that corresponds with the books that we’ve read. This is the perfect morning outing for littles and their parents or grandparents. So, if you’re looking for someplace fun to spend some quality time, feel free to come check out Exhibit Explorers at MHV. Our next two dates are March 12 and 26, and we’d love to have you there.
March 21: Seed starting workshop
March is the official seed starting month for local gardeners in our hardiness zone – cue the cheers of excitement. If you have never gardened before or if you want to try your hand at starting your own seeds in preparation for planting them out in June, our seed starting workshop is for you! On March 21 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Shari Pendergrast from the Steinbach and Area Garden Club talks us through the basics of seed starting, including lighting, watering, hardening off, and more. The cost for this workshop is $25, and each participant will go home with their own reusable four-pack seed starting tray. Head to www.mhv.ca for more information and to register!
March 28: Sourdough workshop
Interested in the process of making sourdough bread? On March 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Old Church Bakery will be leading a sourdough workshop at MHV. Whether you’re a novice bread baker or simply want to try your hand at something new, this workshop is for you. You’ll be guided through the whole process from beginning your starter to baking your own tasty loaf. The cost for this workshop is $50, and each participant will go home with a loaf that is ready to bake. Head to www.mhv.ca for more information and to register.
Spring and summer field trips!
MHV is excited to be booking spring and summer field trips. We offer a unique, interactive, and memorable field trip experience for children in grades K-12. Our school programming takes you right into our heritage homes and buildings to introduce you to the interesting lives of the pioneer Mennonite people from the 19th century to the present day. Whether studying Mennonite immigration history or the history of the diverse communities of Canada, a field trip to the Mennonite Heritage Village vividly brings to life the concepts of immigration and pioneer life. On May 1, our grounds officially open, and our interpretive and hands-on school programs launch. You and your students will step back in time and experience traditional pioneer life. Each field trip covers the topics of migration, early settlement life, home, work, school, and play. Students will have the opportunity to see a turn-of-the-century printing press in operation, make a nail ring in the blacksmith shop, watch the windmill grind wheat into flour, go for a horse-pulled wagon ride, churn butter, meet farmyard animals, and much more. These adventures have been popular with students, teachers, and parents for many years due to their interactive nature as students experience living history. If you are interested in booking before May 1, our fall and winter program is booking through till the end of April. Please contact Jaysa Thiessen for booking inquiries by calling 204-326-9661 or emailing education@mhv.ca.
Upcoming events
March 12 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Exhibit Explorers – Join us at the Mennonite Heritage Village for an engaging morning set among the fascinating artifacts in MHV’s gallery. During Exhibit Explorers: Craft & Story Hour, children will enjoy lively stories and creative crafts that spark imagination and curiosity. Free Admission.
March 19 at 7 p.m. – Local Authors’ Night Hear from local authors Laura Dueck, Ron Kornelson, and Mari Klassen. Free evening with complementary refreshments.
March 21 – 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Pioneer Workshop Series: Seed Starting Workshop Join MHV and Shari Pendergrast from the Steinbach and Area Garden Club for a Seed Starting Workshop.
March 26 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Exhibit Explorers – Join us at the Mennonite Heritage Village for an engaging morning set among the fascinating artifacts in MHV’s gallery. During Exhibit Explorers: Craft & Story Hour, children will enjoy lively stories and creative crafts that spark imagination and curiosity. Free admission.
March 28 – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Pioneer Workshop Series: Sourdough workshop – Join MHV for a sourdough workshop led by the staff at Old Church Bakery.