At your museum

Written By Wilson Lo

Workshops at the village trade school

We have a fantastic calendar of workshops to discover this spring at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum! Learn a traditional skill or handicraft in a unique heritage village setting. Advance registration is required↗.


Celebrate spring’s arrival

Family-friendly fun awaits Easter weekend at Billings Estate National Historic Site↗ and Cumberland Heritage Village Museum↗.

Easter at the Estate - Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5 from 10 am to 4 pm

Spring has arrived at Billings Estate! Enjoy fun for the whole family with crafts, games and hands-on activities inspired by seasonal celebrations and traditions. Special guests: The Zoo Crew. Advance registration is required↗.


Hop into Spring – April 4 from 9 am to 3 pm

Explore the heritage village through fun, engaging play and discover how people, plants and animals marked the turn of the season. Say hello to the Easter Bunny, meet some new animal friends, complete Henrietta Hen’s scavenger hunt, collect a small treat along the way and more. Special guests: The Zoo Crew, Ottawa Fire Services and Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society - Ottawa Valley Chapter. Advance registration is required↗.

Tales told through the hats we wore

Have you visited Beyond the Brim? Our latest special exhibition is now open at Trinity Art Gallery (Shenkman Arts Centre). Drop by until March 22 to discover hats, helmets and head coverings that tell the stories of individuals who have made an impact on Ottawa’s diverse history and cultural landscape. Plan your visit↗ and stay tuned—Beyond the Brim will also be on display at Billings Estate National Historic↗ beginning April 15.

Beyond the Brim includes headwear from the City of Ottawa Museums and Historic Sites collection, local heritage groups, cultural organizations and residents. Visit ottawa.ca/billingsestate to learn more.

Mother’s Day Tea

Mark your calendars! The online reservation request form for Mother’s Day Tea↗ opens Tuesday, March 24 at 10 am. Share a delicious three-tier tea service with your loved ones while enjoying the beautiful grounds and gardens at Billings Estate National Historic Site (Sunday, May 10 with seatings at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm). Please visit ottawa.ca/billingsestate for full details.

Tea on the Lawn↗ season is also right around the corner! Tea on the Lawn runs from May 15 to August 30, 2026. Reservations open April 14.

Calling all Ottawa teachers and educators

We want to hear from you! Your experience and knowledge matter to us. We’re renewing our museum and historic site school programs and want to ensure they truly support you and your students. If you can spare a few minutes to complete our short survey↗, you’ll help shape meaningful, engaging programs for classrooms across Ottawa. Your voice will directly inform what we build next and help us better support student learning.

Additional resources: Learn more about current field trip opportunities↗ at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum.

Alone in the Dark

Step into the shadows at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum↗ for one of the city’s most unique activities—a spine-tingling paranormal adventure! Get exclusive access to explore and investigate four heritage buildings, each steeped in history and chilling tales from the past. Please note that this program is delivered by The Haunted Walk. For more information and to book tickets, please visit The Haunted Walk↗ online.

Stay tuned

Follow us on social media to make sure you don’t miss a single announcement.

Wilson Lo
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Helping families on their path home as Ottawa expands family transitional housing