Culture Days
September 19 - October 12, 2025
The Brown Homestead is thrilled to join the 2025 Culture Days festival alongside a number of arts, heritage, and culture organizations and artists across Niagara. All programming is pay-what-you-may and accessible to the public.
This year, Niagara is a Festival Hub! Check out all the fun happening across the region September 26 - 28.
Immerse yourself in a cross-Canada celebration of arts, culture, and heritage!
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Saturday, Oct. 4
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Families are invited to The Brown Homestead for an outdoor autumn playday on Saturday, October 4!
Youngsters (ages 3 - 6) can join a Storytime Circle at 10 a.m. led by St. Catharines Public Library
Discover nature-inspired arts and crafts with the Garden City Gardeners
Learn how to break and hackle flax with Historian Dr. Ali Macdonald
Help us harvest from our community-based garden
Explore our site with a self-guided scavenger hunt
and more!
Families can drop-in anytime and take in all our pastoral historic site has to offer!
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Friday, Sept. 26
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
To celebrate Culture Days, we’re sharing the not-so-secrets of the heritage trades with a special Open House.
You’ll get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look as students of the Willowbank School of Restoration Arts complete their timber framing course on site, building a scissor truss using traditional joinery techniques. Take in the careful restoration of our historic 1850s Dairy, marvel at the craftsmanship of heritage woodwork, and see how our wallpaper project is reviving the charm of historic interiors.
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Indigenous Agricultural Practices and Tools with Dr. Adrianne Lickers Xavier
Thursday, Sept. 11, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
A 6th Generation Dairy Farmer in Thorold with Rachel Summers
Thursday, Sept. 25, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
50 Years of Technological Changes on Ontario Farms: 1975—2025 with Hugh Fraser
Thursday, Oct. 9, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
On Being With the Land: Author Talk and Creative Writing Session with Tonya Lailey
Thursday, Oct. 16, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
We Lend a Hand Documentary Screening and Filmmaker Q&A at the FirstOntario PAC
Thursday, Oct. 23, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
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Saturday, Oct. 11, 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Led by Jackie Labonte and Marie Louise.
After a nourishing and rewarding growing season, join us in closing the Three Sisters Garden as a community. Together, we will offer our thanks and share in singing and drumming.
All community members are welcome.
About the Workshop Leaders
Jackie Labonte (tekaiatakwas) is self identified from the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She resides in the Niagara region having worked with Native organisations for over 30 years providing services as a Cultural Advisor.
Marie Louise is an Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Mohawk of Kahnawake. She helped establish the Willowbank Indigenous Community Love Garden eight years ago and continues to be a caretaker and volunteer gardener there. She has worked as a nurturing and guiding teacher of traditions for over 25 years.
More information about Grow@ The Homestead on our website.
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Thursdays, Sept. 25, Oct. 2 & 9
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Explore the 220+ year-old buildings on our site, learn about heritage conservation practices, see restoration projects in progress, discover stories of rural farming families, and connect with Niagara's rich history.
We encourage you to book a guided tour with our passionate staff and volunteers, or drop in to learn and explore. Tours are 60 minutes.
Visitors are welcome to spend quality time on our property. Bring a meal to share on our picnic tables, engage in a children’s activity, or take a digital walking tour of our site using GuideTags.
