Culture Days
September 20 - October 13, 2024
Immerse yourself in this cross-Canada celebration of arts, culture, and heritage!
The Brown Homestead is pleased to take part in the 2024 Culture Days festival alongside a number of arts and culture organizations and artists in St. Catharines. All programming is free and accessible to the public.
Explore St. Catharines’ hub of digital and in-person offerings during this country-wide celebration. Here’s how to get involved with The Homestead during the festival.
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Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join us for stories and a scavenger hunt at the site of the oldest home in St. Catharines!
The St. Catharines Public Library will kick off the morning by reading a storybook in our historic Dining Room. Then, follow us for an exciting I-Spy Scavenger Hunt of our inspiring grounds. Come discover the agricultural and Indigenous connections to this amazing site seeped in centuries of history!
Afterwards, we invite families to discover and explore the Homestead property. We encourage avid learners to take their curiosity online! Follow along for a digital tour using GuideTags.
This free program has limited spots, so register now through the SCPL website!
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Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m - 12 p.m.
Join us for our closing ceremony of the Three Sisters Garden. The tradition of “Three Sisters” originated with the Haudenosaunee people. The Brown Homestead resides on Indigenous land and we are committed to acknowledging and celebrating this history. In May, we planted a garden with three seeds; corn, beans, and squash. Returning for the garden’s closing ceremony are Jackie and Marie.
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.
Join us on October 12 in celebrating this land and in thanking Jackie and Marie for sharing their knowledge and their gardening practices with us. This free event is part of our ongoing Grow @ programming series.
Register on The Brown Homestead website.
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Thursday, September 26, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 3, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 10, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Explore the 220+ year old John Brown House on our site, learn about heritage conservation techniques, discover stories of rural farming families and connect with Niagara’s rich history on a highly engaging tour led by our passionate staff and volunteers!
Tours are about 70 minutes and start every hour on the hour between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors are welcome to drop-in for a tour, or sign up so we know what to expect from your group. Admission by donation.
We’re excited to partner with St. Catharines Public Library for Stories & I-Spy at The Brown Homestead! Limited spots, register your family now.
Drop-in for a guided tour of the John Brown House and other historic buildings on our pastoral property.
All are welcome to our Three Sisters Garden Closing Ceremony. This is a chance for us to celebrate the land and thank our Indigenous partners for sharing their knowledge and their gardening practices with us.