October 16, 2025
Robert Goertzen
Manitobans are blessed with four distinct seasons. Autumn or Fall is a beautiful time of transitioning from the longer hot days of summer to the shorter cold days of winter which will eventually include snow. We can still have wonderful warm sunny days to enjoy the outdoors, but there are also some days when the option of staying inside seems more appealing as we watch the fall rains prepare our plants and trees for the dormant months of winter.
At Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV), we embrace Autumn as a time of clean up from the busyness of summer and a time of preparing for the winter programs and activities ahead. A lot of work is being done by our staff and volunteers on the grounds and in the village. The museum farm is cleaned after the animals have been sent to their winter homes with local farmers caring for the chickens and sheep until next spring. The heritage buildings are examined by our curatorial staff for needed repairs and then closed for the winter. The windmill maintenance team cleans the milling dust from the corners of the windmill and ensures that the gears are greased and ready to withstand the cold winds of winter. The Steinbach and Area Garden Club cleans up the numerous flower beds and prepares the gardens for a period of rest through the winter. And the mechanics team ensures that all vehicles and equipment have their water drained from the engines and then moved into storage areas on the grounds.
Inside the Village Centre, our staff continues to welcome guests. Some are coming to visit our galleries and to walk through our village, reading the interpretive panels near the heritage buildings and enjoying the fall colours of the trees and plants as they walk around the pond and down the village Main Street. Other guests are stopping by Village Books and Gifts to look for some reading material, either by a local author, or about a particular Mennonite theme.
Our Private Events department is also busy hosting local companies and organizations in our meeting rooms. MHV has space available for planning meetings, for professional development sessions, and for larger receptions. At this time of year, companies are booking their staff Christmas parties at MHV.
School groups continue to come to the museum for a day of experiential learning. In fall and winter, MHV offers a combination of indoor and outdoor activities that focus on the life of a Mennonite pioneer in Manitoba. Several heritage buildings are warmed up with a wood-burning stove, as the students travel back in time to the early years of settling in Manitoba.
Our program staff is also planning events and workshops for our upcoming Winter In The Village season, which begins on December 6th and runs until the end of February. Work has already begun on setting up the coloured light display in the village.
Autumn at Mennonite Heritage Village is a busy time. We are very thankful for an excellent summer of activities, festivals, and events. We have enjoyed hosting our community at numerous events and we have been blessed by meaningful conversations with guests from further away. We are now focusing on our next season, as we continue to welcome people from near and far away.
We invite you to stop by for a chat with our staff, or to enjoy a stroll through the outdoor village. MHV is open year-round from Tuesday to Saturday. We’ll see you soon!
Upcoming Events:
November 8 – 10:00am to 4:00pm – Christmas Market Extravaganza. Local vendors, horse drawn wagon rides, kids’ crafts, and waffles with white sauce.
November 9 – 7:00pm – Community Vespers Service at MHV. A meditative evening of choral music and scripture readings.
November 10 – 7:00pm – Steinbach and Area Garden Club monthly meeting at MHV.
November 14 – 7:00pm – MHV Auxiliary presents a Low German evening, featuring special music by Heischraitje & Willa Honich.