May 7, 2026
By Jaysa Thiessen, Program Coordinator
May is an exciting month here at the Mennonite Heritage Village! On May 1st at 9am, our heritage buildings in the Village got unlocked for the first time in the spring season. We eagerly invited people into the Village to experience the living history that the Village showcases. Also on May 1st, the Livery Barn Restaurant opened for the first day of the year. We are delighted to welcome guests into the Village and Livery Barn Restaurant every day of the week during the spring and summer season. Whether you are coming for the Sunday buffet, a school field trip, or a weekday family visit to your local museum, we are excited to have you come!
May 9th: Manitoba Day
Manitoba Day, the day which marks the province’s entry into Confederation in 1870, is officially recognized as May 12. Here at the museum, we have decided to stick to the second Saturday in May as MHV’s official Manitoba Day celebration. This year, May 9th is our Manitoba Day celebration, and this marks our first community festival of the season. Admission is free for this event, and we are excited about our lineup of events. At 10am, the Steinbach and Area Garden Club will be doing a planting pansies for mom activity! Children will get the opportunity to plant their own pansy to give to their moms to celebrate Mother’s Day. At 11am, we will have a short ceremony in the Pavilion featuring speeches from local dignitaries. This will be followed by raising the Manitoba flag and hearing The Manitoba Song. Free cake and coffee will be given out to all in attendance.
After the ceremony and flag raising, our festival events will begin including pioneer demonstrations and interpretation, wagon rides, and barrel train rides. We are excited to be partnering with Eastman Immigrant Services again for this event. They will be providing fun, outdoor family carnival games from 11am-2pm. Enjoy old-fashioned carnival games like a tug of war, a 3-legged race, a sac race, an egg and spoon race and much more!
MHV’s festivals continue to be where the community gathers, and we look forward to a successful summer season.
May 22nd: Spring Gala
You are invited to celebrate with us at the annual MHV Spring Fundraising Gala and be the first to see our new exhibit, Mennonite Medicine: Cures + Curiosities: 1800-1950. Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring incredible food and captivating entertainment as we celebrate the previous year at Mennonite Heritage Village and look forward to the future. Hear from Senior Curator Garth Doerksen about our new exhibit and listen to special guest Dr. Howard Zacharias share stories from his medical journey in southern Manitoba. To top it all off, enjoy Mennonite beer from the lads at Blumstein Brewing, and hear from Manitoba-proud artist Don Amero. Tickets are $100 and are available now!
School Field Trips
Our Education Department is busy booking and preparing for the many schools who are having field trips here this summer! It is a true honour to get to host thousands of students from all over Manitoba (and beyond!) and share with them the story that the MHV tells. Seeing their eyes light up when they see the artefacts and experiencing their excitement as they participate in hands-on pioneer activities is rewarding. Field trips here at MHV create memories that stick with children throughout their whole lives. A common comment we hear at the reception desk is “I remember coming here for a field trip when I was younger!” It is a privilege to be a part of that. If you are a teacher or a homeschool facilitator, we would love to have your class come visit the Village before the school year is over. Go to our website www.mhv.ca for more information.
May 9 – 9:00am to 5:00pm – Manitoba Day Celebration – Join us as we celebrate Manitoba’s birthday with a day full of activities, history, and community fun! This special event will feature a flag-raising ceremony, free birthday cake, and more! FREE ADMISSION!
May 10 – 11:30 to 2:30pm – Mother’s Day Buffet at the Livery Barn Restaurant.
May 22 – 6:00pm – Spring Gala Fundraising Banquet – The Mennonite Heritage Village warmly invites you to an unforgettable evening of celebration, vision, and community spirit. Join us for our annual Spring Gala, where tradition meets transformation. As we reflect on our rich heritage and honour the stories that built our foundation, we also look ahead with hope and excitement to a future full of promise. We will also officially launch the new Gerhard Ens Gallery exhibit, Mennonite Medicine: Cures + Curiosities – 1800-1950. Tickets are available by calling 204-326-9661 or online at www.mhv.ca.
Thank you for being a part of Mennonite Heritage Village.