December 18, 2025
Jo-Ann Friesen
The local weather outside may be icy, blustery and cold, causing folks to be careful when out and about but the temperature inside Village Books & Gifts is warm and inviting. The museum as well as Village Books and Gifts are open to the public, Tuesdays to Saturdays 9:00am – 5:00pm. For the months of December to February, we are open on Saturdays until 8:00pm.
The Gift Shop offers local artwork, puzzles, crokinole boards, toys, jewelry, games, clothing, jams, quilts, rugs, our very own wind powered windmill stoneground flour, Deb’s Meatbuns, and so very much more. MHV is featuring a Membership Exclusive for December called the “12 Days of Christmas”. This event is being held from Friday, December 12, to Wednesday, December 24. When a member presents their card in Village Books and Gifts, they will receive 25% off puzzles, souvenirs and toys. Purchase your MHV membership today. A gift that gives all year long.
Village Books and Gifts has a wide variety of historically relevant books as well as hard to find assortment of unique souvenirs. We have a great selection of gently loved books as well. You are sure to find that hidden gem on your next visit. The Mennonite Treasury Cookbook, the Mennonite Girls Can Cook as well as retro aprons made inhouse by the MHV Auxiliary, continue to fly off the shelves to a new generation of households wanting to keep traditional dishes alive through their very own unique culinary skills. These books continue to be on our best sellers list. New to the store are handmade quilts and rugs, just perfect for that special someone. MHV’s experienced Storekeeper continues to sleuth and shelve those hard-to-find items. We have ben called Steinbach’s Best Kept Secret with a historical treasure trove of items, stop by today and see what you can find.
Village Books & Gifts endeavors to offer relevant topics for the writer inside you. On Saturday, February 7th, Village Books & Gifts is hosting our second Writer’s Workshop called “Storied Places” with Andrew Unger, MaryLou Driedger and Erin Koop-Unger. We all have places that are important to us because of the role they have played in our lives. It may be a house we’ve lived in, a country we’ve visited, the setting for our favorite novel, the site of a memorable event, or a cemetery where our ancestors lie. This workshop will help you consider what kinds of places are important to you and what might motivate you to write about them. We will share some user-friendly prompts to get your writing started and templates to help you organize your ideas and material. You’ll also learn how you can use specificity and detail to enrich your stories and engage your readers. This workshop is being held from 9:30am – 12:00 noon. Registration fee is only $50.00. Deadline for registration of February 1. Register today. Contact joannf@mhv.ca.
Check out our website for upcoming events information www.mhv.ca .
Upcoming Events:
December 18th – 10am to 11am – Exhibit Explorers – Looking for a new and exciting location for story time? Join us at MHV for an engaging morning set among the fascinating artefacts in the Gallery!
December 12-24 – MHV Members-Only: 12 Days of Christmas Sale! Celebrate the season with exclusive savings at Village Books & Gifts during our 12 Days of Christmas event! MHV members enjoy an exclusive 25% off select merchandise, including toys, souvenirs, and puzzles—perfect for holiday gifting or adding to your own collection. Make the most of your membership benefits during this special seasonal promotion!
December 29 to 31 – Kids’ Winter Day Camp – A three-day winter break camp for ages 6-11 years old. Join us for crafts, games, and pioneer activities. Contact Jaysa Thiessen for more information ( jaysat@mhv.ca ).
January 4 – 1:30pm – 4:30pm – Christmas on the Farm – Join us for a cozy winter afternoon at Christmas on the Farm, hosted by the South East Manitoba Draft Horse Association! Bundle up and enjoy free admission and free sleigh rides through the snowy village streets and warm up with hot dogs and hot chocolate after! Guests are encouraged to bring a tin for the bin in support of local food banks.