This year Steckle Heritage Farm staff introduced a new celebration to their yearly events—Winter Fun Day. Family Day, February 20th, would be a good day to add a new celebration, staff thought, and while winter weather has been an “on an off affair” this year, the likelihood of having snow had to make them a little concerned. But it snowed after all. Matt Cook said when he saw the snow coming at 2 am on Sunday morning, he went outside to celebrate it. “I did a happy dance.”

Winter Fun Day was advertised as Old Fashioned Fun, going back and celebrating the simple joys.  Steve Sinclair had the fire blazing in the hearth of the Honey House when I arrived.

The event was well attended with families, dressed in winter wear, showing up to go for rides down the hill in toboggans. They saw the animals, inside the barn and out,  did some crafts, had hot chocolate and treats, and many came to listen to stories in the Honey House. The attendance far exceeded the staff’s expectations and a camera man was on hand from CTV to take some clips as well. You can see it here.

Here are some photos from that day, including a photo  of me telling stories in the Honey House:

The miniature ponies

Sheep in the paddock

Tobogganing on the hill (above)

Storytelling (me) in the Honey House (above)

Krista Cressman-Buck (below) with Jasmine, the sheep…

…then leading Stanley, one of the calves, out of the shelter

Barn on Steckle Farm (below), some of which dates back to 1891 during the time of John and Esther Steckle, original owners of the farm

Looking at the bunny in the barn …

and a rooster too.

The Honey House, location of storytelling, is one of the stone outbuildings, part of the heritage features of the farm. Some of these buildings date between 1833 and 1845.

Derek Brisland, second teller of the day, at a quiet moment