Programs & Events

Enjoy a fully guided, in-depth tour of Annandale House. Tours can be tailored to meet a wide range of curriculum needs. Explore topics such as the aesthetic art movement, life in Victorian times, mapping, stenciling and stain glass.

On the last Wednesday of the month, Annandale NHS is devoted to hosting programs for local Home School groups. Call Kathleen at 519-842-2294 to sign up.

Explore how different cultures celebrate special occasions! Each session highlights a unique festival or holiday from around the world through stories, crafts, music, and hands-on activities.

*parent must stay*

Join us for a fun and energetic camp that celebrates the FIFA World Cup coming to Canada! Kids will experience the excitement of soccer while exploring cultures from around the globe.

Perfect for ages 7-12, this camp combines sports, culture, and fun to celebrate the world coming together in Canada for soccer’s biggest event!

Step back in time and experience a week living like a farmer! This hands-on camp gives kids a chance to discover the daily life, chores, and fun of a traditional farm.

Perfect for ages 7-12, this camp offers a fun, educational experience that connects children to nature and the roots of rural living.

Get ready for an action-packed week filled with excitement and challenges! Adventure Unlimited is all about teamwork, problem-solving, and having fun outdoors.

Perfect for ages 7-12, this camp encourages leadership, creativity, and healthy competition—all while making lasting friendships!

Buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable journey! Ticket to Ride is a week-long summer camp adventure where kids explore the exciting world of transportation—past, present, and future. Whether it's the roar of a race car engine, the whistle of a steam train, or the lift-off of a jet plane, this camp dives into how people move across land, air, and even imagination!

By the end of the week, every camper will have earned their “ticket” as a Junior Transportation Explorer!

Perfect for kids who love movement, mechanics, and adventure—Ticket to Ride is your passport to summer fun!

Lunch & Learn is a four-part series of catered lunches and interesting lectures on local history. Lunch is served at noon with the lecture following. Admission to tour the Museum is included in the ticket price. Hosted in the Corner Gallery (program room). Preregistration is required. Cost $37.75 single ticket (taxes included) or $125.50 for series pass (taxes included)

“A Marvel Farm: Annandale’s Farm” Presented by Patty Phelps

Celebrate creativity, community, and identity in our “Tied to Pride” macramé workshop! Participants will create custom rainbow-themed macramé art inspired by various LGBTQ2S+ pride flags, such as the Progress Pride Flag, Trans Pride Flag, Lesbian Pride Flag, and more. All supplies provided.

NOTE: This is Family Friendly Event.

Join Local Woodworking with Brett Schultz

Discover the art of woodworking in this hands-on course led by Brett Schultz!

• Week One: Learn the basics of shaping wood and create your first project.
• Week Two: Refine your creation and add a personalized touch with paint.

Registration Includes:

• A kit with materials for your project
• A carving knife
• A pamphlet with step-by-step instructions
• Membership to the Tri-County Woodcarvers
• Insurance coverage
• 10% off at Chipping Away in Waterloo

Pre-registration is required. Do not miss this opportunity to learn a timeless skill while creating something unique!

Come to Annandale NHS and learn how to make your own macramé water bottle holder. Participants will learn basic knotting techniques while creating a stylish and functional handmade accessory.

Pre-registration is required and all supplies are included.

Join us at Annandale NHS for a fascinating presentation on the British Home Children with Lori Oschefski, President of Home Children Canada. Learn about the lives of the British Home Children, the hardships they endured, and the remarkable resilience they displayed in overcoming their challenges. Light Refreshments will be served.

Join us for a cozy Thanksgiving lunch followed by a fascinating talk with Robyn Michaud, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Studies at Western University. She will share insights into the harvest and its connection to Indigenous traditions and stories.

Come to Annandale NHS and learn the art of 3D paper quilling with Cindie McCormack. 3D paper quilling is the art of rolling, shaping, and layering strips of paper to create beautiful three-dimensional designs and decorations.

Pre-registration is required and all supplies are included.

Discover the art of needle punching at Annandale NHS with instructor Heather Cork! Needle punching is a creative fibre art that uses a special needle to loop yarn or fibre through fabric, creating beautiful textured patterns and designs.

Join us for this hands-on workshop and create your own unique piece to take home.

Pre-registration is required and all supplies are included.

Get ready to deck the halls with glitter, googly eyes, pom-poms, and pure holiday nostalgia! This “Kitschy Christmas Ornament Workshop” is all about embracing the bold, bright, and wonderfully weird side of the holidays. Whether you love vintage tackiness or just want to make something fabulously fun, this is the ultimate DIY event to let your creativity shine.

Note: This is an All-Ages Event.

Then add or nominate your kitschiest creation to our “Oh Kitschmas Tree!” Ornament Contest for a chance to win prizes and the coveted Golden Glue Gun Trophy.

After a 10-year hiatus, Doors Open Tillsonburg is finally back! We’re excited to welcome you to explore local historical sites, enjoy unique shopping experiences, and discover behind-the-scenes stories of Tillsonburg’s hidden gems. Get ready to feel Connected. Enriched. Inspired. Check out our Doors Open webpage for more information.

Also opening that day in the Pratt Gallery is our A Marvel Farm: Annandale Farm Exhibition which, this interactive exhibition marks the 145th anniversary of Annandale Farm. Guests will learn the story of Annandale's historic 600 acre farm, and how  E.D. Tillson's operation was at the cutting edge of agricultural technology at the time.   

Alongside that in the Quarter Ceiling Gallery in Annandale House we will also being opening our Tillsonburg's British Home Children exhibition which highlights some of the stories of the British Home Children sent to the Tillsonburg area between 1860 - 1940 to work as indentured labourers on farms, and in households. With many descendants of BHC still living in the area today we hope this exhibition also encourages visitors to share their family's stories with us as well to preserve this history before it is lost. 

Participates include:

• Annandale National Historic Site (30 Tillson Ave)
• Tillsonburg Pioneer Cemetery (13 Cedar St.)
• Station Arts Centre Tillsonburg (41 Bridge St W)
• Betty's Marketplace (87 Broadway St)
• Otter Lodge #50 (97 Broadway)
• Royal Canadian Legion Branch 153 (16 Durham St.)
• Theatre Tillsonburg (144789 Potters Rd)

Come kick off TurtleFest with us by an turtle-themed activity —a fun and creative way to start the celebration! We challenge your family and friends to some oversized games.

Grab a bite while you’re here. Food Trucks will be on-site serving up delicious dinner and treats. All materials provided for free while supplies last.

At dusk, grab your blanket or lawn chair and watch “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III” on the big screen.

Visit the Museum on TurtleFest to participate in “turtlely” family fun with live turtles, Lego © games, crafts, tours and the popular Turtle scavenger hunt.

Come celebrate Canada’s Birthday by touring Tillsonburg’s National Historic Site and taking in the fun on the lawn. Games, crafts, cake, snacks and much more.

Join us for a lively and family-friendly festival that honours Oxford County’s rich agricultural heritage, including a special spotlight on Annandale Farm, once home to dairy cows, pigs, and apple trees!

A tour for history and art lovers. Explore the symbolism in grave markers (weeping willow, doves, clasped hands) and how gravestone design evolved over time.

Location: Tillsonburg Cemetery (193 Simcoe St.)

Try to escape Annandale House by solving puzzles and following clues that will set you free. Geared towards teens and adults.

Pre-registration is required and all supplies are included.

Come in your costume and trick or treat in each of the rooms on the first floor of the Museum! Open to trick-or-treaters of all ages!

Monday, November 2nd to Wednesday, November 25th

Do you have what it takes to create the kitschiest, tackiest, most over-the-top Christmas ornament?

Join our festive crafting showdown where glitter, pom-poms, googly eyes, tinsel, and plastic flair reign supreme!

How It Works:

• Create your most outrageous ornament using any materials you wish — the gaudier the better!
• Ornaments must be able to hang on a tree.
• Bring your ornament to the Museum by November 25th.
• Judging categories include:
• Most Kitschy & Fabulous
• Most Creative Use of Glitter
• Retro Throwback
• People’s Choice

Prizes & Bragging Rights await the winner of the Golden Glue Gun Trophies!

Watch as Annandale’s lawn decorations are lit up for the season. Then come inside and enjoy visiting Annandale NHS, decorated for Christmas, some warm refreshments, and our seasonal exhibition, “A Kitschy Christmas”.

Come tour the museum decorated for the holiday season by local volunteers and take in the exhibit “A Kitschy Christmas” in the Pratt Gallery.