Old Sturbridge Village offers free admission for kids during April

STURBRIDGE — As spring arrives in New England, Old Sturbridge Village invites families to celebrate the season with a special offer — kids receive free general daytime admission during April.

Up to two children, age 17 or younger, will be admitted free with each adult full-price general daytime admission ticket. With warmer weather, children eager to get outside, and the nation approaching its 250th anniversary, Old Sturbridge Village representatives say it’s the perfect time to step into New England’s largest living history museum, which provides hands-on history, friendly farm animals and 200 scenic acres of outdoor adventure.

Visitors will experience life in early New England through hands-on activities, outdoor games, masterful storytelling and encounters with heritage-breed farm animals, including lambs, cows and the hardworking oxen that once powered local farms. The village will also feature farmers preparing fields for planting, potters shaping clay, blacksmiths forging tools, households cooking over open hearths, and costumed interpreters sharing stories from the Revolutionary era and the nation’s early years.

“It’s been an especially long winter, and I think families are ready to get outside again,” said Old Sturbridge Village President and CEO Jim Donahue. “With kids visiting free in April, it’s a great chance for families to come out, enjoy the fresh air, and spend a day exploring the village.”

During April vacation weeks — April 15-19 and April 22-26 — families can take part in Family Field Days, a series of 19th-century-inspired games, competitions and feats of skill, including tug-of-war, jump rope challenges, scavenger hunts and “trap, bat, and ball, baseball 1830s style.”

The kids free in April offer does not include field trips or special ticketed events. To maximize savings, visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance for an additional $3 discount compared to door prices by visiting osv.org/event/kids-free-april and using code KID26 at check out.

Old Sturbridge Village is open Wednesday through Sunday, from  9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., in April. For more information including a full schedule of upcoming events and hours beyond April visit osv.org.