Visit the Family Activity Centre for all kinds of 1860s-style fun!

The large red building found at the east end of Upper Canada Village provides visiting families with an entertaining stop during their trip around the site. Already in its 9th year of operation, the Family Activity Centre has seen thousands of kids and adults alike join in its daily activity sessions, where friendly staff assist visitors as they explore a variety of historic props, clothing, games and activities.

Children of all ages can actually learn about and handle many of the tools they may have seen during their visit to other parts of the Village. A favourite activity is tin-punching, the art of punching decorative patterns into pieces of tin from the tinshop. Other pastimes at the Centre include hand-carding wool that came from the same sheep in the pasture next to the Activity Centre, or sewing pin cushions. Little artists will enjoy drawing on slate boards typically used in the one-room schoolhouse, or mastering the art of writing with a quill pen.

Visitors to the Centre can also dress-up in clothing (from fancy hats to hoop dresses and button-flap pants) and learn the fun way about the do’s and dont's of fashion in the 1860s. And, what better way to learn about having fun in the 19th century than by playing with one of the toys or games popular with families back then, such as skittles or crokinole.

The Family Activity Centre makes a visit to Upper Canada Village an ideal day-trip for families, offering a fun, hands-on way to learn about the past during their stay. It is open 7 days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is included in the regular admission price to the Village. Some of the games found at the Centre are available for purchase at the Village Store.