[2023-07-03] Upper Canada Village July 2023

We visit Upper Canada Village so often (at least once a year) that I've taken to adding the date in the titles of my posts pertaining to these pilgrimages to distinguish them. Indeed, this year, Chris and I bought a season's pass, which offers all sorts of benefits:
  • Unlimited free admission to the day program at both Upper Canada Village and Fort Henry
  • Half price admission for up to two accompanying guests per season's pass holder per visit (meaning that if Chris and I both go, we could bring four guests, who would receive a 50% discount on their entrance fees)
  • Unlimited free admission to the St. Lawrence day-use and beach areas for pass holders and one guest per pass holder (meaning that if Chris and I both go, we could bring two guests, who would also get in for free)
  • Free admission to the "City Tour" on Kingston Trolley Tours
  • $20 discount on a Sunset Dinner Cruise at Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises
The cost for a season's pass is $50 per adult for a Passport to the Past option; this is the package we chose. The Premium Passport to the Past option costs $79 per person and includes all the benefits of the basic package as well as unlimited free admission to Upper Canada Village's Pumpkinferno and Alight at Night special events and unlimited free admission to Fort Henry's Sunset Ceremony performances and Pumpkinferno.

Had we not purchased the season's pass, our entrance fee today for Chris, Shane, Mel and me would have been $100 ($25 per person) plus tax. The cost of two season's passes plus half-price entry for the kids was $125 plus tax. Even if Chris and I return only once more this summer, we will be further ahead.

My favourite thing to do at Upper Canada Village is to talk to the people working in each building. Today, we spoke to two women who are helping to stitch a huge quilt that has squares of each of the village's buildings on it. One of the women told us that they expect to work on it this summer and next before it is finished. We also spoke to a woman who explained how yarn was dyed in the 1860s, using mostly plant-based ingredients, such as walnuts, onion skin and carrot tops. Another important source of dye was cochineal, an insect from which the natural dye carmine was derived. The crimson colour was used to colour the red coats of British soldiers, so explained the woman, and the robes of Catholic cardinals, as I learned through further research.

I also love all the animals at Upper Canada Village. You can get remarkably close to them. Mel was invited to pet the horse that had pulled the barge down the canal, and we got to feed the piglets that were roaming freely through the grounds.

We had lunch at Willard's Hotel, where I was able to indulge my sweet tooth by ordering the Classic British Pudding. I can't imagine going to Upper Canada Village without getting this sponge cake covered with toffee and whipped cream.

This summary of today's visit represents just some of what we did, which is still a fraction of what one can do at the village. It was a lovely excursion to cap off a family-oriented Canada Day weekend.