Why Kings Landing is Serene Magic in the Fall
There is no time like the present to discover the past. Kings Landing offers you the chance to break up with 2020 for a few hours and travel back through 200 years of history and folklore. This fall gather your friends and family and spend some quality time together at this serene, open-air museum.
Kings Landing is no ordinary museum. It was created in the late 1960s when the Mactaquac Dam threatened to flood many historic buildings in the Saint John River Valley. Over 70 restored and reconstructed buildings and other structures from the 19th century and early 20th century were moved to Kings Landing and are now full of life and open to the public just 20 minutes West of Fredericton. The reconstructed village includes working farms complete with farm animals; a blacksmith and wheelwright shop; a printing press in full-production mode; a general store that you can shop at; a one-room schoolhouse under the command of the strict Ms.Guiou; and, many more fully operational heritage shops and homes on the massive property.
Kings Landing in the fall in pure magic. When you arrive at Kings Landing, you’ll forget your never-ending to-do list as your senses come alive with all things 19th-century New Brunswick. From feeling the floorboards shake as a giant water-powered saw produces shipbuilding lumber at the Sawmill to catching a whiff of Mrs. Perley’s famous gravy simmering on her New Brunswicker” wood stove, you’ll leave with memories from the 1800s — not just having heard tales!
With the settlement’s beautiful fall scenery, it’s a super fun spot to spend some time playing with your camera. I’m talking sunflowers, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, hayfields, colourful foliage, dried herbs & flowers, decorated mantels, and just about anything else you could possibly imagine capturing in autumn.
Hope on the wagon and relax as Kings Landing’s stunning draft horses take you on a beautiful leaf peeping tour.
This year has given rise to a lot of first-time gardeners. Don’t stress about trying to piece together all the random articles about fall garden care. Come chat with Kings Landing’s seasoned gardeners. They love what they do and are more than happy to help you with your gardening goals.
Fall at Kings Landing also means lots of awesome programming. The remaining special events include Timber! New Brunswick’s Rugged Past, A Taste of Fall: Preparing for Christmas, A Stitch in Time, and two Thanksgiving Harvest Celebration Weekends. Each weekend is packed with music, tastings, handiwork, and all sorts of experiences unique to our province.
The Thanksgiving Harvest Celebration weekends will be jam-packed with lots of fun. Purchase Kings Landing artisan goods like hand carved spoons, undying flowers, produce, letterpress art, handmade rugs, blacksmithing ware, and more at the annual auction; shoot a Brown Bess musket; vote for your favourite scarecrow; try your hand at the crosscut saw, and more! Visit the Kings Landing website for the full list of events.
Made with time-honoured recipes and produce fresh from the village gardens, Kings Landing’s Thanksgiving Dinners are back. Take a break from all your grocery shopping, cooking, baking, and dish-washing and let the King’s Head Inn team indulge you in a traditional turkey dinner. Available on a first-come, first-served basis for parties of 14 or less, the dinners are served from 11:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on October 3,4, 10, and 11. Stop by the Inn during this time and the waitstaff will take your cell number and call you when your table is ready. You won’t have to worry about waiting in long lines or crowded rooms. Have a party of 15 or more? Book in advance and you’ll get hooked up with a private room and a group discount at admissions.
Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned visitor, you won't want to miss your chance to step back in time and unwind this fall! Kings Landing is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm until October 11.
Bonus: Mark your calendars. New for 2020, the first two weekends in December, Kings Landing will open up select homes and shops for Christmas in the Village! Stay tuned for details like Christmas shopping at the Grant Store, sleigh rides, costuming, and even historic home dining experiences!
