Celebrate the Return of Horse Lovers’ Weekend at Upper Canada Village, August 31 to September 2

Experience a Weekend of Equestrian Heritage and Family Fun, Featuring the Rare Ojibwe Spirit Horses, from August 31 to September 2, 2024

Upper Canada Village is thrilled to announce the return of its beloved annual Horse Lovers’ Weekend, taking place from Saturday, August 31 to Monday, September 2, 2024, celebrating horse power.  

The long weekend festival will showcase riding, driving, and working horses, brought to life by Upper Canada Village’s dedicated interpreters and a variety of community partners. Included with Village admission, the event offers a range of activities for all ages.  

New this year, Upper Canada Village is proud to feature Mādahòkì and their Ojibwe Spirit Horses, a rare and revered breed, and the only known Indigenous horse in Canada. 

Event Highlights: 

• Horse Drawn Wagon Rides & Six-Horse Hitch Wagon Rides 

• Horse Powered Drag Saw Demonstration 

• Shire Mare and Foal Demonstration 

• Tow Scow Ride 

• Brass Band Musical Entertainment 

• Historic Vehicle Display 

• Horse-Drawn Farm Equipment Display & Plowing Demonstration 

• Capital Cowgirls Drill Team 

• Learn to Ride with Ashfield Farm Rookie Rider Program 

Horse-loving programs run all day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Tickets are available on our website. 

Upper Canada Village’s horses are a heritage breed, the Canadian, recognized as Canada’s National Horse, and preserved through a breeding program at the Village. A year-long community-led fundraising effort to erect a statue honoring this breed will culminate in an unveiling on September 13, 2024, at Upper Canada Village. For more details on this project and the unveiling, visit our website. 

About Upper Canada Village  

Depicting life in a rural Canadian setting during the year 1866, Upper Canada Village is one of the largest living-history museums in Canada. It was founded in 1961 and features more than 40 historic buildings, many of which were moved to the Village from the “Lost Villages” to preserve them prior to the flooding for the St. Lawrence Seaway development project. Talented historical interpreters bring these buildings to life every day, recreating traditional trades, farming, music, and 19th century social life – creating an immersive guest experience that makes every visit to the Village different from the last.