We had a busy 2023 season, with lots of events, entertainment, workshops, temporary exhibits and more!
2023 Yearbook
Clock Faces
June 24 – A free public workshop in partnership with Arts Nova Scotia. Join us for an afternoon of creative fun with clocks, clock parts, and faces. We will explore the art of assemblage using clock parts to create faces. Macdonald Museum is excited to be part of Arts Nova Scotia’s “Community Art Road Trip”.
Camera on The Banks
Opening July 1st, 2023 – “Let the unique photographs of Frederick William Wallace transport you to the last days of Nova Scotia’s schooners under sail.” The Macdonald Museum is excited to bring you our new exhibit “Camera on the Banks” .
Poppies
Thank you Swinamer Media for supporting the Macdonald Museum and thank you for this excellent video of our display.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19i6Foomp7/
Celebration of the coronation of King Charles III
May 7 – Hats & fascinators galore! A jolly good time was had by all as we celebrated the coronation of King Charles III. Thank you all for coming!
Annapolis Valley Historical Society Annual General Meeting
June 1 – 7pm –“Join us as we share our past accomplishments and share with you our plans for another great year. After the meeting our guest speaker, Laura Churchill Duke, will talk about her novel “Two Crows Sorrow”. Refreshments served.
Macdonald Farmers Market
June 2 – Opening day at the Macdonald Market. Thank you to all our vendors and customers who came out on a warm afternoon to help us open the market season.
Middleton Lions Antique Car Show
Aug 10 – Once again we are delighted to have the Middleton Lions Antique Car Show here at the Museum
Canada Day Celebrations
July 1 – celebrations, band, dancers, strawberry shortcakes, games, cupcakes & more!
Jill Cox – 2nd, Jeff Holloway – 3rd. A big thank you to Mid-Valley Engraving & Displays for their awesome trophy and medals. Thank you again to Middleton Baptist Church for graciously letting us use your space for our celebrations.
Pete’s Snakes
July 22 – Free admission. Come and learn more about these wonderful creatures, up close and personal.
Our float in the Heart of the Valley Festival Parade
July 22
Escape From Summer School
Aug 21 – 26 – Escape Room. $15 pp
It’s the last day of summer school. You’re packing your bag and keeping an eye on the clock, eagerly anticipating the bell. One more week of summer vacation left. Suddenly, your teacher tells the class that there’s a problem. She forgot to give you all your final tests in every subject! What!? She must be joking!
You will need to complete all the test in time to escape the classroom and enjoy what’s left of the summer!
George and Jean Memorial Gallery Dedication Ceremony
Aug 30
Volunteer of the year
Sept 25 – Our Board President Jo-Ann Hightower, was the recipient of the volunteer of the year for Middleton. Photo taken at the 49th Provincial Volunteer Awards ceremonies
Middleton Haunted House
Oct 27 & 28 – Ghost and goblins abound at the Middleton Haunted House. Enter if you dare…….
Hallowe’en Trick or Treat
Oct 31 – Handing out treats to all the little ghosts and goblins on Halloween night. 7-9pm
V
Sept 25 –
Annual Christmas Craft Fair
J. A big THANK YOU to all the vendors and volunteers who helped make the Macdonald Museum Christmas Craft Fair a huge success. THANK YOU to all the local businesses who donated items for our door prizes and supplied us with delicious food for our canteen.
Our First Wedding!
Dec 16 – Congratulations Tanja & Matt. Thank you for letting Macdonald Museum be part of your special day!
MRHS’s Drama Production
Jan 17 & 18 – The Macdonald Museum is very pleased to host the MRHS’s drama production – A Collection of Snapshots & Vignettes
A Night with Joe Henry
Sept 15 – A night of country & blues as Joe H Henry takes the stage for the first of our fall/winter concerts.
Jail House Rock
Sept 22 – Help our convict rock stars by donating to their bail or to keep them locked up longer. Great music and our BBQ cooking up dogs and sausages
A Night with Rachel Maclean
Oct 14 – a night of Celtic/east coast tunes as Middleton’s own Rachel Maclean takes the stage here at Macdonald Museum
Sunday Matinee – Hocus Pocus
Oct 29
Join Winifred, Mary, Sarah et all for an afternoon of “Hocus Pocus”.
Admission: $3/child, $5/adult
Movie – War Horse
Nov 5 – We begin our week of Remembrance with the screening of the movie “War Horse”.
Movie – The Devils Brigade
Nov 9 – A US Army lieutenant colonel is tasked with forming an elite commando-style unit from crack Canadian troops and the dregs of the US Army.
Mark Riley Sings Jazz/Blues
Nov 11 – Enjoy an evening of soul and blues music as the Macdonald Museum welcomes Mark Riley Music to the stage. Check out https://www.mrileymusic.com/music for a sound bite of his bluesy style.
Friday Family Movie Night
Nov 24 – Featuring the scary movie: Night at the Museum
Jason Price Concert
Dec 9 – an evening of country music with the fabulous Jason Price
Maud’s Oxen – Paint Class
May 11 & 13 – How about a painting for Mum this Mother’s Day? Join us as we show you how you can re-create Maud’s iconic “Oxen” painting. $25/person.
May 11 – Adult Class; May 13 – Youth 6-14yrs
Spring Cookie Decorating Class
May 13 – A fun and tasty time was had by all at our spring cookie decorating class. Thank you Tammy from The Cookie Jar for helping us create our treats
MRHS GSA students’ Queer Information Presentation
June 7 – Come out, support our students, ask questions and as they say “Have a Jolly Good Time”
Make a Traditional Mi’kmaq Medicine Pouch
July 13 – with Carolyn Laundry.
Basket Weaving Workshop
Aug 16 – with Carolyn Laundry.
Beaded Earrings Workshop
Sept 28 – with Karen Beals
Moccasin Workshop
Sept 18 & 19, 25 & 26 – with Carolyn Landry
Festive Christmas Tree Decorations
Nov 25 – Spend a couple of hours with us at the museum and learn to make these festive tree ornaments.
Steve Skafte – The Dead Die Twice
June 21 – What to Read Wednesdays
Featuring local author/photographer Steve Skafte. Steve will be here to talk about his new book and answer all your questions.
Ronan O’Driscoll – Poor Farm
July 19 – What to Read Wednesdays
Featuring author Ronan O’Driscoll. Please join us for an evening of discussion on the themes of the book, particularly the importance of historical monuments and museums to contemporary society.
Marilyn Jones – Aunt Toni’s Diary
Aug 16 – What to Read Wednesdays
Diagnosed with tuberculosis at age 13, Toni grew to become a beautiful, smart lady, but was unable to regain her health and passed away four months short of her twenty-fifth birthday.
This is an account of her final year and a half of her life. From April 1949 until June 1950, she was among hundreds of patients treated at the Nova Scotia Sanatorium in Kentville, Nova Scotia.
Jan Fancy Hull – Facades
Sept 20 – What to Read Wednesdays
Jan Fancy Hull officially launches her latest novel, the fifth book in her Tim Brown Mysteries series, May: Facades, and reads short excerpts.
Then she hosts “Ask Me Anything”, inviting the audience to discuss why her stories are set in Nova Scotia, her writing style and process, what she considers a mystery and courage, why it’s never too late to write, and whatever else the audience wants to know
Free Admission Refreshments Served
Vernon Oickle – Spooky Books
Oct 18 – What to Read Wednesdays
Vernon Oickle is a celebrated Nova Scotian based journalist and author of 32 books including Ghost Stories of Nova Scotia, More Ghost Stories of Nova Scotia and the just released forerunners: Harbingers of Death in Nova Scotia. Join us as we explore local legends and hauntings. It’s guaranteed to be a spooky fun evening!!
Dave Whitman – A War Horse comes to Nova Scotia
Nov 8 – What to Read Wednesdays
The number of horses used by all armies during the First World War will likely never be known but estimates place the number of those killed at over eight million. A War Horse comes to Nova Scotia focuses on the stories of some of the soldiers and their animals that served in The Great War and who together had connections to Nova Scotia.
Author Dave Whitman recounts the stories of soldiers and their animal comrades caught up in a conflict that would change the course of modern history.
Bob Bent – Spy on Ice
Dec 13 – What to Read Wednesdays
“Over the thirty years it took me to complete Spy on Ice I read many books about spying, both fiction and non-fiction and also read Russian history, and Russian literature. didn’t take notes, but useful pieces of what I read stuck somewhere in my brain and came out in the dialogue of certain episodes in Spy on Ice. Those snippets of dialogue serendipitously help me understand why Vladimir Putin would invade Ukraine”
Jan 13 – Demolition begins
Jan 24 – Basement cleared.
Storage containers filled and collection items safely stored on third level. Basement renos begin next week!
