Kicking Off 50th Anniversary Celebration
Genesee Country Village & Museum is excited to celebrate its 50th anniversary throughout 2026. GCV&M offers visitors opportunities to explore the museum during the winter season through outdoor activities, indoor exhibits, and special programs. From guided nighttime hikes to Winter Weekends throughout the museum, GCV&M invites visitors to experience history, art, and nature all month long.
Owl Moon: January 16, 17, 23, and 24, 4:30 to 8 p.m.
Genesee Country Village & Museum is partnering again this winter with Wild Wings Inc. to host the popular Owl Moon night-hike and owl meet and greet experience. Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to take a guided night hike with a GCV&M naturalist, meet owls with Wild Wings, hear a reading of the book Owl Moon, and more. Guided hikes will take place from 5 to 7:45 p.m., and the earliest tours are best for those with concerns about visibility or those who would like to hike in relative daylight. This event will take place in snow or rain – visitors are encouraged to dress for cold weather and wear good walking shoes.
Educators from local group Wild Wings Inc. will be on-site in the GCV&M Meeting Center Auditorium with a variety of owl species in their care. Hearty food and drink will be available in the museum’s Meeting Center Lounge from 4:30 to 8 p.m., with a cash bar featuring historical craft beer, rotating hard cider, wine, and soft drinks. Visitors can shop for owl-themed merchandise, village-made goods, museum apparel, and more at the Flint Hill Store. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, and are available at https://www.gcv.org/event/owl-moon/.
Winter Weekends at GCV&M: Saturdays and Sundays, January 10 through March 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Celebrate the snowy season at Genesee Country Village & Museum during Winter Weekends. Visitors are invited to enjoy seasonal recreation and indoor experiences across the museum. Activities include sledding on the Great Meadow, walks through the Historic Village, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on the trails, warm food and beverages in the Meeting Center, shopping at the Flint Hill Store, and more – all for a discounted seasonal rate.
As part of Winter Weekends at GCV&M, the John L. Wehle Gallery and the Nature Center will be open, offering exhibits, talks, and opportunities to engage with museum staff and naturalists. These programs will be included with Winter Weekends admission and will feature:
- Mobile Planetarium (Saturday, January 10)
- The Making of Our Museum by Peter Wisbey, Philip K. Wehrheim Curator of Collections (Saturday, January 17)
- The Stories They Brought with Them: Folktales of Early Settlers by Cris Reidel (Sunday, January 18)
- Vines and Virtue by David Fiorito, Director of Interpretation Operations (Sunday, January 25)
- Digging Up Bones – Hidden History of the Finger Lakes (Saturday, January 31)
Stay tuned as more programs are announced. Visitors looking to plan for weekend winter fun can explore what’s coming up and purchase daily admission tickets at https://www.gcv.org/event/winter-weekends/.
Coming up in 2026
In addition to regular daily visitation, GCV&M is excited to launch its 50th season, full of special events and programming throughout 2026. Stay tuned to https://www.gcv.org/ for more information.
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