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Skip screens for a Sunday morning of Victorian crafts, garden bug hunts and hands-on learning at Dalnavert. Perfect for kids ages 6–12 and their grown-ups, the series runs the first Sunday of each month April–August 2026.
Skip screens for a Sunday morning of Victorian crafts, garden bug hunts and hands-on learning at Dalnavert. Perfect for kids ages 6–12 and their grown-ups, the series runs the first Sunday of each month April–August 2026.
Book with Friends of Dalnavert Museum
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Operated by Friends of Dalnavert Museum · Winnipeg, Manitoba
On the first Sunday of each month from April through August 2026, Screen-Free Sundays transforms Dalnavert into a hands-on laboratory of Victorian-era domestic life and garden science. Located at Dalnavert in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, this compact, one-hour family program invites children ages six to twelve and their adult companions to leave screens behind and learn by doing: dyeing eggs with kitchen-grown pigments, decoding the language of flowers, hunting for garden insects and making simple crafts from recycled materials. The schedule is deliberately focused. April's session centers on natural dyes and includes a short history of how Victorians colored Easter eggs using onion skins, beets and tea; participants visit the historic kitchen, try dye recipes and take home a finished egg. May explores floriography - Victorian flower symbolism - by decoding bouquets placed through the house and then assembling recycled-paper blooms inspired by the meanings discovered. June is a bug hunt in the gardens followed by an insect-themed craft in the visitor centre; the activity is kid-friendly and does not require handling live insects. July and August themes are announced nearer the dates, keeping the series fresh for returning families. Each hour-long session pairs active outdoor exploration with hands-on table work indoors so weather changes do not derail the experience. What sets Screen-Free Sundays apart is the way it stitches local history, material culture and simple natural science into an accessible family hour. Dalnavert's period rooms, the small kitchen workspace and adjoining garden beds create a convincing context for analog play; children can compare living pollinators and garden insects with Victorian-era displays inside the visitor centre. The program highlights everyday materials - fabric dyes, paper, flowers and garden bugs - and turns them into learning tools, encouraging observation, manual skills and curiosity about where ordinary household traditions came from. Practical notes matter: advance tickets are required and the program enforces a strict family policy - no children without an adult and no adults without a child; children must be supervised at all times. Screen-Free Sundays happen rain or shine; planned indoor alternatives accommodate inclement weather or poor air quality. Ticket purchase includes optional self-guided exploration of the house but does not cover guided tours. The pace is gentle and suitable for families who want a short, educational outing that combines craft, history and outdoor time without specialist equipment or prior experience. For travelers and locals in Winnipeg, Screen-Free Sundays at Dalnavert is an easy, memorable way to bring a bit of Victorian curiosity to a modern Sunday morning. Bring a snack, a camera and a sense of wonder; younger siblings can watch but must stay with adults, and strollers are generally welcome but check accessibility options with the venue ahead of arrival to plan your visit for weather and parking details.
easy.
1 hour.
Light activity; appropriate for families with children ages 6–12 and adults comfortable walking short garden paths and standing for crafts
The program is recommended for children ages 6–12; younger children may attend but must remain supervised by an adult at all times.
No; tickets must be booked in advance. The program cannot accommodate walk-up registrations.
Ticket price includes optional self-guided exploration of the house but does not include guided tours, which should be booked separately.
Screen-Free Sundays run rain or shine; organizers plan indoor alternatives when outdoor activities would be unsafe or impractical.
No. While June includes a supervised bug hunt in the gardens, the subsequent craft does not use real insects.
Specific accessibility details are not provided in the listing; contact the venue in advance to discuss mobility needs and stroller access.
Dalnavert is presented as a Victorian-era historic house museum that anchors these programs in domestic life and material culture from the period.
The program emphasizes low-impact materials and recycled crafts; indoor backups reduce pressure on sensitive garden areas during poor conditions.
Friends of Dalnavert Museum supports programming and public engagement at Dalnavert, a historic Victorian house museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The organization partners with museum staff to present guided tours, themed events, lectures, workshops, and community programs that interpret Victorian domestic life, local Métis history, medical and social histories, and seasonal family activities. Programs include walking tours of downtown Winnipeg focused on Métis heritage and early 20th-century urban life, small-group Behind the Ropes tours led by the collections registrar, hands-on workshops such as darning classes, and specialized presentations on topics like Victorian drug culture and funeral customs. Friends of Dalnavert Museum emphasizes accessibility and community connection. Offerings include dementia-friendly tours and family-focused holiday programming such as Halloween tea parties and Victorian-themed celebrations. Public historians, museum professionals, and volunteer supporters contribute to research, interpretation, and delivery, helping ensure content is historically informed and appropriate for diverse audiences. Events vary in length and format; many programs fit 45–60 minutes while special events run longer. As a Winnipeg-based heritage organization, Friends of Dalnavert Museum works within museum best practices to care for collections and to share local stories, including the history of the Red River Métis and the city’s social development. Visitors can expect small-group experiences, docent-led interpretation, and chances to see artifacts not normally on display. Programming aims to educate, preserve regional heritage, and invite community participation in understanding Winnipeg’s past. Membership and volunteer opportunities support ongoing preservation, research, and public accessibility while deepening local connections to Manitoba's cultural heritage and public education.
Book with Friends of Dalnavert Museum