From Shaker Suppers to oval box making, sheep shearing to organic gardening, Hancock Shaker Village offers a full calendar of special events that will keep you coming back to see what's new.

April 3 - April 25, 2010 Baby Animals on the Shaker Farm Celebrate Spring with a visit to Hancock Shaker Village and our newest, cutest arrivals. The Round Stone Barn will be filled with lambs, piglets, calves and chicks - all waiting to meet you! We're open from 10am to 5pm during Baby Animals, with special activities throughout the day. Great for family outings and class field trips! Read more about our 8th annual Baby Animals celebration

Saturday, May 8, 2010 Shaker Organic Gardening & Sustainable Farming Workshop Dig in to a hands-on day of composting, weed eradication and bug control with our Organic Gardening Workshop. Whether you're starting fresh on a small Berkshire farm or maintaining an urban window box garden, you can reap the rewards of this workshop. Tools and materials provided. Every student will take away starter plants and ready-to-use compost. 10am to 2pm, includes picnic lunch. Tuition: $68 HSV Members / $75 Non-Members Register online now!

May 15 – 16 and October 2 – 3, 10am to 5pm (Registrants must participate in both weekends) Root Cellar Workshop Students will learn the basics of food storage, tour existing root cellars, see presentations on innovative design options, assess and plan their own crop storage needs examine energy and monetary savings, and explore planting guidelines while seeding a garden. Participants will take home their own food security action plan, a design for a space of their own, planting and storage guideline charts, as well as a copy of the Bubel’s book on root cellaring. Come ready for two intensive weekends and learn how to make hard work into simple living! $500/$450 for full two-weekend course Register Now!

May 29 – October 31, 2010 True and Honest Before the World Hancock Shaker Village’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition For the 50th Anniversary exhibition, we asked a wide variety of people with an affinity for the Shaker culture:  “If you could pick any Shaker creation that for you, best illustrates the Shakers’ enduring influence, what would it be and why?”  The response has been enthusiastic and inspiring. Our guest curators include designer Michael Graves, television personality Al Roker, furniture maker Thomas Moser, and the most famous cellist in the world, Yo-Yo Ma. Come see their picks, hear their comments on Shaker contributions, and offer your own reflections on what "Shaker" means to you in our special interactive exhibit section. You can even apply to join the ranks of our celebrity guest curators - fill out your submission! We want a good plain substantial Shaker article, yea, one that bears credit to our profession & tells who and what we are, true and honest before the world,without hypocrisy or any false covering. - Brother Orren Haskins, "Reflections, 1887"

July 10 OR 17, 2010 Hand-cut Dovetail Workshop The dovetail joint has long been considered a hallmark of fine craftsmanship. The Shakers were well versed in hand joinery and used dovetails in boxes, case construction, and, of course, drawers. In this one day workshop, you will make either a pine candle box or a pine tray using dovetail joinery. 9am to 4pm, all materials included. Tuition:  $175 HSV Members / $195 Non-Members Register online now!

July 21-25, 2010 Shaker Seminar: Hancock Shaker Village The 36th annual Shaker Seminar will convene at Hancock Shaker Village this July, for 5 days of lectures, tours and camaraderie. Join us for this special edition of the Shaker Seminar, highlighting the 50th anniversary of Hancock Shaker Village as a museum site. Presentations will include new scholarship, behind-the-scenes access, field trips and exploration of historic preservation initiatives. An optional volunteer work day will be offered on Wednesday the 21st prior to Seminar registration. Novice Shaker enthusiasts and scholars alike will enjoy these communal studies-oriented days of learning and sharing. Call for more information: 413.443.1088 x213. Registration forms will be available for download soon - please check back here for updates.

August 7&8 OR October 9&10, 2010 Shaker Oval Box Making: Box Basics Make your own nest of four boxes while learning to carve swallow tails, bend the box, and install tops and bottoms with instructor Steve Grasselli. A great weekend for woodworking beginners to get a good start, and for experienced woodworkers to develop a new skill. No previous experience required. Tools and materials provided. 9am to 4pm each day, maximum 10 students. Tuition: $200 HSV Members / $220 Non-Members Register online now!

August 28 & 29, 2010 Classic New England Side Table Workshop A tapered-leg one drawer stand, this design was utilized throughout New England and fits well in any home decor. This class offers the opportunity to learn two skill sets - building the table and hand dovetailing the single drawer. Your completed cherry side table will stand two feet tall, 20 inches wide and 16 inches deep. This course utilizes both machine and hand tools. 9am to 4pm each day, maximum 3 students. Tuition: $585 HSV Members / $650 Non-Members Register online now!

Shaker Chimney Cupboard Workshop A private, one-on-one opportunity, scheduled at the student's convenience, to custom build this classic Shaker design. The size of this piece can be modified slightly to suit individual needs. This design was used and modified by all Shaker communities, either as a built-in or stand alone piece. Tall and narrow, the Chimney Cupboard was usually installed next to a chimney to make use of otherwise wasted space. With two doors and adjustable shelving inside, modern uses could include books, linens or media. Custom pieces built with pine, in keeping with Shaker tradition. 3-day workshop: $1100, includes materials and instruction with Steve Grasselli. Please contact Hancock Shaker Village to coordinate dates: 413.443.0188 x213

September 22-26, 2010 Timber Framing: A Traditional Approach Participants learn the craft of timber frame construction using 18th and 19th century tools and techniques, completing the parts and assembling the frame of a small building. Instructional demonstrations and discussions supplement the hands-on learning activities. Tools and materials provided, students may also bring their own. Participants must register directly with instructors Jack Sobon & Dave Carlon. 5-day workshop: $430 HSV Members / $475 Non-Members Jack Sobon: 413.684.3223; Dave Carlon 413.684.3612

September 25&26, 2010 13th Annual Country Fair Celebrate the bounty of the harvest at the Country Fair! A Kid's Tent,a Pie Contest, vendors of handmade crafts, a local Farmers' Market, as well as agricultural demonstrations and wagon rides offer hands-on fun for the whole family! There's something for everyone at the Country Fair. Click here to read more!

October 3-10, 2010 Spinning & Weaving Week As part of National Spinning and Weaving Week, Hancock Shaker Village highlights Shaker textiles. See and participate in activities related to making cloth - flax processing, spinning, dying and weaving. See Shaker textiles from our collection that will change your notion of what the Shakers wore and made.

October 9, 10; November 6, 27, 2010 Shaker Suppers Come to the Village for a Shaker-inspired candlelight dinner in the historic Brick Dwelling. The evening begins with a guided tour; traditional seasonal fare followed by a Shaker music program makes this a perfect evening for family and friends to share. Thank you for a wonderful evening!!!! The food was absolutely delicious and the candlelight atmosphere so warm and welcoming. We enjoyed everything thoroughly. See you again soon. - '09 Shaker Supper guest Reserve your place at the table!