Baby Animals: Heritage Breeds at the Banke
Save the Date! Saturday, April 22 – Sunday, April 30, 2023
Rain or shine under a heated tent.

**Don't miss out on events like Baby Animals: Heritage Breeds at the Banke! Be in the know when event ticket sales begin by joining the Strawbery Banke emailing list.**

Subscribe to Emails

About the event:
Learn about domestic livestock typical on coastal northern New England farms from the 17th century to the present day at this family-friendly event. Peter Cook, Guest Event Curator, and expert breeders from NH, ME, MA, and NY farms answer visitors’ questions about the specific heritage breeds, their care, developmental needs, and more.

Additionally, watch demonstrations such as weaving. Sheep herding and shearing demonstrations occur on Puddle Dock during Saturdays and Sundays of the event by Heart Stone Farm, Milton, NH. Demonstrations are included with event tickets.

Note: All of the animals are rare, heritage breeds, many of which are on the verge of extinction. For the health and safety of both the animals and visitors petting is not allowed.

Participating farms, breeders, and animal educators include: 

• Newly-hatched chicks, turkeys, and ducklings
• American Guinea hogs and piglets, King Stack Farm (Marlow, NH)
• Clun Forest sheep and lambs, Riverbank Farm (Salisbury, NH)
• Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs and piglets, Gentile Family Homestead (Fitzwilliam, NH)
• Gulf Coast Native sheep, Heart Stone Farm (Milton, NH)
• Kerry and Dexter cattle and calves, Kerry Cattle Association (Westminster, MA)
• Jacob sheep and lambs, Jacob Fleece Farm (Gray, ME)
• Lincoln Longwool sheep and lambs, Weston Family Farm (Hancock, NH)
• Navajo-Churro sheep, Heart Stone Farm (Milton, NH)
• Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats and kids, Tiny Hill Farm (Milton Mills, NH)
• Shetland sheep and lambs, Echo Valley Farm (Limerick, ME)
• Silver Fox rabbits and kittens, Elior Acres, LLC (Bradford, NH)
• Soay sheep and lambs, Tare Shirt Farm (Berwick, ME)

Additionally, enjoy an old-fashioned shopping experience at Pickwick's at the Banke, the Museum store. 

Tickets: 

• Members*: free or 50% off depending on membership level
• Adults: $10.00
• Children (ages 3 - 17): $5.00
• Children (under 3): free
• Active Duty Military Families. Veterans**: free 

Volunteering at the Event:
Volunteers must be at least 18-years-old. Tasks include helping with the animals, ticketing, and check-in, welcoming and directing guests, assisting with heirloom seed giveaways, and staffing the Museum information table. 

Children's Program with Baby Animals: Heritage Breeds at the Banke

Presented for an hour before the event opens to the public, the Children's Program is led by a heritage breeder and educator and is designed to give children ages 4 - 8 an opportunity to meet the baby lambs, kids, chicks, and other animals, up close. Participants learn about milking, feed the animals, and create a fiber craft gift to take home. Tickets for the Children's Program include access to the main Baby Animals: Heritage Breeds at the Banke event. A parent or guardian is asked to accompany participating children to the Children's Program (a separate ticket for parent/guardian is not needed). Members $15. Nonmembers $20. 

Parking:
Parking at Strawbery Banke Museum is extremely limited. If the lot is full, visitors are encouraged to try nearby offsite parking options including Portsmouth's two parking garages: Hanover Street Garage (near Market Square) & Foundry Place Garage (near Sheraton, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites).

Cancellation Policy: 
Due to the limited capacity of this event, there can be no refunds. 

Baby Animals: Heritage Breeds at the Banke 2022 is presented by: