I Heard it Through the Grapevine

I heard it through the grapevine that Vintage in the Village wine tasting walk is so popular that it sells out almost immediately so be sure to secure your tickets quickly. You see, it is well known that Gagetown knows how to throw a wine tasting tour around their village and absolutely everyone wants to be in on it. So mark your calendars, as this year’s Vintage in the Village will be held on Saturday September 7th, 2024. The coveted tickets go on sale July 2nd, 2024 on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 10 am - in person at the Historic Gagetown Courthouse or by calling 1(506) 488-2483. Don’t miss out!

Annual Vintage in the Village

This wee picturesque village pulls out all the stops for this annual fall fundraiser. Mother Nature even cooperated in 2019 with a bright sunny warm day on my first time. I think she knew better after the organizers had to reschedule around Hurricane Dorian on the original date. This village is resilient. They faced flooding this year (again) and then braced for a hurricane, but nothing was going to stop this wine tasting tour. If you plan it - they will come.

Put a Lid On It Campaign

Vintage in the Village showcases Gagetown at its best and it is always for a good cause. The focus for the fundraiser the year my friend Laurie & I attended was to put a new roof on the Queens County Court House and on the recently relocated Loomcrofters Studio. You have to admire this village for their tenacity and hard work to always better their community and do it in such a fun way.

Wine & Friends are a Great Blend

Wine a little and laugh a lot. Walk the village guided by the Vintage in the Village map to historical sites and heritage homes where you are met with wine samples and tasty appetizers. This well-organized event allows you lots of time to wander off and browse antique & artisan gift shops, too. It is all for fun and fun for all. You begin and end at the Court House where you receive your participation bracelet, first glass of wine and meet others doing the same. Then you are off with a wine glass in hand on a mission to mix & mingle with good friends, good wine and good food for a good time.

Time to Wine Down

Once tour is completed you head back to the Court House, for some time to wine down, enjoy more food, and trade your wine glass in for a beautiful pottery goblet as a treasured keepsake of the event. Each year a different Queens County potter is highlighted on the tour. In 2019, it was Liza McDonald of Liza’s Pottery. An auction, with several donated items and gift baskets, wrapped up the day. Although The Old Boot Pub started rocking with local talent, great music and dancing for those wanting to continue on. Laurie and I decided we would head back to Lang House and enjoy a quieter evening, but I heard great things about the pub’s evening activities the next day from other guests at the B & B.

Lang House B & B

Marian and Bruce Langhus are the owners and gracious hosts of Lang House Bed & Breakfast on 58 Front Street. This is is a delightful heritage home in downtown Gagetown that was originally built in 1880 by River Boat Captain Harvey Weston. Comfy, quiet and cozy rooms await you here adorned with beautiful quilts. You awaken to freshly brewed coffee and Bruce cooks up a mean breakfast. We were even treated to some peach mimosas - hair of the dog, so to say. Delish, I say!

Antique Quilts

This interesting duo are not only great conversationalists but uber-talented in their own right. Marian lovingly rescues, restores, researches, collects and sells antique & vintage quilts. Impressively, some primitive quilts date back to the early 1800’s. This is a labour of love that ignited a passion and it all began when Marian decided for Lent in 2016 she would work on something to fix every day!

Wood Carving

Bruce is a wood carver with a flair especially for First Nations sculpture. His working studio is on the main floor of Lang House with masks on display throughout the home’s main level. My favourite is the viking proudly in a place of honour in their great room above the fireplace. The Berserker on the workbench is his latest creation. Berserkers, Bruce shared, were a special group of viking warriors who went into battle without traditional amour. They draped animal pelts, typically from bears or wolves over them. Although Bruce looks like a darling in the kitchen, I think he is a secret warrior in his studio carving up these fascinating masks. Together Marian and Bruce have also become flood water mitigation, and climate change experts from their real life experience living in a flood zone. They have been interviewed by local and national TV and radio for their risk reduction steps utilized living in a riverside home and business.

2024 Update:

Marian and Bruce have since sold their home and have moved to another home in the village on higher ground and Lang House B & B is no longer in operation. However, there are several other places to overnight in Gagetown: including Gulliver’s Guest Suites and The May Queen to name a couple that I have personally stayed in. In 2023, I also partnered with Fredericton Capital Region Tourism for an ongoing blog series to inspire visitors and locals to experience life well crafted in the Fredericton Capital Region. One of my articles - Discover Arcadia - focussed on the new larger village of Arcadia encompassing the former villages of Gagetown, Jemseg, and Cambridge-Narrows. I hope it will whet your appetite to follow in my footsteps or make your own plan to discover more of Arcadia's treasures. Click on photo links below for more information.

This post was sponsored by Lang House; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Threads & X. Subscribe to be the first to receive my latest articles. Share articles you love with your social media community so they, too, will discover, There’s No Place Like Home!