In the shadow of COVID-19, Canterbury Shaker Village offers beauty, peace and gratitude. The village is open and welcomes visitors to take advantage of the ample grounds for exploration, exercise and renewal. Executive Director Leslie Nolan has made the decision to keep the buildings closed for tours until at least July 31.
Beginning on July 5, free, outdoor tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on both Saturdays and Sundays. These tours will guide visitors on an experience of the network of country roads, stones walls, dams, culverts and trails. This 700 acre settlement exemplifies the Shaker mission of transforming their land into an earthly paradise and of being entirely self-sustaining. The numerous and winding trails are marked for those who like to explore on their own. Visitors are welcome to bring picnics, books to read or writing materials to enhance their visit.
The village is taking advantage of a quieter season to begin restoration on several buildings on the site. Visitors are welcome to watch property manager Justin Perkins and his crew of apprentices work skillfully to repair roofs, paint buildings and otherwise care for the historic site. Of special interest this summer is the organic garden, now called the Community Resiliency Garden. All seasonal vegetables coming from The village’s soil will go to health care providers and the community.
Special outdoor events will be offered throughout the season. Beginning on July 5, the village is launching Classical Sundays on the Green. Concord native and cellist Jan Fuller will bring a series of four performances on Sunday afternoons from 3 to 4 p.m. These performances will run weekly through July 25. A Juilliard graduate, Fuller will decide on the performance’s selections of classical music with various composers being featured. Guest musicians will join her on different Sundays to add diversity to the repertory. New Hampshire State Artists Laureate Amanda Whitworth will bring dance to accompany the cello and piano concert. Whitworth, the first dancer to be named artist laureate, will also make brief comments. New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary will bring her elegant poems on another Sunday and add context and texture to the performances. Social distancing measures will be in place. The performances are free and open to the public with a suggested donation of $10. Register in advance.
A fresh and updated website will debut by mid-June. With a modern feel and streamlined design, CVS will be offering videos to highlight collections and un-told stories about the Village.
For more information, visit shakers.org.