Doors Open Whitby
2025-10-18 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Doors Open Whitby is back for 2025!
Doors Open Whitby returns to celebrate the rich heritage and history that makes our town so unique.
From striking architecture to repurposed landmarks, Whitby is full of hidden gems that reflect the stories and traditions woven into our everyday spaces. There’s something for everyone, and every open door holds a new adventure!
Doors Open Whitby is a part of Doors Open Ontario.
Lynde House Museum is pleased to be participating in this Town of Whitby event! Discover all the local sites you can visit HERE.

Pumpkins in the Park
2025-11-01 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Toronto) | Rotary Centennial Park, 800 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, Canada
We are pleased to be participating in this free community event once again!
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!

Victorian Christmas Daytime Tours
2025-11-20 11:00 - 2025-11-22 14:30, 2025-11-27 11:00 - 2025-11-29 14:30, 2025-12-01 11:00 - 2025-12-02 14:30, 2025-12-04 11:00 - 2025-12-05 14:30, 2025-12-08 11:00 - 2025-12-09 14:30, 2025-12-11 11:00 - 2025-12-13 14:30, 2025-12-15 11:00 - 2025-12-16 14:30, 2025-12-18 11:00 - 2025-12-20 14:30 and 1 more date | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Visit Durham Region’s oldest home to discover the history of Whitby, hear the Lynde family’s stories, and learn how they assisted in the growth of our Town. Enjoy the beauty of the Victorian Christmas decorations and learn some of the holiday traditions that historic Whitby residents followed.
Approximately 45 minutes.
Pay-What-You-Can Admission. Suggested minimum $5 per guest.

Whitby Lights the Night Festival
2025-11-21 17:00 - 20:00 | Whitby Civic Park, 555 Rossland Road East, Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Join us at this Town of Whitby community event!
The Whitby Lights the Night Festival is a magical evening of live entertainment, Christmas Farmers’ Market, and a dazzling lighting ceremony. Celebrate the spirit of the season with family-friendly activities, festive treats, and a joyful community atmosphere!

Victorian Christmas Daytime Tours
2025-11-24 11:00 - 2025-11-25 14:30 | Ontario

Whitby Santa Claus Parade
2025-12-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Brock Street, Whitby, Ontario, Canada
The Whitby Santa Claus Parade has been held on the first Saturday of December for 50+ years. An event for all ages, the parade showcases over 50 organizations as they walk along the Brock St. parade route.
Look for the O’Donovan Cutter Sleigh and our costumed volunteers as they go past – be sure to wave!

Candlelight Tours
2025-12-12 18:30 - 21:00, 2025-12-19 18:30 - 21:00 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Our much anticipated Candlelight Tours are back for the holidays!
Join us after dark to…
Tour Durham Region’s Oldest Home, Decorated in Victorian Christmas Style!
Discover the Historic Origins of Your Favourite Christmas Traditions!
Enjoy a Taste of Old-Fashioned Holiday Treats and Sweets!
Sing Along with Special Guests, the Baker Street Victorian Carollers!
Meet Victorian Father Christmas and Take a Photo with Him!
Gather for Refreshments and Holiday Shopping in the Warren General Store!
A fun evening event for all ages. Not to be missed!!!
Tours are approximately 30 minutes.

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS
2025-12-24 00:00 - 2026-01-04 23:30 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Lynde House Museum and the Warren General Store
will be closed for the holidays December 24th – January 4

TEA & HISTORY SPEAKER SERIES: Captain Scott's Scrapbook
2026-01-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Whitby Central Library – Meeting Room 1, 405 Dundas Street West, Whitby, ON, L1N 6A1, Canada
Amongst the family albums her mother had kept, Brooklin historian and archivist Margot Dixon found something very curious—Captain Samuel F. Scott’s (1847-1905) old scrapbook. Who was this man? And why did her family have his scrapbook? As she read through the book, full of one-of-a-kind documents, she soon realized this was much more than a family curiosity. From the items within and Margot’s own research, a fascinating story emerged – one of a life on the high seas in the late nineteenth century, sailing across some of the most dangerous waters, facing storms, shipwrecks, illness, war, mutiny, and tragedy. Captain Scott’s Scrapbook provides an intimate account of one of Canada’s most remarkable post-confederate shipmasters. Join us to discover his fascinating adventures, and Margot’s adventures in researching his biography.
ADMISSION: Pay What You Can
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

TEA LEAF READINGS with Julie Ditta
2026-01-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
SOLD OUT
Due to popular demand, we have added a second date – Please visit THIS LINK to register for Friday, February 6th.

TEA LEAF READINGS with Julie Ditta
2026-02-06 13:00 - 16:00 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Join medium Julie Ditta for a one-to-one Tea Leaf Reading at the Lynde House Museum.
Readings are an effective way to connect to the heart and soul’s desire for a happier, healthier, more prosperous and fulfilling life. Pictures and symbols formed by tea leaves offer answers to questions about careers, relationships, and finances, as well as about loved ones who are here or who have passed over. Messages are healing, meaningful, validating and offer direction regarding personal and spiritual growth.
Tea Leaf Readings were extremely popular in the Victorian Era!
Please arrive in advance of your reading time to get checked in at the Warren General Store.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

CLOSED FOR FAMILY DAY
2026-02-16 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Lynde House Museum and the Warren General Store will be CLOSED to allow our staff to enjoy the holiday with their families.

TEA & HISTORY SPEAKER SERIES: Uncovering Local Black History
2026-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Whitby Central Library – Meeting Room 1, 405 Dundas Street West, Whitby, ON, L1N 6A1, Canada
ONE FAMILY’S STORY
Join us to discover how Oshawa Archivist Jennifer Weymark began the quest to solve a historic mystery – what is our local Black heritage?
This under-researched area in Durham Region’s history gained momentum after a request to the Archives from Trent University in 2011. Inquiry into the Port Oshawa Pioneer Cemetery revealed that a Black family was living in the Cedar Dale neighbourhood in the late 19th century and members were buried at that location. This ongoing research project has traced 5 generations of the family, from Vermont to Quebec, then East Whitby, and finally California.
Jennifer will share this family’s fascinating story, and reveal the tools and methods used by archivists to conduct family research for those interested in finding their own family’s roots.
ADMISSION: Pay What You Can
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

TEA & HISTORY SPEAKER SERIES: Following the Trail of the Betts Bibles
2026-03-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Whitby Central Library – Meeting Room 1, 405 Dundas Street West, Whitby, ON, L1N 6A1, Canada
A GENEALOGICAL JOURNEY
Beth Adams got hooked on genealogy when her Aunt Charlotte took her and her mother to visit the Betts House, an old stone home that her great-great-grandfather had helped to build on Westney Road in Pickering. The house was fantastic — but the family Bible her cousin Myra got out to show them was the clincher! Inside that bible was a typewritten transcript of the family pages from an even older Bible. And there was another house at the end of the search…
Follow along with Beth’s journey through her family’s past, and discover their connection to Whitby and the Lynde family.
After a 30-year teaching career in Toronto, Beth Adams retired to Pembroke. She is currently on the Education Committee for the Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Beth started pursuing family history research in her late teens, and has loved “chasing dead people” ever since!
ADMISSION: Pay What You Can
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Afternoon Tea & Conversation: Tasseography
2026-04-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Now you can enjoy a tea party in the Lynde House Dining Room, while discovering the history of Tasseography – the art of tea leaf reading – an extremely popular Victorian era pastime.
Mary Maria Lynde Betts loved to host tea leaf reading parties!
Presentation by Julie Ditta
$45.00 registration includes presentation, tea, sandwiches, scones and sweets

SEATING IS LIMITED – DON’T DELAY!
REGISTER ONLINE or CALL 905-665-3131

Rhythmic Fun for Everyone Drum Circle
2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
ALL AGES WELCOME! NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!
Instruments Provided or Bring Your Own
INDOOR EVENT WITH LIMITED SEATING – ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
REGISTER ONLINE or CALL 905-665-3131
Adults – $10
Children – $5 (12 & under)

TEA & HISTORY SPEAKER SERIES: Canada - Before She Became a Country
2026-04-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Whitby Central Library – Meeting Room 1, 405 Dundas Street West, Whitby, ON, L1N 6A1, Canada
AN IMMIGRANT’S LIFE IN THE 19th CENTURY
Come discover life in Canada during the first half of the 19th century as seen through the eyes of an English gentleman, David Cragg. Born in 1769, David lived through the Napoleonic wars, the death of his beloved Molly from a grand consumption, the Industrial Revolution, and his immigration to Canada as a widower with eight children. This fascinating presentation – a walk down memory lane told through David’s own journals – will intrigue and inspire Canadians, new immigrants, historians, and anyone who is interested in learning more about Canada’s history.
Take a virtual walk through “Muddy York” with David after he disembarked at the foot of Yonge Street following a harrowing 80-day ocean journey. Catch some of his exuberance as he starts a new life in Upper Canada, eventually becoming the founder of Greenbank.
Best-selling author, historian and public speaker Barbara Dickson has been entertaining and educating audiences for over twenty years. Her research focusses on local history, Canada in the nineteenth century, Ireland’s Great Hunger, and the Bomb Girls.
ADMISSION: Pay What You Can
REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Jane's Walk - Werden's Plan HCD Walking Tour
2026-05-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Lynde House Museum, 900 Brock Street South, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 4L6, Canada
Lace up your walking shoes & join us for a guided tour around the Werden’s Plan Heritage Conservation District neighbourhood. Uncover interesting stories and facts about the historic homes, and the people who once lived in them!
Tour meets in front of the Warren General Store
Jane’s Walk is an international movement of free, citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs. This event encourages people to share stories about their neighbourhood, discover unseen aspects of their community & use walking to connect with their neighbours.
Pre-Registration is appreciated. Register ONLINE or CALL 905-665-3131
All ages and abilities welcome! Leashed pet friendly. Walk is 1.5-2 hours.

TEA & HISTORY SPEAKER SERIES: Charles Fothergill in Upper Canada
2026-05-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Whitby Central Library – Meeting Room 1, 405 Dundas Street West, Whitby, ON, L1N 6A1, Canada
Natural Historian, Artist, Politician and Visionary
Charles Fothergill was a naturalist who came to Upper Canada in 1817 with the express intention of compiling a complete natural history of the British Empire. During his residence in Upper Canada, he became involved with most aspects of the local community, from settlement issues to politics to environmental concerns to cultural life. He compiled extensive notes on the fauna and flora and, in Pickering Township, created one of Ontario’s earliest museums.
John Sabean is a co-founder and the President of the Pickering Township Historical Society. He is a cultural historian with interests in natural history, Canadian art history, and heritage preservation. A retired professional book editor, he now spends his time researching and writing about local history.
ADMISSION: Pay What You Can
REGISTRATION REQUIRED
