STURBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Old Sturbridge Village President and CEO James E. Donahue today announced that the living history museum’s year-end attendance jumped 12 percent over the prior year, marking the third straight year of gains and giving the museum its best performance in seven years.
The surge in visits at Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) is especially significant, coming at a time when many businesses and non-profit organizations are still feeling the effects of the recent recession. For the museum’s fiscal year ending Jan. 30, the museum posted attendance of 273,752, compared to 244,008 for the same period last year, an increase of 12 percent.
As a top New England travel and tourist destination, the Village saw strong increases from out-of-state and international visitors last year. Foreign visits increased 18 percent, and out-of-state visits were up 11 percent compared to the previous year. In addition, visits from Massachusetts residents increased 32 percent.
The museum set many attendance records for special events during the year, including all-time high crowds for its July 4th celebration, its Redcoats & Rebels Revolutionary War re-enactment event, and for its Halloween and Christmas by Candlelight events. In addition, more than 11,000 people attended the Aug. 13 Free Fun Friday sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation, setting an all-time single-day attendance record at the Village.
Reflecting on Old Sturbridge Village’s recent attendance gains, Donahue said not only do visitors enjoy the interactive activities at OSV, they also appreciate the affordability of the experience. “People appreciate value. That’s why we offer free parking, a free second-day visit within 10 days, and we have not raised our ticket prices in 10 years.”
Located within a two hour drive of eight million people, OSV is also seeing increases in visitors opting for daytrip local “staycations” close to home. Famous for its historians in costume, Old Sturbridge Village depicts life in the 1830s and is one of the largest living history museums in the country.
The Village is open year-round, but hours vary seasonally. Upcoming events include April school vacation activities and Wool Days sheep shearing demonstrations on Memorial Day weekend. Admission is $20 for adults; $18 for seniors; $7 for children ages 3-17; children under 3 are admitted free. Details: 800-733-1830; www.osv.org.
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