Is Portsmouth, NH the Holiday Capital of the World? Travel and Leisure Magazine thought so. The theme for this year’s 34th annual Candlelight Stroll is “Once Upon A Winter’s Eve”.
Visitors will experience a variety of holiday preparations across cultures and across time. See life at a simpler time as 350 years of American history, winter traditions, and holiday celebrations unfold around you in New Hampshire’s oldest waterfront neighborhood.
- Historic houses from four centuries with decorations hand-crafted from natural materials
- Hundreds of wood and glass candle boxes lighting the lanes and landscape
- Gingerbread house contest and display.
- Live music and holiday entertainment for all ages
- Horse-drawn carriage rides
- Holiday decoration demonstrations
- Traditional barrel making demonstrations
- 18th century holiday hearth cooking
Vintage Holiday and Strawbery Banke are showcasing 350 years of seasonal and holiday traditions against the backdrop of the Museum’s furnished historic houses. On these special nights the Museum grounds glow with hundreds of lighted candle lanterns The houses are adorned with thousands of hand-made decorations crafted from live greens and dried flowers and herbs collected from the Museum gardens, and the air is filled with the sound of holiday music.
Visitors can stroll from house to historic house, greeted by costumed role players and performers who recreate the traditions of times past, rediscovering the joys of simpler times.
A toasty bonfire crackles throughout the event to warm frosty fingers and toes. Complimentary refreshments and hot apple cider are offered at the Cider Shed. The White Apron Café at Strawbery Banke offers light meals and serves a pub menu in Pitt Tavern — visited by George Washington, John Hancock, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Traditional hearth-cooking demonstrations, crafts demonstrations, and winter projects for kids provide interactive fun for multiple generations.
For many this is a cherished holiday tradition that offers a …”charming setting for children and adults to enjoy America’s multicultural holiday activities and customs,” said Strawbery Banke Museum president and CEO Lawrence J. Yerdon.
The Stroll is a magical event at an enchanting time of year. Visit and experience the city-wide Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth celebration with this authentic and unique experience. Historic Home themes are as follow:
ALDRICH HOUSE — 1908 Pineapples & Posies with Mrs. Lillian Aldrich
CHASE HOUSE — 1818 A Mid-Winter Wedding
GOODWIN MANSION — 1870 T’was the Night Before Christmas
MARDEN-ABBOTT HOUSE & STORE – 1943 Dreaming of a White Christmas
SHAPIRO HOUSE — 1919 Fourth Night of Hanukkah
SHAPLEY-DRISCO HOUSE — 1795 Snowy Days on Puddle Dock and a 1958 Holiday Avon Party.
December 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22, 2013. The event takes place from 5 to 9 pm on Saturdays and 4 to 8 pm on Sundays.
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See the article from last year in Yankee Magazine
View the Strawbery Banke Museum website for hours and rates
“Christmas Capital of the World”, Travel and Leisure 2011