PORTSMOUTH—
With nearly 7,000 visitors in attendance at last year’s event, Strawbery Banke Museum is gearing up to make its 31st annual Candlelight Stroll the best ever. The Stroll takes place December 4-5, 11-12, and 18-19 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturdays and 4:00 to 8:00pm on Sundays. Candlelight Stroll is generously supported by the New Hampshire State Council for the Arts, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Lincoln Financial Group, the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel, Darrell’s Music Hall, Bruce Mast & Associates, Inc., Northeast Credit Union, and Wentworth Greenhouses.
The Stroll showcases 350 years of seasonal and holiday traditions against the backdrop of the Museum’s furnished historic houses. On these weekend evenings, the Museum grounds glow with hundreds of luminaria, the houses are adorned in period-appropriate holiday finery of live greens and dried flowers, and the scents and sounds of the season abound. As visitors stroll from house to historic house, costumed role players demonstrate the traditions of times past, inviting guests to indulge their senses and sensibilities in a visit to simpler times.
The Museum’s annual gingerbread house contest will showcase the architectural confections of many talented individuals and groups and is a true “can’t miss” exhibit. Music of all kinds, past and present, will heighten the holiday mood throughout the museum. Visitors can stroll the candlelit Museum grounds on foot, or travel in style in a horse-drawn carriage. 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. Pitt Tavern – visited in its heyday by such luminaries as George Washington, John Hancock, and the Marquis de Lafayette – will serve savory hot soups and fresh baked goods throughout the evening. Traditional hearth cooking demonstrations, craft demonstrations, and winter crafts for kids provide interactive fun for young and old alike. Now an annual holiday tradition for many families, the Candlelight Stroll provides a charming, intergenerational return to the roots of America’s most treasured holiday activities and customs.
“The beautiful, lively, and festive atmosphere of the event combined with the rich history of the Puddle Dock neighborhood really make the Candlelight Stroll a unique way to celebrate the season with friends and family,” states Strawbery Banke Museum president Lawrence Yerdon. “It’s a magical holiday experience and we hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the 31st year of the Stroll.”
Avoid lines by purchasing tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.strawberybanke.org. Tickets are $20/adults, $10/children (ages 5-17), and $50/family. Group and corporate rates are available. Visitors who are concerned about parking for this popular event can enjoy all that Portsmouth has to offer hassle free with the free Vintage Christmas trolley connecting Strawbery Banke Museum, The Music Hall, the municipal parking garage on Hanover Street, and numerous free satellite parking areas. The trolley is generously provided by the City of Portsmouth as part of a Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth. The Vintage Christmas collaboration aims to highlight the rich seasonal programs of Strawbery Banke Museum and The Music Hall, and is the result of a fruitful collaboration among the City of Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke Museum, The Music Hall, the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, and local hotels and retail shops. For more information on scheduled activities and participating hotels, visit www.VintageChristmasNH.org.
Photo caption: The Strawbery Banke Museum will host its 31st Annual Candlelight Stroll in December. (Photo by David J. Murray)
With nearly 7,000 visitors in attendance at last year’s event, Strawbery Banke Museum is gearing up to make its 31st annual Candlelight Stroll the best ever. The Stroll takes place December 4-5, 11-12, and 18-19 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm on Saturdays and 4:00 to 8:00pm on Sundays. Candlelight Stroll is generously supported by the New Hampshire State Council for the Arts, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, Lincoln Financial Group, the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel, Darrell’s Music Hall, Bruce Mast & Associates, Inc., Northeast Credit Union, and Wentworth Greenhouses.
The Stroll showcases 350 years of seasonal and holiday traditions against the backdrop of the Museum’s furnished historic houses. On these weekend evenings, the Museum grounds glow with hundreds of luminaria, the houses are adorned in period-appropriate holiday finery of live greens and dried flowers, and the scents and sounds of the season abound. As visitors stroll from house to historic house, costumed role players demonstrate the traditions of times past, inviting guests to indulge their senses and sensibilities in a visit to simpler times.
The Museum’s annual gingerbread house contest will showcase the architectural confections of many talented individuals and groups and is a true “can’t miss” exhibit. Music of all kinds, past and present, will heighten the holiday mood throughout the museum. Visitors can stroll the candlelit Museum grounds on foot, or travel in style in a horse-drawn carriage. 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. Pitt Tavern – visited in its heyday by such luminaries as George Washington, John Hancock, and the Marquis de Lafayette – will serve savory hot soups and fresh baked goods throughout the evening. Traditional hearth cooking demonstrations, craft demonstrations, and winter crafts for kids provide interactive fun for young and old alike. Now an annual holiday tradition for many families, the Candlelight Stroll provides a charming, intergenerational return to the roots of America’s most treasured holiday activities and customs.
“The beautiful, lively, and festive atmosphere of the event combined with the rich history of the Puddle Dock neighborhood really make the Candlelight Stroll a unique way to celebrate the season with friends and family,” states Strawbery Banke Museum president Lawrence Yerdon. “It’s a magical holiday experience and we hope you’ll join us as we celebrate the 31st year of the Stroll.”
Avoid lines by purchasing tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.strawberybanke.org. Tickets are $20/adults, $10/children (ages 5-17), and $50/family. Group and corporate rates are available. Visitors who are concerned about parking for this popular event can enjoy all that Portsmouth has to offer hassle free with the free Vintage Christmas trolley connecting Strawbery Banke Museum, The Music Hall, the municipal parking garage on Hanover Street, and numerous free satellite parking areas. The trolley is generously provided by the City of Portsmouth as part of a Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth. The Vintage Christmas collaboration aims to highlight the rich seasonal programs of Strawbery Banke Museum and The Music Hall, and is the result of a fruitful collaboration among the City of Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke Museum, The Music Hall, the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, and local hotels and retail shops. For more information on scheduled activities and participating hotels, visit www.VintageChristmasNH.org.
Photo caption: The Strawbery Banke Museum will host its 31st Annual Candlelight Stroll in December. (Photo by David J. Murray)
