Pennypackers Mills recently celebrated its 40th anniversary as a Montgomery County museum. (Image courtesy of Montgomery County)
Historic holiday traditions with candlelight tours are being offered
Montgomery County’s Parks, Trails and Historic Sites invite visitors to experience the charm of historic holiday traditions with candlelight tours throughout the season at Pottsgrove Manor, Peter Wentz Farmstead and Pennypacker Mills.
Pennypacker Mills
From now until Jan. 4, Pennypacker Mills will host holiday tours of the spectacularly decorated Pennypacker mansion, offering attendees the opportunity to learn about Christmas in the early 1900s. The Museum Shop will be stocked with unique gifts and decorations. The Museum Shop will be stocked with unique gifts and decorations, said a Montgomery County press release.
Tours are free, but there is a suggested donation of $2 per person. All ages are welcome. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tours are offered on the hour and half hour. The last tour each day begins at 3 p.m.
For groups of 10 or more, please contact the office in advance by calling 610-287-9324. Pennypacker Mills is closed all Mondays, Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. The mansion is open for limited hours on Dec. 13.
On Dec. 13 from 2 to 8 p.m., Pennypacker Mills will host a Victorian Christmas Open House, offering a fascinating look at Christmas past. Activities include holiday music on the mansion porch (The Happy Dutchmen from 2 to 4 p.m.; Galena Brass from 4 to 6 p.m.; The Ursinus College Singers from 6 to 6:30 p.m.), visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Classroom Building from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., and a live demonstration of clear toy candy making in the mansion’s kitchen from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
This event is free, but there is a suggested donation of $2 per person. The mansion will not be open prior to 2 p.m. on the day, said the release.
Pottsgrove Manor
From now until January 11, Pottsgrove Manor will host Twelfth Night Holiday Tours, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the Manor decorated with natural greenery, extravagant foods and period-appropriate ornamentation that evoke the spirit of Yuletide as celebrated in the colonial era.
Knowledgeable guides will lead guests through the decorated rooms, sharing insights into the customs, beliefs, and seasonal festivities of the 1700s. Guests will discover how families of the time marked the season with food, music and merriment that extended well beyond Christmas Day, said the release.
Admission is free, but there is a suggested donation of $2 per person. Tours are offered daily during regular museum hours, with the last full tour departing at 3 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
