Strawbery Banke, photo courtesy David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com
From late November through December, the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail invites visitors to experience the warmth and wonder that make the holidays special in New England. “Holiday programming at our member institutions provides families with unique experiences that also highlight New Hampshire’s cultural heritage,” said Jeff Barraclough, President of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail.
The season began on The Trail on Thursday, November 28, with Portsmouth Historical Society’s 35th Annual Gingerbread House Contest, where “The Great Gingerbread Experiment” challenges bakers and builders to push creative boundaries through Monday, December 30. To learn more, visit portsmouthhistory.org.
As December unfolds, the festivities continue with Strawbery Banke Museum’s 46th annual Candlelight Stroll, featuring the “Midwinter Melodies” theme Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 21. Visitors can wander through 350+ years of seasonal traditions under the glow of candle boxes, experiencing furnished historic homes from 1795 through the 1950s while costumed interpreters share stories of Portsmouth’s maritime heritage. To learn more, visit strawberybanke.org.
Mid-December brings the Winter Magical Maker Fair at the Woodman Museum on Saturday, December 13, where families can explore the museum, enjoy storytelling with warm cocoa, and complete last-minute shopping with more than 20 vendors in this free, family-friendly indoor event. To learn more, visit woodmanmuseum.org.
“There is plenty to see and do on The Trail through December,” added Barraclough. “We hope you join us.”
Member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, White Mountains, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.