Nearly two-dozen members of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail will celebrate the holidays with special programs and events.
“This is going to be a festive season on The Trail,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “There are plenty of opportunities for guests to get into the holiday spirit with the whole family.”
One opportunity is from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Canterbury Shaker Village, which will feature music from Symphony New Hampshire Quartet. The concert, Merry Merry Canterbury Concert & Cocktails, will take place in the Dwelling House Chapel and be followed by a reception with appetizers and drinks in the Hubbard Gallery.
“This is going to be a lively and festive event that will kick off the holidays at the Village,” said Executive Director Erin Hammerstedt. “The Dwelling House Chapel is a beautiful location for music, and the entire Village will be stunning when it’s decorated.”
Tickets for Merry Merry Canterbury Concert & Cocktails are $35 and can be purchased at www.shakers.org.
In Moultonborough, Castle in the Clouds will hold its annual Christmas at the Castle from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. over three consecutive weekends, Nov. 23 and 24, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, and Dec. 7 and 8.
“We added an extra weekend this year for visitors to tour the beautifully decorated historic Lucknow Mansion,” said Charles Clark, executive director at Castle in the Clouds. “This year’s holiday theme, “Home for the Holidays,” brings a cozy, nostalgic touch to the festive season.
During event days, Castle in the Clouds will also feature tours, an artisan fair, photos with Santa Claus, crafts, and hot cocoa and cookies. The Carriage House Restaurant will also be open.
Tickets for Christmas at the Castle are $25 for adults, $15 for those ages 5-17, and free for children 4 and under. Tickets can be purchased at castleintheclouds.org or the Carriage House on event days.
On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Millyard Museum in Manchester will also host holiday events. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a Holiday Open House will feature crafts, old-fashioned board games, and a visit with Santa Claus from noon to 1 p.m. Holiday Open House is free.
Millyard Museum will also host Home for the Holidays American Girl Tea Party from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.
At this event, guests will enjoy crafts, treats, and stories about how different cultures and time periods celebrated Christmas and other winter holidays. To purchase tickets, priced at $20, visit www.manchesterhistoric.org.
To learn about these or other holiday events on The Trail, visit www.nhmuseumtrail.org.
Member institutions are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.