A Home for the Holidays

Here at Allaire Village the Holiday season is well under way! This past weekend we hosted our annual Christmas at Allaire events on Saturday and Sunday. The events were a huge success and everyone was in the holiday season! In addition to taking tours of the decorated buildings, visitors got to witness hearth cooking demonstrations, shop for holiday gifts, take a horse & wagon ride, and even see a program of 19th century music and dancing! Thank-you to all who visited and volunteered during this event!

The Village is lovely during all times of the year (except perhaps torrential rain) but my personal favorite time to see it is during December. All of our buildings are decorated with wreaths, mistletoe, garlands, and 19th century-decorated trees. While people of the 1830′s did not have the electric lights and fancy-schmancy ornaments that we do, they would have decorated with holly, fruit, gingerbread and wax ornaments. This year, the Allaire Mansion and General Store were bedecked with authentic decorations provided by Wolek’s Garden Service LLC of Allenwood. They did a really beautiful job and we invite you all to come out and see the buildings during this month!

The General Store

 

The Allaire Mansion

 

If you want to stop by, Allaire State Park is open most days during the week. As far as the Village goes, we are hosting Holiday Lantern Tours on Saturday, December 10th and Saturday, December 17th. The tours run from 5:00pm-8:00pm and are approximately 90 minutes each. During the tour you will take see blacksmithing demonstrations, be treated to holiday music in the Chapel, see a special holiday performance in the Allaire Mansion, shop in the Bakery & General Store, and more!

Tours leave every 15 minutes from the Visitor’s Center and end at the General Store. Tickets are $10 and advanced purchase is highly recommended! To purchase tickets please call 732-919-3500 or visit us at www.allairevillage.org/tickets.

In addition, see a special ‘Christmas Carol’ program at the Allaire Chapel on Friday, December 9th & Friday, December 16th.

Happy Holidays!

-Hannah

A Civil War Display… 150 Years In the Making

As many history-aficionados already know, 2011 marks the 150th (sesquicentennial) anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. In addition, July 21st marked the 150th anniversary of the First Battle of Bull Run aka Manassas.

Back in April, during our Civil War Encampment event, Allaire Village hosted a special Civil War Exhibit in our Enameling Building. Volunteers, guildmasters, staff and local business owners generously loaned items for the display. Check out some of the items that were on exhibit!

The Battle of Gettysburg

Key to the painting

Happy Monday :P

-Hannah