Every December since the 1970s, volunteers from
the Troy Historical Society and Troy Garden Club have partnered to deck the
halls of the Troy Historic Village with fresh greenery, Christmas trees, and
twinkling lights. Guests are invited to take a self-guided tour through the
festive grounds and cozy historic buildings and to participate in special
holiday events geared toward families.
The Village’s trademark holiday event, Cocoa & Crafts with Santa, will be held on Saturday December 3 from 10:00am-2:00pm and Sunday December 4 from 11:00am-2:00pm. Families will enjoy meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus while children share their wish-list inside the beautifully-restored Niles-Barnard House (a chair will be available next to Santa if children are uncomfortable
sitting on his lap). Children can make a simple craft, play holiday games, and
warm up with hot cocoa courtesy of Troy Garden Club. Cocoa & Crafts with
Santa is sponsored by Genisys Credit Union. Guests will enjoy early-bird
pricing ($7/Troy Historical Society Members or $9/Non-Members) when they
register in advance online or by calling 248-524-3570. If the event has not
sold out, guests can purchase admission at the door for $8/Troy Historical
Society Members or $10/Non-Members. All children under 2 are admitted free.
If you want to learn how European royalty, a German
immigrant, an American periodical, and a professor of Oriental and Greek
literature gave us the Christmas we know today, visit the Village
on December 15th at 2:00 for “Christmas in the Victorian Era”. This program is part of the Village’s monthly “Thursday Teas” lecture series and will cover the Christmas food, decorations and traditions of the Victorian Era United States. Tea and cookies provided. Admission is $9.00/Troy Historical Society Members, and $10/Nonmembers.
Victorian Christmas is
back by popular demand! Talented reenactors from Bonnets and Crooked Hats
will move into the Village for one weekend, living inside the historic homes as
people would have done in the 1850s and 1860s. Dressed authenically in the
fashions of the era, they will prepare meals, read and sew by candlelight, play
games, decorate, and prepare for Christmas as many Americans did during the
Victorian Era. Guests are encouraged to chat with these reenactors to learn
more about Christmas celebrations and life in the mid-19th century.
“Reenactors will be doing everything from decorating and wrapping gifts to playing games and singing carols. We’re even planning on reading ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. The Victorian is a really cool era to talk about Christmas, because so many ‘classic’ Christmas traditions and decorations are from this era. We will be portraying 1865, the first Christmas after the Civil War has ended, so there’s another cool layer to this event,” says Youth Programs Director and reenactor Alex Konieczny.
Victorian Christmas will be open to visitors of
all ages on Friday December 16 from 6:00pm-8:00pm, Saturday December 17 from
10:00am-4:00pm, and Sunday December 18 from 10am-3:00pm. Tickets are $10/Troy
Historical Society Members or $12/Non-Members.
As these events may sell out, early online
registration is encouraged. You can visit www.TroyHistoricVillage.org for more information and to book your tickets immediately!
About Troy Historic
Village
Troy Historic Village is
located at 60 West Wattles Rd., Troy MI. The Village is open year-round and
showcases eleven historic structures in a charming five-acre complex. Visitors
of all ages can explore Michigan history by witnessing and sharing the
lifestyles of the pioneers who established homes and farms in rural Troy
Township during the 1800s. Troy Historic Village serves the counties of
Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb, providing a memorable and interactive experience
for all visitors. Offering a wide variety of activities for children and a
diverse range of lectures and events for adults, the Village aims to enhance appreciation
of history while using Troy's rich and evolving story as a backdrop. Their goal
is to conserve local history, connect the community with heritage and continue
outstanding educational programs.
