Pottsgrove Manor By Candlelight December 11, 2011

Be part of the hustle and bustle as Pottsgrove Manor celebrates the holidays, colonial-style, at the annual “Pottsgrove Manor by Candlelight” open-house event on Sunday, December 11th, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the manor house by candlelight. Costumed interpreters will portray 18th-century residents of Pottsgrove Manor celebrating the English holiday Twelfth Night, the culmination of the traditional “twelve days of Christmas.” Listen to live music played on historical instruments while watching English country dancing, catch a whiff of the delicious smells in the kitchen as foodways historian Deborah Peterson prepares a colonial feast, see how the Potts’ servants and slaves would have experienced the Yuletide season, and learn how to play colonial games.

After touring the house, guests will want to stop into the museum shop for unique, historically-oriented gifts like locally-made redware pottery and ornaments, handcrafted candles, books, toys, and more. Next door to the mansion in the Miller’s House, seasonal refreshments of hot spiced cider and cookies will be available for purchase. For a nominal materials fee, young visitors can also make a festive colonial craft to take home.

A donation of $2 per person is suggested for this event.

Can’t make it to the candlelight event? You can still enjoy the spirit of the season at Pottsgrove Manor now through January 8, 2012 with a guided tour of the mansion, decorated for the holidays. Tours are offered during regular museum hours, and the museum shop will also be open for holiday shopping.

Regular museum hours are: Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. & Sunday, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tours are given on the hour; last tour of the day begins as 3:00 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should pre-register by calling 610.326.4014. The museum will be closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Pottsgrove Manor, home of John Potts, colonial ironmaster and founder of Pottstown, is located at 100 West King Street near the intersection of King Street and Route 100, just off Route 422, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.