The annual event showcases 350 years of traditions of the season. The stroll is the perfect activity for the whole family, from grandparents to kids. Come out and experience the holidays past and present!
Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll Holiday Happenings
The stroll is an annual holiday tradition attended since 1979. On weekend evenings in December take the whimsical stroll through historic houses all decked with boughs of holly. The Strawbery Banke Museum glows with the light of hundreds of lighted candle lanterns, creating a luminescent winter wonderland. Handmade decorations made from live greens and flowers grown in the museum gardens give the scene a fresh take on holiday decor. Meanwhile, Christmas music fills the air and a bonfire welcomes all guests.
Visitors go from house to house, all the while being greeted by actors in costume recreating historic holiday traditions. In a setting from 1919, Mrs. Shapiro crafts a Hanukah celebration from her Russian Jewish kitchen. From a Victorian era setting, Mrs. Goodwin and her family and servants celebrate a Victorian Christmas. Meanwhile, Father Christmas, the night watchman, and Mayor Frank Jones meander from street to street. The Abbott family awaits news from the front in a scene depicting Christmas during World War II. The whole place crawls with carolers, too. The Cider Shed furnishes each guest with hot apple cider and refreshments while traditional hearth-cooking demonstrations and crafts enchant anyone willing to take a look.
Other Great Christmas Fun
The Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Duck Pond also provides a fun time for all with outdoor ice skating. Located at the heart of the living history museum, right in the middle of the Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll. Figtree Kitchen at Strawbery Banke cafe offers delicious seasonal food and drink during the stroll. Lastly, Pickwick’s at the Banke provides an amazing Christmas shopping experience celebrating Portsmouth’s colonial heritage.
Additionally, you can take a private, guided tour of the houses within the Strawbery Banke Museum. They are offered on the hour 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each weekend in December. The Strawbery Banke Candlelight Stroll is a marquee event of Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth which has been rated at one of the top five Christmas celebrations in North America.
Stay in York, ME, Just Up the Road
Whether you’re visiting Portsmouth or York, Dockside Guest Quarters is the perfect place to stay during your trip. Our luxurious seaside rooms are guaranteed to give you a great experience while you’re in southern Maine. We are eager to accommodate you, so contact us today!