Pinecrest Christmas

Experience a turn-of-the-century Christmas and jingle all the way to the turn of the 20th century during the Manitowoc County Historical Society Museum and Pinecrest Village’s (MCHS) annual Pinecrest Christmas program.

Pinecrest Christmas will take place on Friday, Dec. 13, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.mm and Saturday, Dec. 14, from Noon to 6 p.m., at the Museum and Pinecrest Village, located at 924 Pinecrest Road in Manitowoc.

Bundle up for a holiday visit around the village to explore the season’s traditions. From lantern-lit walks to a visit from Santa on Saturday, there is something for everyone as you venture into over 20 homes and businesses while they prepare for the holiday season.

The General Store will be buzzing with activity as folks prepare for the holiday season. The Print Shop is settling down after a holiday rush, and families are preparing their homes for upcoming festivities. The historic structures of Pinecrest Village will be heated with woodstoves and decorated for the season as historical interpreters bring to life the traditions, stories, and spirit of the holiday season.

Since its beginning over 40 years ago, Pinecrest Christmas has welcomed thousands of students to take part in sharing the songs of the season in the historic Niles Church. Groups will rotate singing and performing in the church, along with a scheduled nondenominational church service on Saturday.

New this year is a ticketed 60-minute guided tour option for Saturday at 3 pm and 4:30 pm that will enhance the Pinecrest Christmas experience. Victorian novelists Washington Irving and Charles Dickens elevated this idealized view of what Christmas could be with warm and welcoming homes for families and friends to gather around the wassail bowl, as they might carol from house to house. At each home, folks would give and receive a simple greeting. The toast, “was hail,” means be in good health or be fortunate. The reply “drink hail” was given. As part of the Wassail guided tour experience, guests will knock on the doors of the site’s historic houses and enjoy food and beverages along the way.

This year, the Pinecrest Christmas program is sponsored by Community First Credit Union, A.C.E. Building Service, Bitter Neuman Appliance Furniture & Mattress, and Seehafer Broadcasting. General admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $10 for youth 4-17. Children under 4 years of age are free.

General Admission is always free for members! Non-members can purchase tickets when you arrive or pre-purchase admission online at ManitowocCountyHistory.org.

For more information, call (920) 684-4445.