Experience 1860s Christmas at the Wade House Dec. 5-6
For the entire family to savor the sights, sounds and smells of the season in a genuine historic setting, the 1860s Wade House stagecoach inn provides a venue to experience the charm and simplicity of the mid- 19th-century celebration of Christmas by the earliest settlers of Greenbush.
During “A Wade House Christmas” Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6, discover mid-Victorian traditions, participate in hands-on activities, listen to spirited live music of the period, savor the aroma of a freshly made Christmas pudding, sample a cup of hot cider prepared over an open fire, play old-time parlor games, and delight in the festivities of the season.
A variety of classic and bygone activities awaits you within the Wade House. In the Tap Room, view the earliest illustrations of, and learn about, Santa Claus, considered the patron saint of the little folks on Christmas Day. In the dining room, the entire family may take the opportunity to create handmade period Christmas decorations. Bask in nostalgic ambiance as you gaze upon the 1860s-decorated Christmas tree, which has long symbolized the holiday.
Take pleasure in a holiday-festooned, horse-drawn wagon ride to the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum, where you will encounter an extraordinary collection of sleighs, alit with the twinkle of a thousand lights.
All this and more awaits you at Wade House in Greenbush, located midway between Fond du Lac and Sheboygan just off State 23. Choose from a variety of freshly made sandwiches, hot drinks and baked goods at the new Greenbush Cupboard café, and explore the special selection of seasonal and historic gifts in the Visitor Center Gift Store.
The entire site is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. throughout the weekend. Children under 5 are always admitted free of charge.
For information about “A Wade House Christmas” and other special events at the historic site, call (920) 526-3271 or visit the Wade House Web site at www.wadehouse.org.
Wade House is one of 10 historic sites owned and operated by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The society, founded in 1846, is committed to helping people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories.
