Experience An Old Fashioned Christmas By Candlelight At Sturbridge Village

Have you ever wondered what Christmas was like before television? Before cars? Before electricity, even? At Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, MA you can experience an authentic 1800s holiday.

Every Friday through Sunday from November 30 to December 23 the property becomes a candlelit New England township where guests can ride in horse-drawn sleighs, indulge in warm gingerbread, hot cider, and roasted chestnuts, listen to carols, and learn the history of our modern Christmas traditions. 

Costumed staff are happy to tell you the stories behind holiday traditions such as roasting chestnuts, yule logs, mistletoe, and more! 

They will also feature demonstrations of period holiday baking and cider mulling, as well as tin-making, pottery and 19th-century printing.

The Village Common area is decorated with glowing candles, fresh evergreen garlands and wreaths, and a 40 foot Village Christmas tree. It's a scene straight out of Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Carolers dressed in Victorian costumes stroll the grounds adding ambiance to Christmas by Candlelight.

The kids will rejoice when they visit Old Sturbridge Village's Gallery Row which transforms into the North Pole, complete with a giant The Night Before Christmas storybook!

Meet Santa and his elves, check out the model train display, and enjoy Christmas cookies, hot cider, hot chocolate, and more at the Bake Shop.

And of course, if the weather permits, bundle up with your loved ones and embark on a horse-drawn sleigh ride!

To learn more about Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village, visit their website.