PENNSBURG PA – Five different Montgomery County organizations will share the sights, sounds, and smells of a festive Pennsylvania German Christmas with the public during the first weekend of December.
A series of Christmas markets, displays, and historic house tours will be conducted Dec. 1-3 (2023; Friday through Sunday) by the Goschenhoppen Historians, Historic Trappe, the Mennonite Heritage Center, Peter Wentz Farmstead, and the Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center.
The schedule starts with holiday shopping:
- On Dec. 1 (Friday) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a Christmas Market featuring local artisan crafts and foods will open at the Mennonite Heritage Center, 565 Yoder Rd., Harleysville. Artists will display a variety of local and handcrafted gifts, along with local foods.
- Shopping continues Dec. 2 (Saturday) at the Mennonite center, as well as at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg, and with the Goschenhoppen Historians at Red Men’s Hall in The Folklife Museum, 116 Gravel Pike, Green Lane. At The Schwenkfelder visitors can purchase crafts, folk art, books, and stocking stuffers, and also see its unique Pennsylvania German Putz display from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. At the Goschenhoppen sale, also from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., there are more handcrafted and vintage items for sale, along with fresh greens and its famous Christmas cookies.
- The Goschenhoppen and Schwenkfelder sales also operate Dec. 3 (Sunday) from noon to 4 p.m.
The weekend additionally will be filled with holiday tours and displays all family members can enjoy:
- On Dec. 2nd from 3-8 p.m., the soft glow of candles lights the way for visitors as they explore the historic Peter Wentz Farmstead, 2030 Shearer Rd., Worcester. While there they can watch a cooking demonstration, and meet Belsnickel.
- The Muhlenberg House, 201 W. Main St., Trappe, encourages visitors to tour a Pennsylvania German Christmas on Dec. 2 from 3-9 p.m., and Dec. 3 from noon to 4 p.m. Guests can explore a display of vintage German woodcarvings from the Erzgebirge region at the nearby Dewees Tavern. New Erzgebirge decorations and contemporary Pennsylvania German folk art also will be offered for sale.
For more information about specific events, send an e-mail to the Mennonite Heritage Center at info@mhep.org; Goschenhoppen Historians at redmens_hall@goschenhoppen.org; The Schwenkfelder at info@schwenkfelder.org; Peter Wentz Farmstead at peterwentzfarmstead@montgomerycountypa.gov; or Historic Trappe at info@historictrappe.org.
Photo of an earlier candlelight tour at Wentz Farmstead by Travels With The Post
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