Pennsylvania German Christmas Thrives at Five Museums

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PA – For yet another year five Montgomery County organizations, all of which focus in whole or part on the county’s Pennsylvania German heritage, are collaborating to present a “Pennsylvania German Christmas” for the public’s enjoyment.

Participating in the group effort are the Goschenhoppen Historians in Green Lane, Historic Trappe in Trappe, the Mennonite Heritage Center in Harleysville, Peter Wentz Farmstead in Lansdale, and the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center in Pennsburg.

Their complimentary schedules include a series of Christmas markets, displays, and historic house tours across the county Dec. 5-7. Days and hours may vary at each location, but generally are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; call sites of interest to ensure their availability. All events, except for Historic Trappe tours, are free and open to the public.

For starters, this year’s event features musical fare and new exhibits.

• The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center and Red Men’s Hall of the Goschenhoppen Historians will feature live holiday tunes during the weekend.
• Visitors to the Heritage Center can reminisce about holiday decorations of the past, from nostalgic ceramic Christmas trees to depictions of the old Belsnickel, in the exhibit Holidaze.
• Other historic sites will be decked out in holiday style as well. Goschenhoppen Historians will feature decorated trees, and Historic Trappe’s galleries will feature German Erzgebirge woodcarvings, a Moravian Christmas pyramid, and Noah’s arks.
• Candlelight tours at the Peter Wentz Farmstead (Dec. 6) and Historic Trappe (Dec. 6-7) offer opportunities to see how early Americans lived during the winter.

Graphic provided by PAGermanChristmas.org

Enjoy Fine Gifts, and Tasty Foods

Gift-giving, shopping, and eating are an important part of the winter holidays for many, and also are at the heart of Pennsylvania German Christmas.

• Fine crafts and art go on sale Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Mennonite Heritage Center, and continue through Saturday. New vendors there will sell soap, candles, and chicken corn soup.
• The Schwenkfelder Heritage Center and Goschenhoppen Historians begin their sales of vintage, collectible, and new decorations, as well as homemade gifts, Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m. They continue through Sunday.
• While visiting the Goschenhoppen Historians, stop by its famous Bake Sale and Kum Esse.
• Hearth cooking demonstrations will be available at Historic Trappe in the newly restored kitchen wing of the Speaker’s House, and at the Peter Wentz Farmstead. Both sites also have gift shops on premises.

Our entertainment reporting covers the arts and culture, shows, exhibits, performances, festivals, and community-related activities within, or that affect residents of, Montgomery, Berks, and Chester PA counties. Find more entertainment articles here. Also, see and join the Pottstown Arts and Cultural Alliance group on Facebook.