The holidays are a great time in Lancaster County. Scroll down to take a look at some of the events Landis Valley Farm Museum has scheduled for November and December. Web: Landis Valley Museum Phone: 717.569.0401

Classes available:

• November: Needle Tatting (Nov 9), Needle Felting (Nov 16), Basics of Broom Making (Nov 16) Basics of Tinsmithing (Nov 27)
• December: Winter Day Camp (Dec 27)
• Click here for more.

Some History of the Museum

The 1700s brought many German immigrants to what is now Pennsylvania. Known as the “breadbasket of America,” by 1790, Southeastern Pennsylvania was home to many farmers. 40% of these farming families were of German descent. In addition to farming, “Pennsylvania Germans labored in a variety of crafts and businesses, as clockmakers and clergymen, tavern keepers and tinsmiths, storekeepers and weavers.”

In 1953 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania became the steward of what is one of Lancaster County’s most exquisite treasures. Over the years, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum has become “the largest collection of Pennsylvania German artifacts in the country.” However, for visitors to be truly educated and inspired, a collection of this caliber must be skillfully curated. Offering carefully researched “presentation[s] of authentic traditional farming, village and industrial life, skilled craft demonstrations, and historical animals and plants, the museum promotes education, research, programs, and events for the benefit and enjoyment of its visitors and the community.”

November

Museum Store Open House

Find the Unusable...as Usual!

You will always find the unusual gift or piece of local-artist artwork at our Museum store, but this is your chance to discover even more than usual. Find great deals and new discoveries on both “Small Business Saturday” and “Museum Store Sunday” right here in your own backyard. The perfect shopping opportunity for Christmas or just because you want it!

Cost: Free to Store Event Only

November 30 and December 1. See the following for details...

Small Business Saturday

Museum Store Open House

9 am - 5 am, Saturday, November 30 2019

Plan to kick off your holiday shopping with the Landis Valley Museum Store. This year, Landis Valley is participating in this national movement to support local artisans, craftspeople, and museums. Feel extra good about that perfect gift, whether it’s on Small Business Saturday or Museum Store Sunday.

Featuring:

• Handmade Holiday Ornament Showcase
• Make & Take Table (fee)
• Craft Demonstrations

Museum Store Sunday

Museum Store Open House

Noon - 5 pm, December 1, 2019

Museum Store Sunday is the day to Be a Patron – shop conscientiously and support museum stores and their missions worldwide.

Featuring:

• Handmade Holiday Ornament Showcase
• Make & Take Table (fee)
• Craft Demonstrations

December

Christmas In The Village

December 7 and 8, 2019

December 7 and 8, join us and share a real Old-Fashioned Christmas in our village. Lots of Christmas decorations. Lots of special learning on how early PA German families celebrated Christmas here in south central PA. And lots of fun for all ages. It’s a great way to start out the Christmas season.

But watch out! Belsnickel will be lurking around seeing who has been good and who has been bad over the past year! If he sees you, will you get a treat or a piece of coal?

Here is just a partial list of what will be happening:

• Harp and harpsichord concert in the morning and afternoon
• Handbell concert twice in the afternoon
• Make-and-take crafts for children
• Write a letter to Santa and mail it in our special post office to get a response back
• Meet Belsnickel
• Authentic traditional Christmas Putz – a traditional model village created in each household only at Christmas to remind each family of the real meaning of this holiday
• Holiday decorations in our historic buildings
• Unique holiday gifts in the Museum Store

Open Saturday, December 7, 9AM to 5PM. Open Sunday, December 8, Noon to 5PM.

Tickets can be purchased at the door on the days of the event. Online tickets also available.

Adults/$12, Senior/$10, Ages 3-11/$8, Ages 2 & Under/Free. FREE to members!

Belsnickel Dinner Tour

Dinner Tour: 5:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Belsnickel Lunch Tour

Lunch Tour: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, December 14, 2019

Learn and join in many classic Christmas traditions handed down to us from the PA Germans that you can incorporate into your own family traditions. There will be a punch and cookie reception, wonderful holiday meal, and a visit from Belsnickel. We will also have storytellers, interactive activities for the whole family, and caroling on a special wagon ride to help kick off your Christmas celebration right. This has become a favorite event over the past couple of years here at Landis Valley.

Dinner Tour:

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Festivities begin at 6 p.m.

Reservations required. Limited seating.

Adults/$55, Members/$50, Ages 10 and under/$40

Lunch Tour:

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Doors open at 10 a.m. Festivities begin at 11 a.m.

Reservations required. Limited seating.

Adults/$55, Members/$50, Ages 10 and under/$40

Holiday At Landis Valley Bonfire

6-8:30 p.m., Friday, December 13, 2019

Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum welcomes the community to spend an evening with us, free of charge, as we celebrate a Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas on Friday evening, December 13, from 6-8:30 p.m.

Enjoy our bonfire. Sing carols accompanied by the Lititz Moravian Trombone Choir. Take a wagon ride. Tour several of our decorated historic buildings. And join friends and family in our Yellow Barn for cookies and hot cider.

The event is free and open to the public and there is ample free parking. The only thing we ask is that visitors bring one or more non-perishable food items to the event as donations to the Lancaster Food Bank.

Winter Day Camp

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2019

Your children can learn the kind of skills, crafts, and activities that helped make up much of American life 150 years ago. They get to learn and try their hands at a variety of traditional historic activities, such as ornament making, tin punching, theorem painting, and open hearth cooking. Activities are designed for children 5 and above. Hot lunch is included.

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday, December 27, 2019

Pre-registration is required. Number of participants is limited, so don’t wait to sign up.