Candlelight Tour begins tonight
Published 12:05 am Saturday, December 5, 2009
Despite the prediction of bad weather on Saturday, the forecast for the Bank Street area downtown looks merry and bright.
The Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society is carrying on with its annual Candlelight Tour, and will offer plenty of indoor shopping, entertainment and history for tour-goers to get out of the weather.
The Candlelight Tour will be held Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 7 p.m. “Encore Days,” new this year, will be Monday and Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $15; for Encore Days, they are $5 or free with the full ticket.
This year’s Candlelight Tour includes four buildings in the area, all in various stages of restoration. Homes open for public viewing are the Dawson House, 137 Bank St.; the Eley-McKay House, 133 Bank St.; the Crumpler House, 201 Grace St.; and Montgomery Lofts, the restored Montgomery Ward building, at 137 N. Main St.
On Friday, historical society volunteers worked diligently inside and outside the Dawson House to ready it for the tour. Some volunteers made wreaths of fresh greenery outside, while others inside decorated several Christmas trees, packaged baked goods for the Sugar Plum Kitchen and decorated mantles and fireplaces. A table in the Sugar Plum Kitchen featured cupcakes, cookies, muffins, tarts, homemade pickles and even giant gingerbread men decorated with icing and candy.
At each location, costumed interpreters portraying the past owners of the house will tell their life stories and family histories. The Sugar Plum Kitchen is located in the Dawson House. At the Crumpler House, jewelry, oyster plates, vintage linens and other items will be for sale. At Montgomery Lofts, visitors can purchase unique Christmas ornaments. Musical entertainment, including a bagpiper, also will be featured on the tour.
On Encore Days, Dec. 7-8, visitors can visit the Dawson House to enjoy music, decorations and refreshments.
For more information, call 539-2781.