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Enjoy Heritage Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum with these ten things to see and do
Father Christmas,festive lights, great entertainers, carousel rides. Cookies and hot chocolate. Enjoy it all at Burnaby Museum. And have a Heritage Christmas!
Lights, new hours, great entertainers, carousel rides and lots of hot chocolate. Ten great things to do:
One: Visit Father Christmas
This Victorian-Edwardian version of Santa Claus receives children in Stride Studios to hear their Christmas wishes. But only until December 23rd.
Two: Enjoy a free performance at Brookfield Hall
Presentations throughout the season include the original production "Stealing Christmas" by Forte Theatre Society, Rainforest Theatre’s "Aladdin" and the Elwoodettes performances of "Marionettes Die Fledermaus" & "Max, the Ho Hum Husky." The entertainment schedule will be posted online.
Three: Smell the fresh baked cookies at the Farmhouse
Every Sunday from 2-4pm, a 1920s recipe is selected, the wood-stove in the kitchen lit, and the smell of cookies fills the room. Samples are given out but they don’t last long!
Four: Make a Card
Press a stamp, place a sticker and add some colour; children are invited to personalize a greeting card.
Five: Take the Twelve Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt challenge
A great way to see the entire site is to complete our Twelve Days of Christmas scavenger hunt - answers are sure to surprise and delight. Visitors can pick up their clue sheets at either entrance or at the Stride Studios (on-site). The clue sheets provide the lyrics of the song Twelve Days of Christmas but do not give away any hints on size or location of the answers. Note: in past years, answers have been part of an outside larger-than-life Eco-sculpture presentation or as small as a decoration within a window display.
Six: Create Your Own Light Show
The lights that adorn the bandstand respond to sound. Clapping, stomping, singing and talking all result in changing colours, tones and vibrancy. Come make some noise!
Seven: Snap some Christmas selfies- new photo ops
A Santa-style sleigh has been constructed, decorated and placed on the lawn outside of Elworth. There’s room for you and several of your friends to sit. Pulling the sleigh is a unique group of animals; eco-sculpture sheep have been dressed for the winter weather and have antlers in place for this special job traditionally done by reindeer. The lead animal for this team has a special red nose but is neither sheep nor reindeer. Capture yourself in this delightful setting.
Eight: Stroll through the Christmas-decked Edwardian Village
A stroll through the streets of the Village uncovers wreaths, cedar swags and vintage-themed displays. Stop by the window displays at the General Store to see crafts and dresses made out of crepe paper. In the 1920s, Dennison Crepe published craft books showing how to make flowers, decorations and outfits all out of their crepe paper. It came in 44 colours and they boasted that crepe paper crafts were especially lovely because of the colour combinations.
Nine: Take a Christmas carousel ride
You don't need a special reason to take a carousel ride but the Christmas decorations and lights make it all the more special.
Ten: Have dinner or a seasonal treat at the ice cream parlour
You can get a full-on turkey dinner (call ahead for times and availability) or soups, salad, pizza and even butter chicken. Seasonal treats include shortbread, mince tarts, hot apple cider and hot chocolate.
And new for this year: Burnaby Village Museum's light displays have expanded again. New lighting around the main parking lot welcomes visitors and sets the mood for what’s to come inside the gates.
The hours have been tweaked to allow for more time to enjoy our sparkling holiday lights at night! For the duration of the season, Burnaby Village's new opening time is 1pm and every weekend the gates are open until 9pm.
True to Tradition - The Bateman family, the original owners of Elworth, always decorated both sides of their front door with boxwood greenery. Village design staff do the same today, ninety-two years later. It's their way of welcoming you to a true Edwardian Christmas at Burnaby Village Museum.
Heritage Christmas Hours:
November 22 – December 12
Monday-Friday, 1-5:30pm
Saturday, Sunday, 1-9pm
December 13 – January 2, 2015
Daily, 1-9pm (closed Dec 24 & 25)
Gate admission is free, Carousel Rides are $2.50 each.
More information: www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca/christmas
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