For Immediate Release:

October 27, 2022

Sturbridge, M.A. – Tickets are on sale now to the public for Old Sturbridge Village’s 2022 Christmas by Candlelight event, with early bird pricing offered through Friday, Nov. 18. Experience old and cherished traditions and create new ones at this year’s event, which celebrates the holiday season across the 19^th-century Village.

Christmas by Candlelight offers guests the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Christmas across the 200-acre campus, including exploring a Christmas Tree Trail and leaving a special request on the Christmas Wish Bridge. During the event, demonstrations focus on 19^th-century craftsmanship, baking and preparing for the holiday, while the Village comes alive with storytelling, live music, festive food, horse-drawn carry-all rides, holiday shopping and more. Santa Claus also makes an appearance at the Village each evening, collecting Christmas wishes from the youngest visitors.

New to the event in 2022, guests can experience for the first time:

• Decorations in the Asa Knight Store: The Asa Knight Store will feature six trees during the event representing the different decades of the 1800s sponsored by local Oakwood Farms. Free ornament crafts will be offered to guests as a hands-on, DIY and take-home activity.
• New Holiday Treats: The Bixby House will be mulling cider, and Salem Towne House will be baking gingerbread, and other holiday treats will be offered across the Village.
• International Christmas: The Richardson House will be showcasing an international Christmas for the first time, celebrating the holidays of other cultures with themes drawn from Puerto Rican traditions.
• Live Music: Every night of Christmas by Candlelight, listen to live festive music by both costumed interpreters and outside guests. This year, the Village will feature local school bands and choirs from the community performing on select dates.
• Vendor Showcase: On December 9th from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., Hot Dates Kitchen of Sommerville, MA will be at Ox & Yoke Mercantile to showcase their products. Hot Date Kitchen strives to make ridiculously delicious treats that are good for you, good for the world, and good for the planet. They work directly with farmers and local food producers to find the highest quality, ethically, and sustainably sourced ingredients to make good food that is at once simple in its components and bold in flavor.

Tickets must be purchased online, in advance for Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village. Pricing is $28.20 for adults and $14.40 for youth with early bird discount, and $25.60 for member adults and $12.80 for member youth.

Old Sturbridge Village is also seeking entries for its annual Gingerbread House Contest, inviting participants to create and register their own gingerbread work-of-art in one of four categories. A panel of judges will rank each entry and name a winner in the adult non-professional, adult professional, youth and family/group categories, with visitors to the Village voting for the coveted title of “Best in Show.” This year’s participants will be entered to win one of three family memberships to the Village (a $105 value). Deadline for entry is Nov. 18.

More information on the event as well as sign ups forms for the Gingerbread House Contest can be found at: https://www.osv.org/event/christmas-by-candlelight-2022/.

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