CLINTON — At the C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum, 219 East Woodlawn Street, the holiday season is always merry and bright. This year the museum will continue to offer a variety of holiday events taking place throughout the holiday season.
Santa Night
On the Friday following Thanksgiving, from 5-7 p.m., Santa Claus will greet youngsters in the 19th century carriage barn. The children can climb into an antique sleigh, sit on Santa’s knee and share with him their Christmas wishes.
Hot cocoa will be served by members of the DCMA Board of Directors, and each child will be given an old-fashioned candy cane. In addition, Woods Photography Studio will capture photographic images photo or you can take a picture with your own camera. Photo purchases will be optional
This event, which has become a family holiday tradition for numerous generations, is free, courtesy of the DeWitt County Museum Association.
Christmas Candlelight Tours
The Christmas season candlelight tours are offered each Friday evening from the Friday following Thanksgiving to the Friday proceeding Christmas Eve. During these evening tours, the mansion is filled with decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and other fine Victorian-era ornamentations.
A variety of vocalists will sing holiday songs as guests stroll through the house, which will be illuminated by candlelight. Candlelight Tour hours are 5-8 p.m. with doors closing at 7:30 p.m. No tickets or reservations are required, your tour begining upon arrival.
See MUSEUM / A9
The admission fee will be waived for all DCMA members as well as their family and/or guests, when applicable.
Horse-drawn Carriage Rides
The “clop, clop, clop” of horses hooves and the “jingle, jingle, jingle” of sleigh bells will be returning to the museum once more as horses pull a carriage filled with passengers on the streets of Clinton. Carriage rides are scheduled to take place at the museum this year on December 11 and 18. Watch the museum Facebook page, C.H. Moore Homestead & DeWitt County Museum, or visit the website, chmoorehomestead.org, for ticket information and other details once they become available.
Daily Tours
Throughout the holiday season, daily tours are offered during regular museum and gift shop hours, which are Tuesdays–Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday afternoons. Daily tours offer an introduction to the house, its history, the stories of those who have resided in the house, artifacts and architectural details of interest and more.
In addition to individual walk-in tours, which begin upon guests’ arrival, the museum also schedules large group tours in advance. To schedule a large group tour, contact the museum at (217) 935-6066.
Museum staff is happy to accommodate visitors by carloads, vanloads or busloads during the holiday season.
