Hearthside - The House That Love Built

CELEBRATE AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS AT HEARTHSIDE

Dec. 2 and Dec. 9

With a chill in the air and holiday tunes playing wherever you go, many of us yearn for the charm of simpler times. This December, the Friends of Hearthside invite you to enjoy the excitement and joy of the old-fashioned traditional Christmas with a visit to the crowning jewel of the Great Road Historic District, the Hearthside mansion. Hearthside’s magnificent beauty truly shines at Christmas time when the halls are decked out in the finest holiday decorations. The historic Hearthside will be lavishly decorated in the traditional touches of Victorian ornamentation and elegant trimmings. In keeping with the Victorian tradition, decorated trees, and colorful poinsettias will adorn each room and swags of greenery are draped throughout the home, around doorways, windows, mantles and window frames. Each of the 10 rooms has been furnished and decorated by volunteers who are part of the organization whose mission is to preserve the historic landmark.

Two great holiday events are planned for this season that guarantee to put you and your family in the Christmas spirit. The festivities begin on Sunday, December 2 nd when Hearthside will welcome visitors from 1:00-7:00 p.m. for an Open House as part of the Town of Lincoln’s Festival of Lights Celebration. The elegant surroundings will include volunteers in Victorian finery and live music that will fill the house with holiday favorites. Santa will be stopping in between 2:00-4:00 p.m. for some home baked cookies and a visit with the children. Tours of the house are self-guided and admission is free, but donations are strongly encouraged. Don’t forget your camera!

To help support the restoration efforts at Hearthside, there will be themed baskets to be raffled off. You may even pick up a unique gift or two in the Hearthside Gift Shop and get some of your holiday shopping during your visit.

Patricia Campellone, chairperson of the Hearthside Holiday Events, notes that “People from throughout Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts visit Hearthside to enjoy the magic of a Victorian Christmas each year, and it’s held early enough in the season for people to come and get in the holiday spirit, and take home lots of ideas for their own holiday decorating.”

In the tradition of an old-fashioned Dickens Christmas, Sunday, December 9 th offers a full evening to step back to a Christmas long ago. Beginning with a candlelight reception and ending with lively Victorian music and dancing, this evening is sure to be a memorable one. Come dressed in Victorian costume or simply in your Christmas best.

Friends of Hearthside presents a “Christmas Carol Celebration and Candlelight Tour” from 4:00-8:00 p.m. when guests are invited to spend an hour or two, or the whole evening, at Hearthside. Just as if you were stepping into someone’s house party among friends, Hearthside will be filled with festive music, holiday carolers, and good food.

Guests may linger in the elegant surroundings while enjoying delicious hot hors d’ouevres and a traditional Wassail bowl and then take a complete tour of the decorated house in the warm glow of candlelight, given by guides dressed in Victorian finery. Tickets are $12 each and need to be reserved in advance by calling Hearthside at 401-726-0597.

Kathy Hartley, President and Founder of Friends of Hearthside, comments that “While this massive stone structure might make you think that it’s a cold house, the minute you walk through the day you realize it really is a warm, inviting place that one could easily call home, and in fact, when visitors come, they often times find it hard to leave.”

For those who want to make a full evening of it and extend their festive celebration, it’s a short trip over to the Blackstone River Theater for “Fezziwig’s Party.” Even more music, song and lots of dancing from the Victorian era will run continually from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. complete with period dance demonstrations, carolers, and roving musicians. The Blackstone River Theatre, who has partnered with Hearthside for this event over the past four years, is just 5 minutes away on Broad Street in Cumberland. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased from the Blackstone River Theatre. A combination ticket for both the Hearthside Candlelight Reception and the Fezziwig Party at the Blackstone River Theater (www.riverfolk.org) is available from either location for $25.00 and must be purchased in advance.

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