Strawbery Banke Museum expands Candlelight Stroll to eight evenings in December 2023

Portsmouth Herald
Updated ·2 min read
Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.
Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.

PORTSMOUTH — Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll. Now in its 44th year, Candlelight Stroll takes place over eight nights, inviting visitors to step back in time and experience the magic of the season in a historic waterfront neighborhood.

The event occurs on Fridays, Dec. 8 and 15, from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturdays, Dec. 2, 9, and 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays, Dec. 3, 10, and 17 from 4 to 8 p.m.. Tickets are available via StrawberyBanke.org/candlelight-stroll.

Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.
Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.

Visitors are invited to tour the museum’s furnished historic houses, which are adorned with handmade decorations crafted from greens and dried flowers harvested from the Museum’s heirloom gardens. Costumed role players portray the many families who lived in the Puddle Dock neighborhood throughout time and share stories, customs, and seasonal traditions.

Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.
Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.

As visitors travel from house to historic house, the glow of hundreds of lighted candle lanterns illuminate the way. Seasonal greetings and performances from wandering musicians and performers add to the festive atmosphere, recreating the traditions of times gone by. Guests can also enjoy hot apple cider, gather around a warming bonfire, partake in an old-fashioned holiday shopping experience at Pickwick’s at the Banke, and watch Ice Dance International’s Currier and Ives Vintage Christmas Skaters, who delight audiences with several performances each night.

Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.
Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.

Tickets cost $32 for adults, $16 for children (ages 5-17), and are free for children 5 and under. Strawbery Banke members receive free or discounted tickets based on membership level. Admission to Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond, the Museum’s outdoor skating rink, is not included with Candlelight Stroll.

“As Strawbery Banke celebrates Portsmouth’s quadricentennial, Candlelight Stroll remains a tradition that brings history to life,” said Linnea Grim, President and CEO, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair. “It’s a unique opportunity for visitors to connect with the past and witness the evolution of holiday customs over four centuries.”

Candlelight Stroll is an anchor for Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth, a city-wide celebration spearheaded by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth along with the Music Hall, the Portsmouth Historical Society, and the City of Portsmouth.

Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.
Strawbery Banke Museum recently announced the expansion of its highly anticipated annual holiday event, Candlelight Stroll, to eight evenings in December.

Candlelight Stroll 2023 is presented in part by Lonza, Lincoln Financial Group, R.M. Davis, Portwalk Place, Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Bangor Savings Bank, Kennebunk Savings, Newburyport Bank, M&T Bank, The Rowley Agency, Inc., Exeter Hospital, Seacoast United, Piscataqua Dental Partners, Piscataqua Savings Bank, Ice Dance International, Portsmouth NH 400, Inc., the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.

For more information about Candlelight Stroll and tickets, visit StrawberyBanke.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Strawbery Banke Museum's Candlelight Stroll expanded in 2023