Connecticut: First Night in Hartford

Wednesday December 31st is First Night in Hartford, Connecticut. For those who want to celebrate the end of 2014 and ring in 2015, Hartford has a lot to offer for families and individuals.

For families the Hartford Public Library will offer storytelling in the Downtown Atrium from 3-5 p.m.Entertainment will be provided on the floor by master storyteller Andre Keitt who will present “Warm Stories to Chase the Chills Away,” and aerial acrobat Robin Lynch will entertain from high above, performing acrobatic tricks 25 feet in the air! -  

Wristbands will be for sale in advance online and will be delivered within 2 days so there is still time to order. They will also be for sale at venues throughout the city, a complete list is located at the First Night Website. Adult tickets are $12 and children 3-15 are $3 The  wrist band will get you into multiple locations for lots of events. 

There are plenty of discount parking lots and metered parking and the free Dash shuttle will be running on a extended schedule. The Dash route is available on the First Night Website. 

Events and performances are offered that will entertain and inform people of all ages and interests. Learn about the history of Hartford in an architectural tour, there are two different tours being offered or tour a historic house.

Enjoy performances of Bluegrass from Bill Wallach at the Pump House in Bushnell Park. Bring the family to hear one of three organ recitals at Christ Cathedral Church or a performance by the children's circus Circophony at the Old State House and this is just the tip of the iceberg. 

Fun, food, entertainment and a good time will be available all over the Capital City. 

For a full list of events at First Night in Hartford check out their website and make your plans to attend.

First Night Hartford at HPL!

Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Library Atrium

Join us and ring in the New Year with First Night Hartford! Our Downtown Atrium will be alive with family fun. Master Storyteller Andre Keitt will present “Warm Stories to Chase the Chills Away,” and aerial acrobat Robin Lynch will entertain from high above, performing acrobatic tricks 25 feet in the air! Presented in partnership with First Night Hartford: www.firstnighthartford.org
  - See more at: http://www.hplct.org/classes-seminars-exhibits/#sthash.ZwwBk9JX.dpuf

First Night Hartford at HPL!

Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Library Atrium

Join us and ring in the New Year with First Night Hartford! Our Downtown Atrium will be alive with family fun. Master Storyteller Andre Keitt will present “Warm Stories to Chase the Chills Away,” and aerial acrobat Robin Lynch will entertain from high above, performing acrobatic tricks 25 feet in the air! Presented in partnership with First Night Hartford: www.firstnighthartford.org
  - See more at: http://www.hplct.org/classes-seminars-exhibits/#sthash.ZwwBk9JX.dpuf

First Night Hartford at HPL!

Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Library Atrium

Join us and ring in the New Year with First Night Hartford! Our Downtown Atrium will be alive with family fun. Master Storyteller Andre Keitt will present “Warm Stories to Chase the Chills Away,” and aerial acrobat Robin Lynch will entertain from high above, performing acrobatic tricks 25 feet in the air! Presented in partnership with First Night Hartford: www.firstnighthartford.org
  - See more at: http://www.hplct.org/classes-seminars-exhibits/#sthash.ZwwBk9JX.dpuf

First Night Hartford at HPL!

Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Downtown Library Atrium

Join us and ring in the New Year with First Night Hartford! Our Downtown Atrium will be alive with family fun. Master Storyteller Andre Keitt will present “Warm Stories to Chase the Chills Away,” and aerial acrobat Robin Lynch will entertain from high above, performing acrobatic tricks 25 feet in the air! Presented in partnership with First Night Hartford: www.firstnighthartford.org
  - See more at: http://www.hplct.org/classes-seminars-exhibits/#sthash.ZwwBk9JX.dpuf

Photo Friday: Kensington Palace London

One of our favorite places to visit in London is Kensington Garden and Kensington Palace. We love to have tea at the Orangerie and then visit the Palace. Enjoy a photo tour of our last visit.

Statue of Queen Victoria in Kensington Garden

Walking through the Garden to the Orangerie

Yummy tea tray at the Orangerie

Costumes on display at Kensington Palace

Dress worn by Queen Victoria

Royal cradle

Queen Victoria and her mother

View from the window at Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace

Al enjoying the window seat

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone. Enjoy this special day with family and friends. May you all be blessed with the joy that the season has to bring and may all your dreams come true. 

Plan a Visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in 2015

 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois Turns Ten

New exhibits, shows and programs scheduled throughout 2015

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will turn ten in 2015, marking the milestone with a full year of special events, theater presentations, lectures and exhibits.

Undying Words: Lincoln 1858-1865 is an exhibition produced in cooperation with the Chicago History Museum that opened in November and will run through February 2016. The exhibit focuses on five key Lincoln speeches that illustrate his evolving views on slavery. More than 120 artifacts complete the exhibit, including Lincoln’s bloody gloves from the night he was assassinated, the bed he died in and a carriage used by Abraham and Mary Lincoln.

Coming in April 2015 is “The Battle Hymn Story,” a new multi-media theater presentation full of music and special effects that joins the popular “Lincoln’s Eyes” and “Ghosts of the Library” productions.

The “To See Jerusalem Before I Die” exhibit in the Treasures Gallery examines Lincoln’s relationships with Jewish friends, supporters and opponents and opens in August.

Many other activities will be offered including an Easter Egg Roll, a Mary Lincoln Strawberry Party, birthday parties for the Lincoln sons and Pets in the White House, an event that welcomes pets to Union Square Park. For a complete list of tenth anniversary events, visit www.TenYearsLincoln.com.

While in Springfield, additional opportunities to experience the Lincoln story are available at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Lincoln’s New Salem, the Old State Capitol and the Lincoln Tomb. Other popular tourist sites in Springfield include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana-Thomas House, the Illinois State Capitol and the Illinois State Museum.

Springfield features a range of options for accommodations and unique local eateries. For complete information about planning a trip to Springfield to experience the 10th anniversary of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and for everything there is to see and do, visit www.visitspringfieldillinois.com.

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The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau works to promote, service and sell Springfield, Illinois as a leisure and convention destination of distinction.

My worst Christmas ever: A tale of travel gone wrong

My worst Christmas ever began innocently enough at my mother and father’s house on Christmas Eve. It was 1975. I was 25 years old, married with three young children. My mother had made whiskey sours in a blender and my youngest brother Fran was there with us. My older brother Bob lived in Rutland, Vt. and someone came up with the brilliant idea of going and picking him up in Vermont and bringing him home for Christmas.

Under the best of circumstances, it takes three hours to drive from Connecticut to Rutland. This was not the best of conditions. It was Christmas Eve at about 8.00 p.m. and we had had a couple of whiskey sours each. After a quick call to Vermont to be sure he wanted to come home, Fran and I set off to go and pick Bob up. My husband being the good guy he is took the kids home and put them to bed. After all, the next morning was a big day for them and usually, they are up at 5 a.m. to open presents.

The trip up to Rutland went pretty well. We arrived to pick Bob up before midnight. It was cold and snowy in Vermont and by the time we left Rutland it was snowing pretty hard. We usually drive down Route 7 to Route 103. By the time we left Rutland I so was tired I decided to put my head down and fell asleep. I didn’t get to sleep very long before my brothers woke me up. Something was wrong. Fran had not taken the turn onto 103 and now it was snowing very hard and he had no idea where he was.

Oh, terrific, we are lost in a snow storm in Vermont and it is already Christmas Day. I was starting to get hysterical; not because we were lost but because I might not make it home in time to see my children open their Christmas presents. In those days of course, we didn’t have cell phones or GPS. We drove until we saw a phone booth and of course my brothers sent me out into the snow to call for help.

It’s 2.00 a.m. on Christmas morning and I am in a phone booth in the middle of nowhere. I called an operator and somehow she was able to tell where I was. We were near Stratton Mountain Ski resort so she could give me basic directions to get us back on track so that we could head toward I-91 which is what we needed to get home.

The snow was falling very hard now and this was in the days before four-wheel drive or even-front wheel drive. We were in a 1968 Cadillac with rear-wheel drive so the going was slow. I was sure that I would never make it home in time to celebrate Christmas morning at home. After a long dark slippery night of driving 360 miles, we made it to Portland at 7:00 a.m., about 2 hours after my children usually get up to open presents.

My wonderful husband had realized that what we were doing was crazy and had placed a blanket over the entrance to our living room so that the children could not see anything and when they woke him up at 5:00 a.m. he gave them their stockings to keep them occupied until I got home.

I was half dead from lack of sleep and needed a shower but I was home alive and my brother would be with us. I never did such a crazy, dangerous thing again and even though it made for a pretty horrible day what with lack of sleep and stress, I never regretted what we did.

My brother Bob died a couple of years ago and sleeping in the back seat of the Cadillac for a few minutes with my head in his lap is what I remember of that horrible Christmas morning. It reminds me of the beginning of a ‘Tale of Two Cities’ “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

London: Porters Restaurant Covent Garden London closing

One of our favorite restaurants in London for 25 years has been Porters in Henrietta Street. This is just off Covent Garden making it the perfect place to go before the theater or as we did on our last visit, for lunch. 


Porters was opened by the Earl of Bradford in 1979 and will close it doors on January 19, 2015. Porters is a victim of the high prices that landlords in London charge. The  prices at Porters have always been reasonable and their food quintessential English. I have always loved their pies and their puddings. 

Steak, Guinness and Mushroom Pie

I am very sad that I won't be back in London for one last meal. I decided to share our last visit, in  January 2013, with my fellow travelers and if you are going to be in London early in January, I suggest you stop in for a taste of authentic English cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere, before it is too late.  To me, it is the end of an era, another institution is passing away. 

Lamb and Apricot Pie

Photo Friday Lunch at J Gilberts in Glastonbury, Conn.

J. Gilbert's is one of our favorite restaurants and during the month of December, up to the 23rd they serve lunch. The rest of the year it is dinner only. This is the first time that Al and I have taken advantage of this opportunity to dine here and spend a little less. Having said that, with tax and tip, it was an $80 lunch. 

Sourdough bread

The sourdough bread is served on a board and is warm. The smell was delightful. It includes two little crocks of whipped butter. One was pastrami favored, it was redolent of coriander, and the other is plain.

The wedge salad

We decided to split a wedge salad. It has bacon, tomato, onion, blue cheese and very good blue cheese dressing. I love the fact that they literally split the salad for us and give us two separate plates with the salad on it.

Al's steak and frites

My crab cakes with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

My cappuccino

Fresh berries with creme Anglais and tuiles

I have to talk about this dessert because it was the most amazing dessert I have eaten in a very long time. We shared it and we both loved it. The berries were very fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. The creme Anglais was absolutely divine and the tuiles so crunchy and sweet. It was the perfect ending of a very good meal.

London: Patisserie Valerie Covent Garden

I am sure when most of you think of London, pastry might not be the first thing that comes to mind. That might be a mistake since there are some really delicious goodies to be had. 

I have seen Patisserie Valerie shops in my travel around London but it wasn't until recently that we actually stopped to pick up some goodies. 

We were at Covent Garden which is probably my favorite destination in London, okay I love lots of destinations, but for sheer entertainment time and time again it is hard to beat Covent Garden. 

I wanted a little nosh to bring back to our room at the Strand Palace and was enticed by the goodies we saw in the window. 

The hardest part is going to be making a decision. Of course, Al said just pick something for me so I had to decide for two. I will let the pictures tell the story of what I picked but sufficed to say, none of it went to waste. 

Patisserie Valerie has been around since 1926 and has locations all over London and all over England. 

 

London: Walking The Strand in London

The Strand is one of the older streets in London with roots going as far back as Roman times. It runs for three-quarters of a mile from Trafalgar Square to Fleet Street and certainly is one of the most interesting streets in London. It was for many years the home of very wealthy lords who had large homes with back yards that went right down to the Thames. Its route gave them a straight route between their homes and the seat of power at Westminster. Those days are gone for the most part but the street still has much to offer especially to tourists.   

Where to stay

Staying on The Strand puts visitors in a good location for dining and enjoying the theatre. There are two hotels of interest. 

The Savoy Hotel is one of the top hotels in London. It is located on the site of the former Savoy Palace. The Savoy Palace belonged to John of Gaunt, one of the most powerful men of his time. He was the son of King Edward III, the brother of the Black Prince and the uncle of King Richard II. During the Peasants Revolt in the late 14^th century, the frustration of the lower classes against the system was taken out on John’s beautiful palace and it was destroyed. He certainly would have approved of the high-end hotel that has taken its place. While most visitors can’t afford to stay there, one of the best afternoon teas in London is served there on a daily basis and it is a tea dance on Sundays. This is a way to get in the door and see all this luxury without going bankrupt. Rates at the hotel start at about £350 per night and go way up from there. 

The Strand Palace has a  location as outstanding as The Savoy  without being riverfront but at less than half the price. It is a historic property dating from the early 20^th century and the carvery restaurant is a popular place to eat before a show. A carvery is an extensive buffet that offers several courses with joints of meat and all the sides that go along with them. 

Where to dine

 

Simpsons on the Strand is an icon restaurant that has been serving customers for over 150 years. If you visit here you will be following in the footsteps of many famous people who have chosen to dine here. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They offer a fixed price menu until 7 p.m. which makes them a great choice for a pre-theatre nosh. You will feel very special as the carver comes to your table rolling the antique trolley and then slicing your Scottish beef which has been aged for 28 days. This is the perfect place to try roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and horseradish. 

Theatres

The Strand has long been the home to theaters. The same holds true today. The Adelphi, Vaudeville, Savoy are all located here. Check the London Theatre Guide to see what is showing when you plan to visit. 

Churches

There are two churches located on The Strand. Thanks to the widening of the street they are literally on The Strand. They both sit on an island in the middle of the street which makes visiting them interesting. The two churches are St. Mary Le Strand and St.  Clement Danes. St. Mary sits on a very historic site though the church itself dates from the early 18^th century. St Cements has a long history but the church that is there today was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17^th century. It was almost totally destroyed bombing during World War II but has been beautifully restored. 

Historic Buildings

Somerset House got its name from the original large home that was located on the site. Edward Seymour was the brother of Queen Jane Seymour the third wife of King Henry VIII. He became the protector of his nephew King Edward and fell out of favor toward the end of Edward’s reign and was executed. His home fell into disrepair over the years and was finally demolished to make way for the current building in the late 18^th century. Today it houses the Courtauld Institute Galleries which include among other things a magnificent collection of Impressionist painting. During the winter, there is an ice skating rink in the courtyard at Somerset House. 

Taking a walk through history down The Strand is something that every visitor to London should do. It will not disappoint. 

Somerset House

Photo Friday: Welcome to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

I am just doing a teaser article to entice you to visit the fascinating Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. No matter what you like, art, history or decorative arts, you will find it here. I loved it so much that I visited two days in a row!!

A wonderful modern building houses the museum.

This exhibit displaces over 250 hub caps turned into art.

Safes (pie) from all over the area.

Some of Julian Glass Wood's magnificent art collection.

Miniatures will capture the heart of little girls and big girls too.

History is a big part of this museum as well.

20 Great Reasons to Visit Pennsylvania during the holiday season

1. Santa’s Secret Garden at Hershey Gardens

Hershey, Dutch Country Roads

Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 2014

At Hershey Gardens’ sparkly event, children are greeted with Christmas elves, Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the chance to partake in craft projects.

2. Old Time Christmas

Jim Thorpe, Pocono Mountains

Dec. 5-7, 13-14, 2014

Lights, wreaths and other festive embellishments amplify the beauty of Jim Thorpe’s Victorian architecture. At Old Time Christmas, visitors can enjoy a live nativity, strolling carolers and musicians, train rides with Santa, a gingerbread house contest and more.

3. Holiday Trolley Rides

Scranton, Upstate PA

Santa on the Trolley, Dec. 13-14 and 20-21, 2014

Learn about Pennsylvania’s electric railway history, and reserve a ride with Santa aboard one of the museum’s antique trolleys for superb photo opportunities; advanced booking is recommended.

4. Historic Church Tour

Meadville, Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes Region

Dec. 19, 2014

Meadville’s beautiful churches are dressed their holiday best for this church tour, which includes St. Agatha’s Roman Catholic Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, First Baptist Church, Christ Episcopal Church and the Stone United Methodist Church. The tour also includes insight from pastors on the churches’ historical significance.

5. “The Christmas Schooner”

Waverly, Upstate PA

Dec. 19-20, 2014

Love, loss and the spirit of Christmas are all themes in Waverly Community House’s “The Christmas Schooner,” the story of a Michigan shipping captain who braves the deadly winter weather to bring Christmas trees to homesick German-American families in turn-of-the-century Chicago.

6. B.E. Taylor Christmas Concert

Indiana, Pittsburgh and Its Countryside

Dec. 20, 2014

The popular B.E. Taylor’s Christmas Concert, an evening of holiday music for all ages, returns to the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. Don’t miss the pre-concert program starring choirs from local high schools. Proceeds from the event will benefit the 35th annual Renda Broadcasting Teddy Bear Fund Drive.

7. Toy Train Exhibit at Fort Hunter

Harrisburg, Dutch Country Roads

Through Dec. 21, 2014

Passenger and freight trains and even Thomas the Tank Engine are displayed amid a miniature layout of Central Pennsylvania communities. Complete with lights and sounds, the exhibit at Fort Hunter’s Centennial Barn is a satisfying outing for every member of the family.

8. Wiehnachtsmarkt

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley

Weekends, Through Dec. 23, 2014

Wooden huts selling seasonal treats, gifts and knick-knacks heighten the charm of Bethlehem’s historic downtown shopping district at Wiehnachtsmarkt (pronounced vy-nokts-markt), an open-air Christmas Market. Warm your stomach with a bratwurst and some German gluhwien or warm mulled wine.

9. Christmas in Lititz

Lititz, Dutch Country Roads

Various events in December

Lititz, named “America’s Coolest Small Town” by Budget Traveler in 2013, supplies exquisite holiday scenes. Visit downtown Lititz to see shops and restaurants exhibit their festive spirit with lights and displays, or take a Christmas candlelight tour of the Johannes Mueller House, the home of an 18th-century tradesman and his family.

10. Christmas in Ligonier

Ligonier, Laurel Highlands

Various events in December

The residents of Ligonier, a town known for maintaining its colonial charm, host a variety of festivities. Stroll through the illuminated Diamond, a beautiful park located at the center of town, or take a holiday candlelight tour of the Compass Inn Museum, a restored 1799 stagecoach stop.

11. Christmas in Gettysburg

Gettysburg, Dutch Country Roads

Various events in December

Gettysburg hosts an assortment of history-infused holiday happenings. Tour the former home of President Dwight Eisenhower and his family, which will feature Christmas decorations from the 1950s and 1960s, or the Shriver House Museum, which will be decorated for a Christmas in 1860s. Or head to historic Lincoln Square on Dec. 12 for the annual Gettysburg Tuba Carol Fest, where tuba players from near and far unite to play Christmas carols.

12. First Night State College

State College, The Alleghenies

Dec. 31, 2014

The family-friendly event in downtown State College offers more than 30 performances, including shows from musicians, comedians and jugglers, ice sculpture displays, ice skating, carriage rides and the 5K Resolution Run.

13. Media’s New Year’s Eve Ball Drop

Media, Philadelphia and the Countryside

Dec. 31, 2014                                                                                                                       

Media, a borough near Philadelphia, boasts a miniature Times Square on New Year’s Eve, featuring a midnight ball drop and live music from Philly Gumbo.

14. New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop

Dillsburg, Dutch Country Roads

Dec. 31, 2014

Dillsburg puts a pickled-vegetable spin on the traditional New Year’s Eve ball drop with its annual event, which includes the drop of a giant pickle at midnight on the square followed by fireworks. A smaller pickle, “Lil’ Dill,” will be dropped at 7pm in conjunction with Ireland’s midnight and to provide entertainment for family members who have an earlier bedtime.

15. Silvester New Year’s Eve Celebration

Harmony, Pittsburgh and Its Countryside

Dec. 31, 2014

This family-friendly event celebrates Harmony’s German roots with 6 p.m. fireworks to recognize midnight in Germany, a pork and sauerkraut dinner and bleigiessen, the tradition of examining the shape of melted lead after it is dropped into water to predict fortunes for the upcoming year.

16. Little Elves Workshop at The Hershey Story Museum

Hershey, Dutch Country Roads

Select dates, Through Jan. 1, 2015

Santa’s helpers bring their workshop to The Hershey Story Museum, where kids can roll, cut, decorate and package their own chocolate clay ornaments.

17. Gingerbread House Competition and Display

Lahaska, Philadelphia and the Countryside

Through Jan 3, 2015

Peddler’s Village’s annual competition and display features lovingly crafted gingerbread cottages, barns, houses and reproductions of famous buildings.

18. Pennypacker Mills Tour

Schwenksville, Philadelphia and the Countryside

Through Jan. 4, 2015

Exquisite Victorian decorations and historical demonstrations highlight tours of this richly decorated mansion inhabited by Pennsylvania Governor Samuel Pennypacker in the early 1900s.

19. Trains, Trees and Gingerbread

Hamburg, Dutch Country Roads

Through Jan. 31 2015

Christmas trees featuring railroad-themed décor, elaborate gingerbread train stations and an impressive model railroad with modern and vintage locomotives make the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum a worthy stop for the whole family.

20. Waterfront Winterfest

Philadelphia, Philadelphia and the Countryside

Through Mar. 1, 2015

Blue Cross RiverRink hosts Waterfront Winterfest, a pop-up winter garden and waterfront village featuring holiday lighting, shopping containers repurposed as retail shops, a bar and restaurant, and fire pits with rustic seating. 

Information provided by VisitPa.com  

The Official Tourism website for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

From cherished model train and gingerbread displays and dreamy winter gardens to New Year’s Eve traditions involving giant pickles and rousing entertainment, Pennsylvania’s holiday celebrations provoke ear-to-ear grins. 

1. Santa’s Secret Garden at Hershey Gardens
Hershey, Dutch Country RoadsDec. 5-6, 12-13, 2014At Hershey Gardens’ sparkly event, children are greeted with Christmas elves, Mr. and Mrs. Claus and the chance to partake in craft projects. 

2. Old Time ChristmasJim Thorpe, Pocono MountainsDec. 5-7, 13-14, 2014Lights, wreaths and other festive embellishments amplify the beauty of Jim Thorpe’s Victorian architecture. At Old Time Christmas, visitors can enjoy a live nativity, strolling carolers and musicians, train rides with Santa, a gingerbread house contest and more. 

3. Holiday Trolley RidesScranton, Upstate PASanta on the Trolley, Dec. 13-14 and 20-21, 2014Learn about Pennsylvania’s electric railway history, and reserve a ride with Santa aboard one of the museum’s antique trolleys for superb photo opportunities; advanced booking is recommended. 

4. Historic Church TourMeadville, Pennsylvania’s Great Lakes RegionDec. 19, 2014Meadville’s beautiful churches are dressed their holiday best for this church tour, which includes St. Agatha’s Roman Catholic Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, First Baptist Church, Christ Episcopal Church and the Stone United Methodist Church. The tour also includes insight from pastors on the churches’ historical significance. 

5. “The Christmas Schooner”Waverly, Upstate PADec. 19-20, 2014Love, loss and the spirit of Christmas are all themes in Waverly Community House’s “The Christmas Schooner,” the story of a Michigan shipping captain who braves the deadly winter weather to bring Christmas trees to homesick German-American families in turn-of-the-century Chicago.

6. B.E. Taylor Christmas ConcertIndiana, Pittsburgh and Its CountrysideDec. 20, 2014The popular B.E. Taylor’s Christmas Concert, an evening of holiday music for all ages, returns to the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. Don’t miss the pre-concert program starring choirs from local high schools. Proceeds from the event will benefit the 35th annual Renda Broadcasting Teddy Bear Fund Drive. 

7. Toy Train Exhibit at Fort Hunter
Harrisburg, Dutch Country RoadsThrough Dec. 21, 2014Passenger and freight trains and even Thomas the Tank Engine are displayed amid a miniature layout of Central Pennsylvania communities. Complete with lights and sounds, the exhibit at Fort Hunter’s Centennial Barn is a satisfying outing for every member of the family. 

8. WiehnachtsmarktBethlehem, Lehigh ValleyWeekends, Through Dec. 23, 2014Wooden huts selling seasonal treats, gifts and knick-knacks heighten the charm of Bethlehem’s historic downtown shopping district at Wiehnachtsmarkt (pronounced vy-nokts-markt), an open-air Christmas Market. Warm your stomach with a bratwurst and some German gluhwien or warm mulled wine. 

9. Christmas in LititzLititz, Dutch Country RoadsVarious events in DecemberLititz, named “America’s Coolest Small Town” by Budget Traveler in 2013, supplies exquisite holiday scenes. Visit downtown Lititz to see shops and restaurants exhibit their festive spirit with lights and displays, or take a Christmas candlelight tour of the Johannes Mueller House, the home of an 18th-century tradesman and his family. 

10. Christmas in LigonierLigonier, Laurel HighlandsVarious events in DecemberThe residents of Ligonier, a town known for maintaining its colonial charm, host a variety of festivities. Stroll through the illuminated Diamond, a beautiful park located at the center of town, or take a holiday candlelight tour of the Compass Inn Museum, a restored 1799 stagecoach stop. 

11. Christmas in GettysburgGettysburg, Dutch Country RoadsVarious events in DecemberGettysburg hosts an assortment of history-infused holiday happenings. Tour the former home of President Dwight Eisenhower and his family, which will feature Christmas decorations from the 1950s and 1960s, or the Shriver House Museum, which will be decorated for a Christmas in 1860s. Or head to historic Lincoln Square on Dec. 12 for the annual Gettysburg Tuba Carol Fest, where tuba players from near and far unite to play Christmas carols. 

12. First Night State CollegeState College, The AllegheniesDec. 31, 2014The family-friendly event in downtown State College offers more than 30 performances, including shows from musicians, comedians and jugglers, ice sculpture displays, ice skating, carriage rides and the 5K Resolution Run. 

13. Media’s New Year’s Eve Ball DropMedia, Philadelphia and the CountrysideDec. 31, 2014                                                                                                                        Media, a borough near Philadelphia, boasts a miniature Times Square on New Year’s Eve, featuring a midnight ball drop and live music from Philly Gumbo. 

14. New Year’s Eve Pickle DropDillsburg, Dutch Country RoadsDec. 31, 2014Dillsburg puts a pickled-vegetable spin on the traditional New Year’s Eve ball drop with its annual event, which includes the drop of a giant pickle at midnight on the square followed by fireworks. A smaller pickle, “Lil’ Dill,” will be dropped at 7pm in conjunction with Ireland’s midnight and to provide entertainment for family members who have an earlier bedtime. 

15. Silvester New Year’s Eve CelebrationHarmony, Pittsburgh and Its CountrysideDec. 31, 2014This family-friendly event celebrates Harmony’s German roots with 6 p.m. fireworks to recognize midnight in Germany, a pork and sauerkraut dinner and bleigiessen, the tradition of examining the shape of melted lead after it is dropped into water to predict fortunes for the upcoming year. 

16. Little Elves Workshop at The Hershey Story Museum
Hershey, Dutch Country RoadsSelect dates, Through Jan. 1, 2015Santa’s helpers bring their workshop to The Hershey Story Museum, where kids can roll, cut, decorate and package their own chocolate clay ornaments. 

17. Gingerbread House Competition and DisplayLahaska, Philadelphia and the CountrysideThrough Jan 3, 2015Peddler’s Village’s annual competition and display features lovingly crafted gingerbread cottages, barns, houses and reproductions of famous buildings. 

18. Pennypacker Mills TourSchwenksville, Philadelphia and the CountrysideThrough Jan. 4, 2015Exquisite Victorian decorations and historical demonstrations highlight tours of this richly decorated mansion inhabited by Pennsylvania Governor Samuel Pennypacker in the early 1900s. 

19. Trains, Trees and GingerbreadHamburg, Dutch Country RoadsThrough Jan. 31 2015Christmas trees featuring railroad-themed décor, elaborate gingerbread train stations and an impressive model railroad with modern and vintage locomotives make the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum a worthy stop for the whole family. 

20. Waterfront WinterfestPhiladelphia, Philadelphia and the CountrysideThrough Mar. 1, 2015Blue Cross RiverRink hosts Waterfront Winterfest, a pop-up winter garden and waterfront village featuring holiday lighting, shopping containers repurposed as retail shops, a bar and restaurant, and fire pits with rustic seating. 

- See more at: http://www.visitpa.com/articles/20-ways-celebrate-holidays-pa-towns?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=December+2014+Enews#sthash.cl9WdMHq.dpuf