While the the first weekend in December is historically the last chance in a calendar year in which people may visit the American Independence Museum, Colonial Holiday Tea represents a departure from this formula.
“We wanted to create a new program this year that would extend our season a little bit,” explained Executive Director Emma Bray. “Our new Colonial Holiday Tea is the result of this effort, and we think it provides visitors of all ages with the perfect opportunity to enjoy a colonial-inspired experience during the festive holiday season.”
At the event, which takes place on Saturday, December 1 and 8, guests will enjoy “a relaxed, festive tea” provided by colonial inspired caterers, For the Love of Food and Drink. In addition to an array of teas, guests will be served food, which will include assorted finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and tarts.
“We intend the event to be an engaging holiday event for all ages–whether with friends, mothers and daughters, entire families, or groups,” said the museum’s Victoria Su, who is organizing the event.
Guests will dine in three of the ground floor rooms of historic Folsom Tavern in which George Washington enjoyed a meal during his 1789 visit to Exeter.
“The tavern is beautifully decorated for the holidays, so the ambiance is so festive,” said Su, who said the event will also provide visitors with the opportunity to make colonial crafts.
‘You can make mulling spices and lavender sachets, and you can try quill pen writing and write gift tags or letters to Santa,” she added. “We will also have a pop-up gift shop set up in the tavern for some historic holiday shopping.”
Seatings for Colonial Holiday Tea are 11 am and 2 pm on Saturday, December 1 and December 8. Each Tea is 2-hours long and will be more rustic than a traditional Victorian or high tea.
“It will bring the tavern to life, much like we imagine it might have been during our nation’s Revolutionary beginnings,” said Bray. “The emphasis is on lively, fun, and festive.”
Pre-registration is required. To purchase tickets, or to learn more about Colonial Holiday Tea, visit www.independencemuseum.org.
About the American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum is a history museum in Exeter, NH that features a collection of 3,000 historic artifacts that shed light on the American Revolution. Many of our programs touch on civics and the fight for independence, while we incorporate inclusivity and diversity into the experiences we create on-site and in digital formats. We feature a variety of things to do for people of all ages, including festivals, an historic tavern, guided tours and our annual American Independence Festival.