The Music Hall + Strawbery Banke Museum Present
Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth The Entire Month of December 2012
Christmas Magic in Portsmouth
“If another city does a better job of celebrating Christmas, I have yet to find it.” – Yankee Magazine
“One of the ‘Top Ten Things Not to Miss in New England’” – Boston Globe
Plan the perfect holiday visit now!
Download your map/calendar (pdf)
It’s time to make plans now for the perfect holiday visit during Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth throughout the entire month of December 2012. Presented by cultural anchors Strawbery Banke Museum and The Music Hall, it’s a month of Strolls, Shows and Stayovers in the historic working seaport of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Listed as “one of the Top 100 Events in North America” (ABA) and “one of the Top Ten Things not to miss in New England” (Boston Globe), Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth has people returning year after year to the small city that Travel Guide of America calls “the crowning glory of the New Hampshire Seacoast.” Now in its eighth year, Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth will once again offer the irresistible Candlelight Stroll that Strawbery Banke Museum has created for 32 years, the live holiday shows, opera broadcasts and films in The Music Hall’s landmark Historic Theater and the intimate Music Hall Loft on Congress Street, and the welcoming stays in the elegant and delightful holiday downtown. Get ready to cuddle up with a free trolley ride through red-bricked Market Square, stroll through the snowflakes to the many eclectic shops, step back in time through living history at the festively decorated Strawbery Banke Museum, sample Portsmouth’s famous culinary specialties, or enjoy a first-class show at The Music Hall. Back by popular demand – the free Vintage Christmas Trolley shuttles patrons around the historic seaport each Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening for the first three weekends in December.
According to Patricia Lynch, executive director of The Music Hall, “Portsmouth is the perfect town for Vintage Christmas since it’s a charming mix of the contemporary and historical. It’s all about celebrating the winter, the warmth, the light, and our collective memories of holidays past. The Music Hall, with its landmark Victorian theater (one of the prettiest theaters in America!) is also the most popular New Hampshire performing arts center recognized nationally for its programming and Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth is no exception. Expect lavish decorations in the both the Historic Theater and the chic new Loft, top flight comedians spoofing the holidays, great holiday music from legends like Natalie MacMaster, literary events, and of course magical holiday treats. When I created Vintage Christmas back in 2005 and approached our partner Strawbery Banke Museum, I envisioned that Portsmouth could become the Christmas Capital of North America, and well 2012, here we are!”
Joining the two nonprofits this year will be Presenting Sponsors Churchill’s Garden Center; the City of Portsmouth; Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce; Seacoast Media Group; and The White Apron. Lead Sponsors include Holloway Automotive; Seacoast Local; and Weather Partner 107.1 WERZ. Great Bay Academy of Dance, which produces An 1836 Portsmouth Nutcracker at The Music Hall’s Historic Theater, will be participating as a Community Partner. A handy calendar/map will be available to visitors to make it easy to get around town. Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth also has its own website, VintageChristmasNH.org to make it even easier for visitors to plan their trips.
Vintage Christmas Updates
Twitter: @vintage_xmas
Facebook: /vintagexmas
Weather: Tune in to 107.1 WERZ for your Vintage Christmas Weather Update on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
