About the Event
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Christmas traditions have changed drastically over the years, but most modern customs still reflect historic practices. Guests of Wade House can step back in time and explore these historic traditions at a special holiday event this December.
The Wisconsin Historical Society site hosts “A Wade House Christmas,” from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 14-15. The halls of the historic Wade House Stagecoach Hotel, built in 1850, will be decked out for the Christmas season, showcasing how the Wade Family and their many visitors would have celebrated the festive season. Engaging holiday activities will be available around the site, including live period music, tasty holiday treats, cookie decorating, performances by high school choral groups, crafts, and games. Santa carvings created by James Siegl, on loan from Christopher Farm and Garden, will also be on display.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, the Kohler High School Madrigal Singers will perform at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Plymouth High School Mistletones at 1 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 15, the Sheboygan North High School Northern Lights & Sharpettes will perform at noon, followed by the Random Lake High School Chamber Singers at 1 p.m.
All activities are included with general admission to the site. Admission is $15 for adults (ages 13-64), $13 for seniors (65+), and $7.50 for children (5-12). Children under five and Wisconsin Historical Society members are admitted for free.
About the Location
Wade House, an 1850s stagecoach inn built to serve traffic along the plank road that connected Fond du Lac and Sheboygan, tells the story of frontier entrepreneur Sylvanus Wade and his family during the Civil War years. In addition to the inn, the historic site includes the recently reconstructed Herrling sawmill, one of the few working, water-powered sawmills of its kind in the nation. Wade House is also home to the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum, which houses the state's largest collection of antique carriages and working wagons.
