Towson Invited to 'Holidays at Hampton'

From Hampton National Historic Site: Get into the holiday spirit early with “Holidays at Hampton” where the public can celebrate the season at Hampton National Historic Site. Visitors will experience over 2 centuries of holiday traditions at Towson’s only National Park – all of the festivities are free and open to the public. Special evening tours, period crafts, live music and songs of the season, African American storytelling and holiday shopping in the gift shop are just part of the revelries taking place during the “Holidays at Hampton” Yuletide weekend of Saturday, December 10 through Sunday, December 11, 2016.

“Find Your Park”! This year, Hampton NHS also celebrates the Centennial of the National Park Service – when Hampton Plantation became a National Park in 1948, it was the first National Park designated for its architectural significance. From the Mansion described in 1790 as a “palace in the wilderness” to the authentic stone Slave Quarters to the original Lower House/Overseer's house, feel the magic of the holiday season like you’ve never felt it before at Hampton National Historic Site this December!

Free parking and continuous shuttle bus service available from the Towson United Methodist Church up the street from Hampton NHS at 501 Hampton Lane. Times of shuttle bus are: Saturday, December 10th, 12 pm - 9 pm and Sunday, December 11th, 12 pm - 6 pm.

Here are some of the festivities visitors can enjoy for FREE at Hampton NHS:

Saturday, December 10th: Period Activities and Crafts; Mansion Tours 10 am - 4 pm

• 10 am and 11 am: Hourly Guided House Tours off the Mansion will be offered at 10 & 11 am
• 1 pm - 4 pm: “Open House” starts at 1PM. Hampton Mansion will feature an open house where visitors will be able to walk through at their own pace. Park staff & docents will tell the exciting stories of Hampton at Yuletide. Each room will highlight how Christmas was celebrated at different periods the Ridgely family lived at Hampton, from 1783 - 1948. Learn how the holidays were observed by the Ridgely family and enslaved African Americans.
• Noon - 4 pm: Period arts and crafts in the Lower House for the entire family: make pomanders, corn husk dolls, “vintage” holiday cards & popcorn garlands.
• 2 pm - 3 pm: Join Park Ranger and storyteller Anokwale as she recounts “Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters” and leads a tour of the original Farmhouse and slave quarters. Take this opportunity to learn how the enslaved African Americans celebrated the holiday season.
• 1 pm - 3 pm and 6 pm - 8 pm: Live music in the Mansion’s Great Hall led by professional harpist Elaine Bryant.
• 3 pm - 5 pm - Live music in the mansion's parlor. Gifted musician, Anita Avery will play the historic circa 1810 Piano Forte.
• 6 pm - 8 pm: Saturday Evening “Candlelight” Open House: The ONLY time of the year you can see Hampton at night! Come visit the historic mansion in all its holiday finery. 6 pm - 8 pm: In the new Visitor Contact Station: Enjoy Christmas while The Larks sing popular songs of the season. Hot cider and cookies will be given to all visitors!

Sunday, December 11th: 10 am - 4 pm

• 10 am, 11 am: Hourly Guided Tours of the Mansion
• Noon - 1 pm: African American Storytelling at the Lower House: Join Ranger and storyteller Anowkale as she describes the Yuletide season at Hampton from the enslaved African-American perspective.
• Noon - 4 pm: Period arts and crafts in the Lower House for the entire family: make pomanders, corn husk dolls, “vintage” holiday cards & popcorn garlands.
• 1 pm - 4 pm: Silhouettes! Visit the Lower House and get a hand-made silhouette. Such silhouettes were given as gifts during the holiday season in the early 1800s. Laura Muney is an award-winning artist of traditional silhouettes. First come, first served, free to the public.
• 1 pm - 4 pm: “Open House” starts at 1 pm. Hampton Mansion will feature an open house where visitors will be able to walk through at their own pace. Park staff & docents will be available to tell the exciting stories of Hampton at Yuletide. Each room will highlight how Christmas was celebrated at different periods during which the Ridgely family lived at Hampton, from 1790 - 1948. Learn how the holidays were observed by the Ridgely family, their enslaved African Americans and European indentured servants on the estate.
• 1 pm - 4 pm: Enjoy live harp music in the Great Hall! Performed by the talented harpist, Elaine Bryant.
• 2 pm - 3 pm: The Pleasant Hope Baptist Church will ring in the spirit of the season to Hampton while singing Christmas carols at the Visitor Contact Station.
• 10 am - 4 pm: In the Orangery: Enjoy The National Park Service's Centennial Celebration and Hampton National Historic Site on "Find Your Park: How Hampton became a National Historic Site and the National Park Service's Centennial!

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