On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 December 2018, Manx National Heritage will host ‘A Taste of Victorian Christmas’ at the Grove Museum in Ramsey.
This special two day event includes the opportunity to see the Grove decorated for the festive season and experience the sights, sounds and smells of a Victorian Christmas.
Alan Kinvig, Museums and Site Manager for Manx National Heritage said:
“Many of the Christmas traditions we enjoy today were first made popular during the Victorian period. This Christmas, we invite you to see and experience ‘A Taste of Victorian Christmas’ at the Grove in Ramsey, which our staff team have been busy decorating in a traditional Victorian way”.
Musical entertainment will be provided by a local choir and bands including Ramsey Town Band, with a Victorian minstrel also on hand to entertain guests throughout the weekend. The smell and taste of festive cooking will be brought to life with roast chestnuts available in the yard, festive cakes and hot drinks from the conservatory and hot food cooked over a fire pit by the Train Smokers.
Father Christmas will make a special visit to the Grove for the entire weekend, although his appearance may bring about debate amongst young visitors…. rather than wearing his red festive outfit, he will instead be wearing green, representing the coming of spring.
Alan continued:
“Whilst in Ramsey, we’d also encourage our visitors to enjoy festive shopping in the town centre which offers some fabulous independent shops and take a visit to our friends at Milntown who will be hosting ‘A Christmas Past’.”
‘A Taste of Victorian Christmas’ is kindly supported by Lloyds Bank International and the event programme at the Grove includes:
Saturday 8 December
All day – Father Christmas, festive food and crafts and old fashioned lucky dip
11.15am to 11.45am – Ramsey Town Choir
12.30pm and 3.30pm – Storytelling in the barn
2pm to 3pm – Douglas Town Band
Sunday 9 December
All day – Father Christmas, festive food, crafts and old fashioned lucky dip
10.30am and 3pm – storytelling in the barn
1pm to 2pm – Encore Choir in the garden marquee
3pm to 3pm – Ramsey Town Band
3pm to 3.30pm – Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums
Admission costs £6 for adults. Free for children, Manx National Heritage Season Pass Holders and members of the Friends of Manx National Heritage.
Tickets to meet Father Christmas cost £3 on the day, with all children receiving a toy gift and fresh fruit to take home.