Gingerbread Village
Feast your eyes on gingerbread creations of all shapes and sizes from talented professional bakers, pastry chefs and non-professional bakers at Conner Prairie’s Gingerbread Village, Dec. 1-30, 2007. All entrants are judged privately and the first, second and third place winners are awarded cash prizes! See a festive display of gingerbread houses, churches and historic buildings with intricate designs and colorful trimmings! Kids can make ornaments and take in a holiday movie! Experience the sights and scents of the holidays as you explore Conner Prairie’s gallery filled with scrumptious gingerbread creations! Free with general admission of $4 per person ages 2 and older, free for members! Includes admission to Discovery Station. Open Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am-5pm and Sundays from 11am-5pm. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Gingerbread Village is made possible with support from our corporate sponsors: Sponsor - Regions Morgan Keegan Trust
Conner Prairie by Candlelight becomes more family-friendly while still offering authentic holiday alternative
Dec. 7-9, 14-16; 6-10:00pm - reservations recommended
Conner Prairie has put a new twist on an old favorite this year. Conner Prairie by Candlelight will still offer an escape from the hustle and bustle of the holidays with an authentic journey through the past but this year it will be more conducive to families with children.
“Guests who come to the 2007 version will definitely recognize the core program: they will meet many of the same characters as well as a few new ones,” said Rob Martin, Conner Prairie’s Museum Experience Manager. “But in contrast to past years, rather than being restricted to firm reservation times, tours will be more open-ended. We think this will benefit guests who arrive a little late, who may have small children with aversions to standing in the cold for extended periods of time, people who want to be more leisurely about their experiences inside the Museum Center, and folks who have wanted to interact more with the characters inside their homes rather than follow a strictly scripted program.”
Make It a Family Holiday Tradition
Bring the whole family to Conner Prairie by Candlelight to enjoy the candlelit world of Prairietown, where it’s December 24, 1836 and 21st-century holiday commotion slips away as the customs and beliefs of another era come alive. Christmas was not yet a national holiday in 1836 America, and celebrations varied throughout the country based on an individual's cultural background, and religious and personal beliefs. Some didn't recognize the holiday and went about their usual activities. Some considered Christmas celebrations sinful, associating its rituals with paganism. Some marked the holiday modestly while still others celebrated in grand style. This authentic window to the past offers a glimpse of how holiday celebrations evolved in America, from Christmas to Hanukkah to customs that dictated that there should be no celebrations at all.
“We wanted to give guests the best experience possible for this holiday program, and we know that by structuring this experience in the open-touring format, we will be presenting what our interpreters do best,” said Aili McGill, Conner Prairie’s Theater Specialist. “By freeing our interpreters from scripts, they will be able to follow guest’s interests and integrate guests into a more authentic slice of life in Indiana in 1836. What's more, not only will guests have the freedom to move among the houses as they choose, but we will also have new opportunities for interaction in the streets of Prairietown - an ongoing story will unfold this year, as a handful of merrymakers get themselves into and out of trouble, all while offering entertaining snippets of songs, speeches, and other spontaneous activities!”
Candlelit journeys will be offered, 6pm-10:00pm, December 7-9 and 14-16. Guests will still need to make reservations for a block of time: 6pm, 7pm or 8pm. Cost is $12 per adult and $10 per child ages 2-12 (members are $10 for adults and $8 for children and for groups of 15 or more admission is $11 for adults and $9 for children).
In addition to the Conner Prairie by Candlelight experience, Conner Prairie has made the food options more family-friendly. In the Museum Center, guests can participate in a cookie decorating station and visit with an 1880s Santa Claus. There will also be an option to purchase snacks from the Creamery, which guests can enjoy around a bonfire.
“Overall, this experience offers something for just about everybody: tradition for the Candlelight traditionalists, some innovation for folks who have ‘been there, done that,’ and an alternative to the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping for Candlelight veterans and newcomers, alike,” said Martin.
A Perfect Combination: Candlelight and Holiday Buffet
Couple your family's Candlelight adventure with a special holiday buffet in The Eatery. Open for holiday dining Dec. 7-9 and 14-16 from 5pm-9pm. Reservations are not required. Dinner options include:
Italian – spaghetti, breadsticks, salad, iced tea and lemonade. $8.95/adult, $5/youth (2-12).
American – hamburger, hot dog, tater tots, iced tea and lemonade. $6.95/adult, $3.95/youth (2-12).
Chili dinner – chili, cornbread, iced tea and lemonade. $4/adult or youth (2-12).
Add dessert or a visit to the cookie station for only $3/adult or youth (2-12).
Reservations
Reservations are required for Conner Prairie by Candlelight and can be made by calling the Guest Services Department at 317.776.6006 or 800.966.1836. Gift certificates are available.
The Gingerbread Village is also open until 10pm during the evenings of Conner Prairie by Candlelight and Discovery Station will be open until 9pm.
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Conner Prairie by Candlelight is made possible with support from our corporate sponsors:
Sponsor - A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc