Candlelight Evening Returns to The Farmers Museum on December 10

Event features expanded hours with new children’s activities in the afternoon.

Candlelight Evening

The Farmers’ Museum, Cooperstown, NY

Saturday, December 10, 2022 • 1:00-7:00 p.m.

Tickets are limited and only available online through Eventbrite.com

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Visit The Farmers’ Museum in Cooperstown, New York for the long-awaited return of one of the region’s best-loved holiday traditions, Candlelight Evening. The event takes place Saturday, December 10, with new expanded hours from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets are limited and only available online through Eventbrite.com. Find a link at FarmersMuseum.org.

The landscape of the museum is adorned with greenery and aglow with hundreds of luminaries. Real jingle bells add to the magic of the evening as horses dressed in harness bells pull wagons carrying visitors through the museum’s snowy grounds. Gather around a bonfire on the tavern green and partake of complimentary wassail made with local cider–warming in kettles over open fires and served throughout the event. Delicious food and hot drinks are also available at the museum’s Crossroads Cafe.

Candlelight Evening is unforgettable for children. The new expanded hours allow for more family fun in the afternoon, starting with children’s crafts (1:00–5:00 p.m.) and a visit from St. Nicholas (2:00–6:00 p.m.), both in the museum’s Louis C. Jones Center. The Empire State Carousel is open for riding throughout the event. Hear readings of the classic story 'Twas The Night Before Christmas every half-hour in the Schoolhouse from 2:00–5:00 p.m.

Also in the Louis C. Jones Center in the Main Barn, visitors can practice caroling (4:45–5:15 p.m.), interact with Ebenezer Scrooge while reading lines from the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol (5:00–6:00 p.m.), and learn a traditional reel or folk dance (6:00–7:00 p.m.).

Music and live performances bring Candlelight Evening to life. Hear the sounds of the holidays throughout the museum’s grounds. From 2:00–6:30 p.m., see performances from Ah-Coopella and folk singer/songwriterKevin McKrell as they fill the historic Cornwallville Church with music of the season. (See the full performance schedule at FarmersMuseum.org.) Sing along with the cast of the museum's upcoming production of A Christmas Carol on the porch of historic Bump Tavern (5:00–5:30 and 6:00–6:30 p.m.). Visitors are encouraged to join in the caroling at any time through the evening in the midst of our candle-lit historic buildings.

Candlelight Evening is another chance to shop for the holidays. Stop at The Farmers’ Museum Store and Todd’s General Store, each offering a large selection of products made in New York State–as well as toys, books, jewelry and other items you can only find at the museum. Museum Members receive 20% off!

Candlelight Evening is sponsored in part by NYCM Insurance, Stewart’s Shops, and Five Star Subaru.

Tickets: Tickets are limited and only available online through Eventbrite.com. You can find a link at FarmersMuseum.org. Adults (13-64): $15.00, Seniors (65+): $12.50, Juniors (7-12): $6.00, Children (6 and younger): FREE—prices do not include Eventbrite fees. Museum Members are FREE and can reserve online.

Parking and Shuttle: Visitors can utilize a free shuttle service starting at 2:30 p.m. from several parking areas in Cooperstown including the Village of Cooperstown’s Yellow trolley lot, Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown Elementary School, and possibly others.  Please visit FarmersMuseum.org for updated parking and shuttle information. Visitors can also walk from the village and enter through the museum’s south admission gate. Visitors should dress warm as most activities take place outdoors.

The Farmers’ Museum is located at 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Visit FarmersMuseum.org for more information.