Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village is kicking off its season early this year with pre-sale tickets available to members started Friday, Oct. 14. The popular holiday event will return with dates in November and December, inviting visitors to step into the past and celebrate New England holiday traditions of the 19th-century and today.

New to Christmas by Candlelight in 2022, the Asa Knight Store will feature six trees during the event representing the different decades of the 1800s sponsored by Oakwood Farms. Free ornament craft will be offered to guests as a hands-on activity. The Bixby House will be mulling cider, and Salem Towne House will be baking gingerbread, and other holiday treats will be offered across the Village. Also this year, Richardson House will be showcasing an international Christmas for the first time, with themes drawn from Puerto Rican traditions featured this year.

The event will also see the return of many favorite holiday activities, including some experiences that have been on hiatus for the past two seasons due to COVID-19. Highlights of the 2022 event will include:

Sights & Scenes of Christmas – Old Sturbridge Village’s 200-acre campus will be decorated for the holiday season. Guests can wander the Christmas Tree Trail and Christmas Wish Bridge, ride in the horse-drawn carry-all, enjoy a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, visit the 500+ piece nativity set and view Christmas décor from the 1830s, 1850s, and 1870s.

Holiday Traditions Recreated – Demonstrations will be taking place throughout the event, including making woolen ornaments and authentic marzipan, knitting Christmas stockings, baking cakes, punching tin lanterns, making pottery and more. Guests can participate in candle dipping on-site for an additional fee.

Storytelling – Readings of stories like “The Nativity Gospel of Saint Luke,” “The Nativity Gospel of Saint Matthew,” and classic Christmas tales such as “The Night Before Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and more.

Live Music – Performances of live, festive music by costumed interpreters, musicians and bands in the Center Meetinghouse.

Festive Food- A variety foods and beverages available for purchase at various locations throughout the museum, including treats being made in the Village, baked goods, hot beverages, and specialty cocktails by the bonfire.

Visits with Santa – Santa Claus will make an appearance each night for little ones to tell him their special Christmas wish.

Holiday Shopping – Unique and handcrafted items, many of which are being demonstrated during Christmas by Candlelight, will be available at the Miner Grant Store and The Ox & Yoke Mercantile each evening during the event.

Tickets must be purchased online, in advance for Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village. Tickets for the event are on sale now to members for a special, member-only discount of 20% off standard admission. Ticket sales will launch to the general public on Oct. 27 with early bird rates (10% off) through Nov. 17.