The historic Christmas traditions of Texas in the 1800s will transport visitors into the past at the day-long Christmas on the Brazos celebration at the Washington on the Brazos State Historic Site, Saturday, December 13. Free and low-cost holiday activities for all ages include period music, craft making, readings, food samplings and sale of artisan gifts, culminating in the park’s popular Candlelight Christmas event at the Barrington Living History Farm featuring vignettes of Texian frontier festivities with music, musket firing, dancing and a candlelit tour of the farm.
Many holiday activities occur throughout the day at the historic site, including:
Independence Hall: Christmas stories will be read in the Hall by staff in period clothing at 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm
The Star of the Republic Museum will host “make-and-take” period crafts in its Discovery Room from 11am to 3pm (regular admission fees; no charge for the crafts); museum open from 10am to 5pm
The site’s Visitor Center will be open from 10am – 6pm and will offer music, merchandise made by Texas artisans and samplings of local Texas fare. In a nod to the 21st century, a Christmas tree and Santa Claus will be there for photo opps (all free).
Barrington Living History Farm will be open from noon until 4pm and then will close for one hour to prepare for its Candlelight Christmas event that starts at 5pm and lasts until 9pm (with the last tour leaving at 8pm)
Candlelight Christmas at the Barrington Farm welcomes its guests into the 1850s and fills their senses with the sights, sounds and smells of yesteryear against the backdrop of a star-filled night sky: smoke and flames from the wood fireplace and bonfire in the field; flickering lanterns and candlelit paths; gunfire and cheers from a rowdy band of Texian revelers. The evening includes a tour of the historic home of the last president of the Republic of Texas, Dr. Anson Jones, as interpreters recreate how that family would have enjoyed Christmas, including an 1850s Santa. The slave quarters will also be decorated in typical style for the 1850s. Each tour culminates in a barn dance where visitors are welcome to join in.
The Candlelight Christmas evening event consists of guided tours for small groups that each last approximately an hour, with tours leaving every 15 minutes starting at 5pm; last tour leaves at 8pm. Advance reservations are strongly recommended at Barrington.Farm@tpwd.texas.gov or (936) 878-2214, ext. 246. Regular admission fees will apply. Visitors should dress appropriately for the weather and uneven walking surfaces since the event will take place throughout the farm.
“Christmas on the Brazos” and Candlelight Christmas will be held Saturday, December 13, at Washington on the Brazos State Historical Park, 23400 Park Rd, Washington, TX – off Highway 105 between Navasota and Brenham on FM 1155 at Park Road 12. Visitors are welcome to bring food and drink into the park, but no glass bottles or alcoholic beverages are allowed. As always, parking is free.
Leashed pets are allowed in park, but are NOT allowed onto farm site or inside buildings. Sites are accessible for the mobility impaired. For additional details call (936) 878-2214 ext 246. The park grounds open at 8am and close at 10pm
More detailed information on this and all WOB events are continually updated at www.wheretexasbecametexas.org; the public can also call (936) 878-2214 for more information.
