NPS and Partners Host First Weekend Events on December 5 and 6

Date: November 24, 2015
Contact: Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist, [phone] (O); [phone] (C)

Superintendent John J. Donahue announced today that Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and its partners will be hosting a series of holiday events and winter activities on the first weekend of December. “First Weekend offers a unique opportunity for people to take a drive through the park and visit several of our partner-operated sites, participate in holiday events and outdoor programs, and shop for unique gifts while enjoying the scenic beauty and history of the park,” said Donahue. “It’s a great way to get in the spirit of the holiday season and a chance for people to learn about old traditions while making new ones.”

Programs and events in NJ include: Millbrook Village will host a Victorian Christmas Celebration from 11am to 4pm On Saturday, December 5. Historic homes will be decorated for Christmas in the Victorian style while costumed guides prepare holiday meals over woodstoves and open hearths and craftsmen ply their trades. Hands-on activities, old fashioned toys, games, and crafts will be offered for children. 

A Christmas Carol Service will be offered in the Millbrook Village Church from 5 to 8 pm on Sunday, December 6. Light refreshments will be served in the Van Campen Farmhouse following the program. Come out and sing along to your favorite Christmas songs alongside costumed guides. 

Montague Association for the Restoration of Community History (MARCH) is hosting several Old Fashioned Holiday Weekends at the Foster Armstrong House in Montague, NJ. The 1790’s house will be decorated for Christmas with several special exhibits. This year’s theme is “101 Snowmen in a Winter Wonderland.” The Foster-Armstrong House is open from 1 to 4 pm on November 28 and 29, December 5 and 6, and December 12 and 13. 

Enjoy a Walpack Christmas at the Rosenkrans Museum and the Walpack Methodist Episcopal Church in the historic village of Walpack Center on December 5 and 6 and December 11 and 12 from 1pm to 5 pm. Both buildings will be decorated for the holidays and staffed with volunteers from the Walpack Historical Society.

Visit the Peters Valley Gallery at Peters Valley School of Craft this holiday season for wonderful handcrafted items sure to please everyone on your gift list. Come relax with a cup of hot cider as you browse two floors and fabulous work. Friendly, knowledgeable sales staff with help you find the perfect gift. Artists will be demonstrating their craft on Saturdays and Sundays throughout December and the gallery is open every day in December from 10am-6pm. Visit the online store at www.PetersValleyGallery.org. 

Programs and events in PA include:
Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is offering a Winter Ecology Hike on Sunday, December 6 from 10am to -12pm. Learn how different plants and animals survive the cold winter months. All ages are welcome. The hike is free for Members and $5 for Non-members. Make reservations at www.peec.org or call [phone].

Search for Eagles with Jack Padalino of the Paul F-Brandwein Institute on Sunday, December 6 from 8 am to 4 pm. Participants will meet at Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry, PA at 8 am, or at the Historic Callahan House on Route 209 in Milford, PA at 10 am, and will caravan to popular eagle watching locations along the Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers. There is no charge, but reservations are necessary. Call [phone] or email [e-mail] for more information or to register. Search for Eagle programs will be offered on the first Sunday of each month from December until March.