We're Sooooooo Bored!!

PHMC/Erie Maritime Museum and US Brig Niagara

Whatever winter holiday you celebrate (and whenever you celebrate it), chances are that you and/or some members of your family will be on vacation from school or work between December 25 and January 1. Maybe you have out-of-town guests visiting, too.

Does this sound familiar? “We're soooooo bored.” “Entertain me.” “[Whiiiiiiine].”

And that’s just the grown-ups.

If you’re looking for something to do with sugar-crazed children, cranky in-laws, or just yourself, check out the Trails of History. All PHMC historic sites and museums will be closed on December 25 and January 1. Other than that, site schedules vary (some are also closed Dec. 24 and 31, for example). Due to seasonal closings and reduced schedules, be sure to check with specific sites for details. In addition to regular offerings, a handful of sites will have special programs during that wonderful/stressful week of family and friend togetherness.

Ephrata Cloister
Dec. 27-30: Lantern Tours—presentations by Ephrata’s Junior Historians, working with staff and volunteers, bring dramatic focus to the history of the site. This year’s program, “The Bloody Theater or Martyr’s Mirror,” explores the creation and strange fate of the largest book printed in America before 1776 (it was printed at Ephrata). Admission is charged for this evening program and reservations are required (call the site at (717) 733-6600).

Erie Maritime Museum
Dec. 27-30: Marx Train Layout--in addition to the Museum's regular exhibits, the train layout put up for the museum's Christmas program will remain in place until New Year's. Volunteers will be running the trains, so stop by for a look.

Joseph Priestley House
Jan. 2: Twelfth Day program—Join in on a traditional English manor house celebration and wrap up the Christmas season. Regular admission charged. Tour Dr. Priestley’s home and see chemistry demonstrations in the Pond Building at 2 pm. (The site is otherwise closed to the public until March.)

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
Dec. 28-29: Winter Day Camp—crafts, games, and open hearth cooking help to liven up that week off from school between Christmas and New Year’s; sign up for either or both days (discounts available for members, multi-day registrations, or multiple children from the same family).

State Museum of Pennsylvania
Dec. 26, 29-30: Season of Light planetarium show—a look at how many of our modern traditions trace their roots to winter festivals of long ago. Fee charged in addition to museum admission; check website for scheduled showings.
Dec. 30: Noon Year’s Eve—this program provides young children and their families with a special New Year’s celebration of their own; playtime, crafts, snacks, and the Firefly drop at noon are part of the fun. Included in museum admission.

Washington Crossing Historic Park
Dec. 25: Christmas Day Crossing—the annual reenactment of the 1776 crossing of the Delaware River by George Washington and his troops prior to the Battle of Trenton.