Bedminster Township’s Jacobus Vanderveer House Colonial Christmas event is back! We look forward to you joining us on November 28-30 for Bedminster’s Colonial Christmas, starting with their annual Tree Lighting, a free public event featuring carolers, hot chocolate and hot pretzels, Santa, and an Open House!
Tree Lighting Friday, November 28 (5 to 7 pm)
Colonial Christmas Open House- Saturday, November 29 (11 to 4 pm)
Cocktail Party – Saturday, November 29 (7 to 9 pm)
Who likes history? Who likes Christmas? A tradition occurred just after Thanksgiving at a beautifully restored colonial home in Bedminster, New Jersey. The event is called Colonial Christmas, and it’s time to recognize what a great event it is. Called the Jacobus Vanderveer House (pronounced Jake-O- Bus Vander Veer – it’s a Dutch name), it has been transformed into one of the most beautifully restored Revolutionary War-era federal homes in America. However, it’s a colonial Christmas, where a local non-profit combines history, tourism, tradition, and the spirit of Christmas. Put them all together, and you’ve got one fantastic event.
‘Tis the Season
Festivities include Photos with Santa, Live Holiday Music, Reading The Night Before Christmas, a Holiday Wine Pull, and Decorating your Gingerbread Man! Join them for complimentary hot cocoa and pretzels around the fire pit with Colonial Re-enactors. The Liberty Tree typically gets lit at 5:00 pm. This interpretative event has it all. It teaches some colonial holiday traditions and helps you get into the Christmas spirit. Not to mention, it’s a great way to use such a great historic venue. Once a historic site is repaired, the most important thing is to bring that history to life. Stories can be told. Traditions can be handed down from generation to generation. And best of all, the historic facility will be open once again!
Colonial Christmas takes place the last weekend in November and the first weekend of December at the Jacobus Vanderveer House and Museum, also known as the 1779 General Knox Headquarters during the Revolutionary War. Now under the direction of Bedminster Township, Colonial Christmas brings the community together, celebrates the history of colonial Christmas, and reminds everyone that this New Jersey area is part of America’s heritage and the epicenter of the American Revolution. Colonial Christmas is Bedminster’s annual fundraiser, and it’s the only opportunity to raise funds for programs at the house. The Vanderveer House served as the Headquarters of General Henry Knox, the father of the American Artillery during the Revolutionary War.
Colonial Christmas has been sponsored at the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster, New Jersey. Home to New Jersey’s premier colonial Christmas event, it celebrates Christmas “Colonial Style” in a style found only in one other place in America, Colonial Williamsburg.
Colonial History – General Henry Knox and the Pluckemin Cantonment
Whether you come to see the colonial house, the beautiful handmade decorations, the fresh-cut trees, the antiques on loan, or to get into the spirit of the holidays, there’s plenty to see and do at Colonial Christmas. Even Santa attends! Carolers attend, storytelling for the kids, boutique shopping, and, yes, colonial history. Actors and reenactors are dressed as they greet visitors and tell the story of little Julia Knox and the winter General Knox spent building America’s first military academy at the foothills just down the road. Not many people realize that America’s first West Point was here 23 years before the USMA at West Point. That’s just another reason to see the house.
Historic Artist Rendering of Knox’s Pluckemin Cantonment
Make sure you check out the commissioned painting of General Henry Knox at Pluckemin. The exhibition features paintings by noted American landscape artist John Phillip Osborne, of a specially commissioned painting of Gen. Henry Knox. The exhibit was courtesy of the Stringer Gallery, Bernardsville.
Related Local History
Holiday Stories from Mr. Local History
Jersey Businesses That Have A Line Out the Door Every Christmas Eve
Views: 4,611 One thing is for sure: You can guarantee that each of these businesses in New Jersey will have lines out the door and down the block every Christmas… Read More »Jersey Businesses That Have A Line Out the Door…
Mr. Local History 2025 Holiday Gift Giving Guide / Magazine
Views: 174 Sneak Preview: If you got the word, you get the head start on the End Of Year Holiday News, Specials, Events, and MLH Stories The magazine is free… Read More »Mr. Local History 2025 Holiday Gift Giving Guide /…
Basking Ridge Christmas Eve On the Green – Watch on Your Device
The town of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, welcomes its annual Christmas Eve Sing on The Town Green at 7pm on Dec. 24th.
The Exclusive New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Keepsake Collection
Views: 14,312 The MLH Project is proud to be the exclusive reseller of the New Jersey Historic Wooden Keepsake Collection, created by the world-famous Cat’s Meow Village. Made in the… Read More »The Exclusive New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Keepsake Collection
Holiday Tradition – Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Community Sing
The town of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, welcomes its 100th anniversary Christmas Eve Sing on The Town Green at 7pm on Dec. 24, 2023. The town’s residents, friends, and guests gather to sing traditional carols and celebrate local history, documented…
Basking Ridge Town Center Live Cam – Come for a Virtual Visit
Views: 7,657 How’s life in Basking Ridge? Check in on the Basking Ridge Town Greene from atop the Presbyterian Church. Signature downtown village events to check in on:Saturday, May 17, 2025… Read More »Basking Ridge Town Center Live Cam – Come for…
The Basking Ridge Christmas Tree and BRFCo and the Boot are Tied Together Forever
Every year, the Basking Ridge Fire Department erects a locally donated 30-foot evergreen tree on the town green. The fire personnel also decorate the tree which becomes a central piece for the town’s holiday celebrations.
Keepsake: Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Caroling on the Green
Views: 9,521 The Governor of New Jersey’s Historic Keepsake Village has decreed that a new icon should be added to the New Jersey Historic Wooden Village Collection, expanding the exclusive… Read More »Keepsake: Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Caroling on the Green
SHOP LOCAL – Small Business Saturday is Everyday at Mr. Local History!
Views: 2,513 The Mr. Local History Project is probably the “smallest of small businesses” and needs your support. We have great gifts that bring fun and memorable local history to… Read More »SHOP LOCAL – Small Business Saturday is Everyday at…
Who Brings Their Jersey Village Collectibles out Just for the Holidays?
Views: 852 We have been told a terrible rumor. Is it true? Do some people bring out their Jersey Cat’s Meow collectibles only for the holidays? Read on…. Yes, we… Read More »Who Brings Their Jersey Village Collectibles out Just for…
Holiday Greeting Cards are all about Local
Views: 2,524 Join Bernardsville and Basking Ridge as they kick off the holiday season, as our Mr. Local History Holiday cards represent the best of the holidays for the villages… Read More »Holiday Greeting Cards are all about Local
Our Readers’ Top 10 MLH Posts this Week
