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Colonial Christmas Shines at Bedminster’s Vanderveer House

Bedminster’s historic Jacobus Vanderveer House celebrates their 21st holiday season with Colonial Christmas.

Who likes history? Who likes Christmas? There’s a tradition that’s been going on 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 thing), has transformed into one of the most beautifully restored revolutionary war era federal homes in America. But it’s colonial Christmas where a local non-profit is combining history, tourism, tradition, and a whole bunch of  Christmas spirit. Put them all together and you’ve got one fantastic event.

‘Tis the Season

Festivities will include Photos with Santa, Live Holiday Music, a Reading of The Night Before Christmas, Surprise Holiday Pull, Poinsettia Sale and Decorating your own Gingerbread Man! Join us 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 you things, and it brings you into the Christmas season spirit. Not to mention it’s a great way to use such a great historic venue. Because once a historic site is repaired, the most important thing that can be done 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 is open!

The Mr Local History 2022 Holiday Edition Magazine
Congratulations to the Jacobus Vanderveer Colonial Christmas for making the Mr Local History 2022 Holiday Edition magazine cover.

Colonial Christmas takes place normally on the last weekend of November and the first week of December at the Jacobus Vanderveer House and Museum, also know as the General Knox Headquarters. Sponsored by a non-profit organization called the Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House, Colonial Christmas brings the community together, celebrates history, celebrates colonial Christmas, and reminds everyone that this New Jersey area is truly part of America’s heritage and the cockpit of the American Revolution. Colonial Christmas is the Friends annual fundraiser and it’s 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 kicks off with a holiday tree lighting on the grounds of the historic Jacobus Vanderveer House just of Route 202/206 in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Colonial Christmas is an event that’s been sponsored for the last sixteen years at the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster, New Jersey. Home to New Jerseys premier colonial Christmas event, they’ve been celebrating Christmas “Colonial Style” in style only found in Colonial Williamsburg.

Hanging lanterns were part of past Colonial Christmas events at the Vanderveer House. Don't miss this great event.
Hanging lanterns were part of a previous Colonial Christmas at the Vanderveer House.

Local Artisan Vendors

There are a variety of reasons why people attend Colonial Christmas.  “There’s so much to see at Colonial Christmas, we can’t tell you how excited we are to come every year,” noted a couple who visits every year.

There is a fantastic local shopping experience where visitors can get typically locally made gifts.

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 just 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 while they greet visitors and tell stories of little Julia Knox and the winter General Knox built America’s first military academy at the foothills just down the road. Not many people realize that America’s first West Point was here a full 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

In 2012, the Friends showcased the commissioned painting of General Henry Knox at Pluckemin. An exhibition of paintings by noted American landscape artist John Phillip Osborne, including the unveiling of a specially commissioned painting of  Gen. Henry Knox.  Exhibit courtesy of the Stringer Gallery, Bernardsville. Colonial holiday decorations by David Mitchell, Artistic Director, Still Life Fine Event Design, Harding, NJ.

Trustees of the Friends of the Vanderveer House introduced a new painting depicting General Henry Knox at Pluckemin during the winter of 1778.

Event Details

Visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org to learn more about Colonial Christmas. And be careful….you might just learn something about one of the most forgotten General’s of the American revolution.

Tell them Mr. Local History sent you!

Mr Local History

Additional Local History

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