Westfield Heritage Village

 

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire

Christmas at Westfield a Feast for the Senses

 

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the scent of freshly baked bread, cinnamon, hot popcorn, fresh pine and cedar.  Envision twinkling hearths and lanterns, a brilliant display of fireworks lighting up the winter sky, a candlelit table laid with a gorgeous Victorian Christmas dinner.  Hear the sounds of traditional music wafting through the crisp night air, the hearty laugh of Father Christmas, the clatter of a woodstove being stoked.   Taste the sweetness of an old-fashioned candy stick, a steaming cup of hot cider, a morsel of roasted chestnut, sprinkled with salt.  Feel the crunch of snow as you make your way down a country road, and the surge of warm air on your face as you enter a cozy log cabin.  Does this sound too good to be true?  Westfield Heritage Village will be the setting for this feast of sensory delights during its ‘Twas the Night before Christmas, program, which will take place on the evenings of December 7^th, 14^th and 21^st from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Lit by lanterns and candlelight, the village is a magical place for families and children of all ages.  At Westfield you can step back in time and enjoy the sights, sounds, aromas and tastes of Christmas in the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras.
The program on Saturday December 7 will be a special evening for music lovers.  The extraordinary Rosewood Consort, directed by Bob Rivers, is an elite group who perform a repertoire of Early and Baroque music on a full range of recorders, from Sopranino through Contra Bass, supported by Harpsichord and Viola da Gamba.  From 7:00 -8:00 pm, they will present A Rosewood Christmas at Westfield, a rich programme of seasonal music developed specifically for this event.  The group has offered a special invitation to visitors, especially children, to bring their singing voices, as there will be many opportunities to join in.

Visitors to the village can explore the more than thirty-five historical buildings decorated in their holiday best, meet costumed interpreters and have a special visit with jolly Father Christmas.  Young ones especially will enjoy a holiday craft in the one room log schoolhouse.  One-of-a-kind Christmas items are available for sale in the Gift shop.  A magnificent fireworks display will light up the skies at 6:30 p.m. 

Hungry visitors can enjoy moderately priced light fare in the Ironwood Hall, including warm homemade soup, sandwiches, baked goods and hot chocolate.  Visit the General Store to purchase old fashioned sweet treats.  Munch on some free, hot popcorn as you take in the sights and sounds of the village.  Samples of warm, fresh bread, baked in the village’s hearths and ovens, will be available.

In the spirit of the season, Westfield will be accepting donations of non-perishable food items for distribution to local food banks. 

Westfield Heritage Village celebrates ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on Saturdays, December 7^th, 14^th and 21^st from 5:00-9:00 pm.  Christmas in the Country will take place on Sunday, December 15 from 12 noon to 4:00 pm.  Admission is $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and people with disabilities, and $6.50 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Westfield Heritage Village is located at 1049 Kirkwall Road (Regional Road 552) in Rockton, just off Highway 8 between Hamilton and Cambridge. For more information please call 519-621-8851 or visit www.westfieldheritage.ca