In New Paltz, the place to be for a sense of immersion in the Spirit of Christmas Past is of course Historic Huguenot Street. It’s also the place where our annual Community Tree-Lighting is held, and that commences with a Light Parade beginning at 7 p.m. this Friday, December 6. Immediately thereafter, the New Paltz Reformed Church will host a free holiday concert in its sanctuary, featuring the Olive Quintet, while kids and parents queue up to have their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus on the Deyo House porch.
It’s a good idea to arrive as soon as it’s getting dark, however, because there’s plenty of festivity happening before the tree-lighting. Special one-hour Victorian-themed stone house tours, featuring costumed interpreters portraying Huguenot Street’s past residents, start happening at 4:30 p.m. From 5 to 8 p.m., Local at Heart will host its annual Cookie Walk at the DuBois Fort Visitor Center. Also at 5, the Reformed Church opens a preview of its annual Craft Fair in the Wullschleger Education Building across the street; if you fancy carrying a paper lantern in the Light Parade, this is where you can purchase one. At 5:45 p.m., the front steps of the church welcome chilled, hungry visitors for its annual tradition sharing Soup and Stoop, for free.
The Holiday on Huguenot Street tours continue on Saturday, December 7, setting forth at noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. At 15-minute intervals from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Historic Huguenot Street will host horsedrawn wagon rides along the street, departing from the DuBois Fort. The Museum Shop at Historic Huguenot Street will be selling holiday-themed goods from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the Cookie Walk relocates to the Reformed Church lawn from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The church’s Craft Fair continues from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and its Christmas Café happens in the Social Hall at 92 Huguenot Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a free holiday concert featuring the Big Blue Big Band in the Church’s sanctuary.
Tickets for wagon rides cost $5 for riders aged 4 and up. To register for house tours, visit https://huguenotstreet.z2systems.com/np/clients/huguenotstreet/eventRegistration.jsp?event=1727. For more information, visit www.huguenotstreet.org/holiday-2019.
Join the family! 
