WAYNESBORO – Renfrew Museum and Park welcomed families Saturday for its annual Christmas on the Farm celebration, offering a host of historic and festive activities to ring in the holiday season. The event, held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 1010 E. Main St., featured historic demonstrations, musical performances, and activities for children.
Visitors could partake in Hearth Cooking demonstrations, where historical interpreters shared 19th-century cooking techniques. A popular draw was the Horse-drawn Wagon Rides along Fahnestock Lane, requiring a wristband for the ride.
Musical entertainment was provided by Scott Matlock, who played traditional holiday music on the violin at the Wagon Shed. The performances were 30-minutes long, with limited seating available.
Children enjoyed visiting the Warming Circle to get cozy around a firepit and make s’mores, with kits available for purchase. They also kept an eye out for Belsnickel or “Nicholas in Furs,” the storied Pennsylvania Dutch folk figure known to reward good children with treats.
Santa Claus was present for photos Saturday, with his helpers from the Brothers of the Brush available to sprinkle Christmas magic. The museum offered tours of the Museum House, a decorated example of 19th- and 20th-century holiday celebrations.
The Visitors Center served as a hub for shopping and activities, including the Renfrew Cocoa Stand and Make-and-take pre-packaged kits for historically inspired crafts, such as Victorian scrap art ornaments. The event was supported by sponsors including M&T Bank, McDonald’s, and Modern Casework, Inc. Admission was $\$15$ per person, with discounted tickets for children ages 3-12 and free entry for Renfrew members.
