Rock Ford’s annual Yuletide tours provide a remedy for the post-Christmas blues by offering a journey back in time to when Christmas Day was only the beginning of the season. Candlelight, festive music, dancing, and holiday greenery will set the scene for an 18th-century Yuletide at Rock Ford Plantation during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
During the period when General Hand and his family lived at Rock Ford, Christmas Day was only the beginning of a festive season of 12 days of parties, dinners, and dances. Visitors to Rock Ford’s Yuletide tours will learn about 18th century traditions, enjoy watching period dancing by Rock Ford’s volunteer dance group (candlelight tours only), listen to traditional holiday music by the musical group Seasons from Harrisburg and watch preparations in the mansion’s kitchen by members of the museum’s Warm Hearth Club. Costumed volunteers will be stationed in various rooms of the mansion offering insight into Yuletide traditions.
New this year will be “Marionettes in the Mansion,” which will mark the culmination of Yuletide at Rock Ford. A joint production with the Lancaster Marionette Theatre, the approximately one-hour show will be staged in the mansion and will be a fun and whimsical and touching celebration of the life and times of Gen. Edward Hand and his family featuring the talents of “Man of the Theatre” Robert Brock. Previews will be held during Yuletide, and performances will be held on Sunday, Dec. 30, at 4 and 6 p.m. and on Monday, Dec. 31, at 4 p.m., with a final champagne benefit performance at 8 p.m. Reservations may be made at www.rockford.yapsody.com. Proceeds from “Marionettes in the Mansion” will support educational programs at Rock Ford and at the Lancaster Marionette Theatre.
Yuletide Candlelight tours will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 26 and 27, from 4 to 8 p.m. Daylight tours will be held Friday, Dec. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is payable at the door ($10 adults; $8 seniors 65+ and youth ages 6 to 17; admittance will be free of charge for children 5 and under. If guests wish to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.rockford.yapsody.com.
All proceeds from Yuletide support the educational programs and operation of Rock Ford Plantation. Built in 1794, Rock Ford was the home of Edward Hand and his family. Hand served as adjutant general to George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The historic property is open for tours each Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from April to October. It is operated by the nonprofit Rock Ford Foundation and located at 881 Rockford Road in Lancaster, Pa.
For additional information, call 717-392-7223.