Guilford, Conn. (Nov. 13, 2008) – The dark shadows of New England winters past will be chased away by bright luminaries and blazing outdoor fires when the Henry Whitfield State Museum presents it’s annual Firelight Festival on Friday, December 5 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Gather around the fires and toast marshmallows, roast chestnuts, pop popcorn and make s’mores. Enjoy hot cocoa and hot cider and imagine how very different life was almost 400 years ago when the first English settlers arrived in Connecticut. Climb the steep and winding stairs of the Whitfield House and catch a glimpse of the stark and primitive existence of the Puritans. Built in 1639, it is Connecticut’s oldest house, the oldest stone house in New England and a National Historic Landmark.

In the museum education center, craft pinecone birdseed ornaments to take home and try your hand at knickers, a 17th century marble game. Explore Holidaze: The Real Story of Halloween, Thanksgiving, & Christmas, an exhibit that reveals the myths and realities of these three, now distinctive ‘American’ holidays. In the museum visitor center, unique reproductions, toys, CDs and books fill the museum shop, perfect for holiday gifts.

In the spirit of giving, one of the original concepts of all three holidays, visitors are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food for the Guilford Food Bank; coins for UNICEF or new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. These gifts will be incorporated into the Holidaze exhibit and passed on to the charities at the close of the program.

In the event of rain, sleet, and/or snow, the program will be held on Saturday, December 6 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. For postponement and program information, call (203)-453-2457. Regular admission fees apply for Firelight Festival and reservations are not required. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and college students, $2.50 for youth ages 6 to 17 and free to children under 6. The museum is located at 248 Old Whitfield Street in Guilford (exit 58 off I-95). For more information, call (203) 453-2457. Free parking is available.

The Henry Whitfield State Museum is administered by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism. The agency brings together tourism, film, history and the arts. Its mission is to preserve and promote Connecticut’s cultural and tourism assets in order to enhance the quality of life and economic vitality of the state. The Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism is located at One Constitution Plaza, 2nd Floor, Hartford, Connecticut. For more information, log on to www.cultureandtourism.org.

###

Contacts:
Karin Peterson
Museum Director
Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism
(860) 256-2760

Michael A. McBride
Museum Curator
Henry Whitfield State Museum
(203)-453-2457