December Open House Brings Holiday Magic to the Cushing House

December Open House Brings Holiday Magic to the Cushing House
Newburyport, MA – November 21, 2017: For one weekend each December, the twinkle of holiday lights and scent of pine transform the Museum of Old Newbury’s historic Cushing House into a delightful holiday attraction.  This year’s open house will be preceded by a preview party for museum members and their guests on Friday, December 1, and the open house will run from Saturday, December 2-Monday, December 4 from 10am-4pm daily.
 
The magic of the holiday season shines especially bright at the Friday evening preview party, taking place from 5pm-7pm on December 1.  The 1808 ship captain’s house takes on a particularly warm ambience when illuminated by candles and Christmas tree lights, hearkening back to the holiday celebrations held here when three generations of Cushing family members called it home.  Two lucky party attendees will take home some holiday cheer by winning beautifully decorated wreaths featured as raffle prizes.  The evening’s revelry is completed by champagne and hors d’oeuvres by Simply Perfect Catering.  Preview party tickets are $15/person and are available at www.newburyhistory.org, where memberships are also available for purchase.  Tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, November 28.
 
After the preview party, the holiday decorations will be on view through December 4, offering the perfect family activity to kick off the holiday season.  Each lavishly appointed room offers seasonal delights, and together they capture the spirit of Christmases past.  These festive vignettes are created by the talented efforts of regional garden clubs including the Newburyport Garden Club, the Newburyport Horticultural Society, the Newbury Garden Club, and the West Newbury Garden Club.  Each club develops its decorating plan with a theme in mind, and in past years, the clubs have captured the whimsy of children’s fairy tales with gumdrop trees and gingerbread cookies, and the elegance of a Victorian Christmas with lush floral displays and delicate tree ornaments.  Admission to the open house is by donation.
 
The museum’s book shop will also be open for the weekend, featuring books on topics in local history and the museum’s own cookbook Cushing House Cooks.  These make great gifts for everyone on your list!
 
The Museum of Old Newbury is located at 98 High St. in Newburyport.  More information is available at www.newburyhistory.org or by calling 978-462-2681.