Celebrate "Holiday Traditions" Sunday, Dec. 8th at Auburn's Historic & Cultural Sites
“Join in the Spirit of Holiday Traditions”
Free Citywide Celebration December 8, 2019
November 22, 2019, Auburn NY – Holiday Traditions is an event that was created by the Seward House
Museum more than 30 years ago as a token of appreciation to the Auburn community. Since that time,
other local cultural attractions and sites have opened their doors to the public for free on the second
Sunday in December. Now, the “open house” is a tradition, and again this year, participation includes
churches and other non-profit organizations.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art, 203 Genesee Street (315) 253-8051
www.cayugamuseum.org
Open Noon to 5 PM – Join the staff of the Cayuga Museum of History and Art for their Holiday Traditions
Open House. Guests will be invited to make paper ornaments in the galleries and will have the
opportunity to explore the Museum for free during this cheery Sunday. Come and kick off your holiday
festivities in style. Parking is available in front of and behind the Museum.
Equal Rights Heritage Center, 25 South Street (315) 258-9820
www.visitauburnny.com
Open Noon to 5 PM – The Equal Rights Heritage Center will host a Winter Wonderland Holiday Market,
featuring more than 20 vendors; live entertainment by Fiona Chisholm and Safe Word Duo: Jess Novak
and Ben Wayne; and kid-friendly holiday activities. Sip on eggnog and hot chocolate from Taste NY as
you stroll and shop for all your gift-giving needs from fine art to books, gourmet goods, apparel to body
care and fragrance and wooden crafts. Vendors include Sandra Shutter Fine Art, Octane Social House,
Oma Nonna Heirloom Cookies, In Our Words Apparel, MindBodyMeta, Tom Hussey Fine Art, Farmer
Street Pantry, Brian Atwood Gourmet, Harriet Tubman Boosters, plus goodies from Elbita’s Cocina and
Cayuga Lake Creamery and more.
Schweinfurth Art Center, 205 Genesee Street (315) 255-1553
www.myartcenter.org
Open 1 to 5 PM – Visit the Schweinfurth Art Center to view the Center’s two exhibitions, the 38th annual
“Quilts=Art=Quilts 2019” and “Narrative Quilts” by Ellen M. Blalock. At 2 PM, visitors can enjoy a
performance by students in the Center’s marionette-making class. The students will put on a holidaythemed
show based on “A Christmas Carol,” titled “Scroogette, the Marionette.” The center will be serving
free glasses of mulled cider and holiday cookies.
Seward House Museum, 33 South Street (315) 252-1283
www.sewardhouse.org
Open Noon to 5 PM – Experience the halls of the Seward House Museum decked out for the holidays.
Harkening back to a Victorian Christmas, the open house also marks the only day of the year when the
full Seward House is open for self-guided exploration. The community is invited to get into the holiday
spirit against the backdrop of elegant decorations, seasonal arrangements from local florists and artisans,
and live music performed throughout the day. Museum staff and volunteers spread cheer by regaling
visitors with stories of past Seward family Christmases.
St. Francis of Assisi Church, 299 Clark Street (315) 730-9039
www.auburnchamberorchestra.com
4 to 6 PM – Auburn Chamber Orchestra presents "Christmas Wonder" at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Enjoy a gorgeous overture from “Miracle on 34th Street,” a waltz from “The Nutcracker,” tunes from “White
Christmas,” and other joyful holiday medleys. Suggested donation $5.
Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural Museum, 6880 E Lake Road Rt. 38A (315) 252-7644
http://www.cayugacounty.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/Ward-OHara-Agricultural-Museum
Open 11 AM to 4 PM – Show your holiday spirit by participating in the Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural
Museum’s seventh annual Festival of Trees. The Museum/Education Center will be decorated plus vote
on your favorite of more than 100 decorated Christmas trees. There will be horse-drawn wagon rides,
musical entertainment, face painting, and coloring activities. Santa will arrive at 1 PM by a horse-drawn
wagon and will talk to children about their Christmas wish lists. Come decorate Christmas cookies, make
Christmas ornaments, and sing along to Christmas carols. Dressing warmly is encouraged; admission
and parking are free.
Willard Memorial Chapel, 17 Nelson Street (315) 252-0339
www.willard-chapel.org
Open Noon to 5 PM – Bring your family in for a day of holiday music at the Willard Memorial Chapel. John
Wilmot will play the Hammered Dulcimer from 12 to 1 PM. Perform 4 Purpose will perform a selection of
Holiday music from 1 to 2:30 PM, and organist Susan May will play the historic Steere & Turner tracker
organ from 2:30 to 3:30 PM. Free tours will be given from 3:30 to 5 PM. The Chapel is handicap
accessible through its north entrance off of Seymour Street.
For more information about Holiday Traditions or for a photo from the past events, please contact
Equal Rights Heritage Center Visitor Experience Manager Courtney Kasper at (315) 258-9820. If
you have questions regarding a specific venue, please contact each respective site directly.
About Auburn’s Historic & Cultural Sites Commission
To ensure communication between the many Holiday Traditions’ partners, the City of Auburn’s Historic &
Cultural Sites Commission, headquartered at the Equal Rights Heritage Center/Visit Auburn, NY
Welcome Center, coordinates publicity and advertising for this event. Commission site members include
Auburn Public Theater, Auburn Schine’s Theater, Cayuga Museum of History and Art & Case Research
Lab, Fort Hill Cemetery, Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Harriet Tubman Home, Inc.,
Schweinfurth Art Center, Seward House Museum, and Willard Memorial Chapel.
Contact:
N E W S R E L E A S E
Editorial Contact:
Courtney Rae Kasper
Equal Rights Heritage Center
Auburn’s Historic & Cultural Sites Commission
25 South Street
Auburn, NY 13021
(315) 258-9820
e-mail: courtney@auburndowntown.org