Hancock Holiday Nights Illuminates the Shaker Village
HANCOCK, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village has illuminated the spirit of its former occupants with a winter light show that blends the old with the new.
For the month of December, guests can enjoy artistic light installations and festive decorations at the 19th century New England community. As an added bonus, visitors can say hello to donkeys, sheep, and cows in the Round Stone Barn.
This is new programming for the oldest Shaker village in New England and the hope is to make it a regular tradition. The event has attracted an average of about 150 people per day.
"We built the event with the hopes that we would keep building it and building it and building it, I'll tell you from the minute we shared information about it, I think within 20 minutes, we had our first ticket purchase," Director of Communications & Marketing Carolyn McDaniel said.
"I think people were excited to be able to come here and they wanted to come here at night, they don't get that opportunity to that often."
Artist Joe Wheaton has created projection artwork for the experience that gives a modern take on the Shakers' deep-rooted traditions. His pieces are featured on the inside and outside of the Round Stone Barn and on an additional barn.
Through a vision board, Wheaton and staff members created an interesting and artistic take on the Shaker’s history, putting a modern twist on historic images.
Guests begin at the timber frame, which is decorated with holiday trees that can be personalized with wishes. Down a lantern-lit walkway is an illuminated garden tool shed and the poultry house, which is a nod to the Shakers’ holiday traditions.
In the poultry house is a staged "selfie" area where a 19th-century holiday photo can be taken in front of a fireplace.
"It's got the setting that is straight out of one of our photographs," McDaniel explained. "We did the tinsel on the tree and the fence around the base of it and we have the beautiful shaker songs that are being sung in there."
The Round Stone Barn glows with lights that are similar to the colors of stained glass, channeling the feeling of a sacred space. The serene, sleeping animals under its roof confirm this imagery.
"We think of it as almost like our, our sacred space, our cathedral, if you will," McDaniel said. "And so his [Wheaton's] vision was sort of a contemporary stained glass almost, that colorful imagery."
After walking the village, guests can enjoy food, hot beverages, and adult beverages either inside of the on-site cafe or in front of a fire.
Upcoming Hancock Holiday Nights are Dec. 9 through Dec. 12, Dec. 16 through Dec. 19, and Dec. 27 through Dec. 29.
Shaker-inspired gifts can also be purchased in the mercantile.
Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for kids 6-18, and free for children 5 years and under. Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required because the event is ticketed in 15-minute increments between 5 and 8 p.m.
McDaniel said planning should be made sooner than later for people interested in attending the event. She added that it is a big space that a primarily outdoors, which makes it a safer option during COVID-19 times.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Tags: Hancock Shaker Village,
