LENOX, Mass. – Berkshire County resident and Ventfort Hall volunteer will speak at Ventfort Hall about Christmas traditions in the Victorian and Gilded Age. 

 

The presentation will take place on Dec. 20, at 3:30 p.m.

 

A tea will follow her presentation.

 

Her talk will include the history and description of such traditions as decorating the house (inside and out), the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, Christmas Eve festivities, Christmas Day activities such as gift giving and Christmas dinner, New Year's Eve, Twelfth Night, and more.

 

According to a press release:

 

Bonnie Eastwood is a Berkshire native and lives in Dalton, Massachusetts. She graduated from Idaho State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts in Geology. She returned to her hometown of Dalton and in 2020 retired from Berkshire Medical Center after working there for 36 years. Bonnie is enjoying her retirement and is very happy that she can now follow her passion, helping in any way that she can at Ventfort Hall. She is a docent at Ventfort Hall and assists with the Tea & Talks and other special events. She is also involved in the restoration of the crown molding in the drawing room. Currently, Bonnie is researching Sarah Learned Mifflin Morgan, the "other Sarah," who was George Hale Morgan's second wife. Bonnie hopes to give a talk at Ventfort Hall on “The Other Sarah” in the near future.

 

Tickets are $45. Ticket pricing includes access to the mansion throughout the day of this event from 10 am to 4 pm. Reservations are strongly encouraged as seats are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. For reservations visit https://gildedage.org/pages/calendar or call (413) 637-3206. Note that all tickets are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. The historical mansion is located at 104 Walker St. in Lenox.