Liberty Hall Museum Announces 2014 Holiday Programming

Liberty Hall Museum will usher in its popular holiday season with the debut of its much-anticipated Christmas tour, Deck the Halls: Fifty Years of Christmas Decorations, on Friday, November 28. A celebration of half a century of seasonal decoration and ornamentation, Deck the Halls: Fifty Years of Christmas Decorations invites visitors to journey through five beautifully adorned rooms to experience the decorative styles of the 1910s - 1950s. The tour kicks off a month of scheduled holiday programming for all ages at the museum, the former residence of New Jersey's first elected governor, William Livingston.

"What makes this year's holiday tour so special is that guests will be treated to fifty years of different holiday decorations and traditions," said Lacey Bongard, Coordinator of Museum Programs. "Hopefully this will bring back some nice Christmas memories for our guests."

Deck the Halls: Fifty Years of Christmas Decorations runs through December 27th (Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Admission is $6.00 for children, college students and seniors; $8.00 for Kean University alumni; and $10.00 for adults. There is no cost for children under the age of three.

Guests also have the opportunity -- for the first time in eight years -- to experience the holiday tour by candlelight when Liberty Hall Museum offers Holiday Candlelight Tours on the evening of Saturday, December 6th (5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 8 p.m.). Guided by the museum's friendly educators in their holiday best, guests will enjoy an exclusive candlelight tour of Deck the Halls: Fifty Years of Christmas Decorations and light refreshments. The cost is $10.00 for children, $12.00 for seniors, and $15.00 for adults; the 5 p.m. tour is recommended for families. Reservations are required by November 29th, and can be made -- for this and all other events - by calling 908-527-0400 or emailing libertyhall@kean.edu.

"The museum was inspired to offer candlelight tours again this year because of the magic that comes alive at Liberty Hall when it's decorated for Christmas," stated Ms. Bongard. "The experience of touring the first floor in candlelight with all the Christmas decorations will truly be beautiful."

Tea lovers and harried holiday shoppers alike can enjoy a piping hot cup of tea with their holiday tour at the Museum's exquisite Christmas Tea throughout the month of December. Usually served the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, Liberty Hall's signature tea service will be available every week: December 3rd, 10th, 17th & 23th (2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Admission is $40, and includes a guided tour of the museum -- bedecked for the holidays - following tea.

The Gingerbread House Workshop, a longtime favorite with patrons new and old, will take place December 13th and 20th. Due to overwhelming demand, Liberty Hall will offer two sessions on both available dates: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. or Noon - 1:30 p.m. The fee is $20 for one adult and one child; all additional adults are $5 each.

Liberty Hall's "How the Grinch Stole Lunch" (formerly known as the Whoville Feast) is scheduled for Sunday, December 14th (11:30 am - 1:30 pm). This mouthwatering buffet features "Roast Beast on a Bun," "Seuss Spuds," "Cindy Lou Who Cider," and other comfort cuisine inspired by Theodore Geisel's (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss') holiday classic. Admission is $23 per child and $28 per adult, and includes lunch, a photograph with the Grinch, and a holiday tour of the museum.

Finally, the jolly old man himself will be on hand for Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 21st (9 - 11 am or 11:30 am - 1:30 pm). Admission includes a hot, all-you-can-eat breakfast (served buffet-style), a photograph with Santa in his celebrated sleigh, and a holiday tour of Liberty Hall. The price is $23 for children and $28 for adults.

Reservations are required for all holiday events, which fill up quickly; call 908-527-0400 or email libertyhall@kean.edu to reserve. Liberty Hall will accept unwrapped gifts for children ages 1-17 on behalf of Toys for Tots through December 15th; please drop off all donations at Liberty's Hall Welcome and Visitor Center (also known as the "Blue House"). All patrons donating to the toy drive will receive a 10% discount at the Museum Store.

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, boasting a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving nearly 15,000 students. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers three doctorate degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. The University's five undergraduate colleges offer 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. With campuses in Union and Toms River, NJ, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University provides a world-class education. Visit Kean online at www.kean.edu.

Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University chronicles more than 240 years of American history. The museum also houses extensive collections of furniture, ceramics, textiles, toys and tools owned by seven generations of the Livingston and Kean families. The Firehouse Museum, built in 2004, houses three antique fire engines, including a rare 1911 American LaFrance Metropolitan Steam Engine. Tours of Liberty Hall run Monday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the hour; the last tour departs at 3 p.m. General admission is $10 for adults, $8 for Kean alumni, and $6 for children and seniors. Kean students and faculty are free.

For reservations and further information, call 908-527-0400, e-mail libertyhall@kean.edu or visit www.kean.edu/libertyhall.

Pictured: Liberty Hall Museum's popular holiday tours begin Friday, November 28. Photo by Anna Cafasso & Rachael Goldberg.

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