15th Annual Colonial Christmas at Bedminster’s Jacobus Vanderveer House - November 24, 2017

15th Annual Colonial Christmas at Bedminster’s Jacobus Vanderveer House
Tree Lighting – Friday, November 24 – 7 p.m.

House Tours and Festivities – Saturday & Sunday, November 25-26 & December 2-3 -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A Colonial Café, an array of holiday merchants, musical performances, reindeer, gingerbread workshops for children and a holiday decorating workshop for adults are just a few of the highlights in store for visitors to the 15th Annual Colonial Christmas at Bedminster’s historic Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum, sponsored by Bevan, Mosca & Giuditta, P.C.; Investors Bank; Meeker Sharkey & Hurley; The Provident Bank Foundation, Yolanda A. Cillo, M.D.; and Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Molé. The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House invite visitors of all ages to experience Christmas past and present when the circa 1772 Dutch Colonial home opens its wreath-clad doors Saturday and Sunday, November 25 - 26 and Saturday and Sunday, December 2 - 3. Hours are from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm daily.

The popular fundraiser features tours of the museum, which will be decorated for the holidays by Lynn and Jessica Angelone of Angelone’s Florist in Raritan, Gail Whiting of Design Consultants in Bedminster, Susan Miniman of Susan Laura Interior Design in Bedminster along with her daughter Sara Miniman, broker/manager of Weichert’s Bedminster office and Jeanne Galbraith, of Mendham. Visitors will also enjoy holiday shopping with boutique merchants and artisans; Colonial musicians, re-enactors and crafters; pet photos with Santa Paws; military demonstrations; a reindeer program; Santa visits; a gingerbread house workshop for children; and a holiday decorating workshop for adults.

A tree lighting, sponsored by Investor’s Bank, will kick off this year’s two weekend-long event on Friday, November 25 at 7:00 pm. The tree lighting is free to the community and features caroling with the Harmonium Choral Society, hot pretzels and hot chocolate.

“Colonial Christmas has grown to be one of Central New Jersey’s signature holiday events, attracting nearly 2,000 visitors of all ages, cultures, and interests in a festive atmosphere of hospitality, history and friendship,” commented Craig Sutherland, President of The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House Board of Trustees. “Proceeds benefit exhibit development, historical interpretations, educational events, and leadership programs offered throughout the year. This fundraiser is a vital means of preserving this extraordinary piece of Revolutionary War history for future generations.”

Knowledgeable docents, re-enactors and volunteers are available to provide information on the history and furnishings of the circa 1772 Jacobus Vanderveer House. 

“Whether you come to shop, grab a bite to eat at our Colonial Café, get decorating tips for the holidays, listen to musical performances, visit Santa, get an up-close look at a reindeer, make a gingerbread house with your child, or learn more about Dutch Colonial life during the American Revolution, there’s something for everyone at Colonial Christmas,” added Sutherland.

Schedule of Events

Friday, November 24
7:00 p.m.
Tree Lighting Sponsored by Investors Bank
(FREE to the entire community)
Join us for caroling with the Harmonium Choral Society, hot chocolate, and hot pretzels, as we light our red, white, and blue Christmas tree and ring in the holiday season

Saturday, November 25             
* 10:00 am - 4:00 pm   
Museum Tours
Holiday Shopping with Design Consultants, Classic Home & Garden, Stanton Sweets, Christine Pane, India Hicks, Le Fashion Cottage, B.J. O’Connor, White Birch Candle Company, Lace Creations, Mac Jac, Posh and Lei Lei
Colonial Re-Enactors and Crafters
Demonstrations by the Hunterdon County Rug Artisan’s Guild

* 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Enslows perform Colonial American Christmas Music

* 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Colonial Café Open – serving traditional American soups, salads, sandwiches, sides and desserts

* 1:00 - 3:00 pm                   
Reindeer Magic & Miracles Program

* 2:30 pm
Laura Clare Holiday Decorating Workshop for Adults – Decorate your own sweet-smelling lemon cypress tree under the guidance of acclaimed floral and event designer Laura Clare. 1 ½ hours. $55 per person. Register at www.jvanderveerhouse.org or call 908-396-6053.

Sunday, November 26                 
* 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Museum Tours
Holiday Shopping with Design Consultants, Classic Home & Garden, Stanton Sweets, Christine Pane, India Hicks, Le Fashion Cottage, B.J. O’Connor, Mac Jac, Posh and Lei Lei
Colonial Re-Enactors and Crafters
The Evolution of the Gingerbread Man with Susan McLellan Plaisted
John Lamb’s Artillery Company Demonstrations
Demonstrations by the Hunterdon County Rug Artisan’s Guild

* 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Colonial Café Open – serving traditional American soups, salads, sandwiches, sides and desserts

* 1:00 - 2:00 pm
Ridge High School A Cappella Choir

* 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Santa Visit

Friday, December 1 – School Group Tour Day    
* 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
School Group Tour Day featuring “Betsy Ross”
Presentations by Lady Ellen Ruck and Militiaman Joshua

Free to school groups. School bus parking available. Reservations required. Call Kristina Poggi, Museum Coordinator 908-396-6053 or e-mail kpoggi@jvanderveerhouse.org

* 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Cocktail reception, featuring holiday libations served by Colonial barkeeps, sumptuous seafood and hors d’oeuvres by Metropolitan Seafood, and musical entertainment by The Practitioners of Musick
Special veterans appreciation presentation.
Holiday Shopping with Design Consultants, Classic Home & Garden, Stanton Sweets, India Hicks, Ward Vintage, Portraits, Inc., and J. McLaughlin
Tickets $150 per person. Junior patrons (25 and under) $100 per person. Reservations required. For ticket information, call 908-396-6053 or visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org

Saturday, December 2
* 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Museum Tours
Holiday Shopping with Design Consultants, Classic Home & Garden, Stanton Sweets, India Hicks, Le Fashion Cottage, White Birch Candle Company, and Lace Creations
Colonial Re-Enactors and Crafters​
Demonstrations by the Alice Beatty Chapter of the Association of Traditional Rug Hooking

* 10:00 am and 3:00 pm
Gingerbread house workshop for children accompanied by an adult, courtesy Ms. Gail’s Kids Cooking. Cost of the program is $40 per kit, limited to one child & one adult per kit, and includes admission to the house tour for one (1) adult. Walk-in registration $50 per kit. (Pre-registration required. Visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org or call 908-396-6053)

* 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Enslows perform Colonial American Christmas Music

* 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Colonial Café Open – serving traditional American soups, salads, sandwiches, sides and desserts

* 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm
Pet Photos with Santa Paws – Bring your pet for a holiday photo with Santa!

* 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Bedminster School Hand Bells

Sunday, December 3
* 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Museum Tours
Holiday Shopping with Design Consultants, Classic Home & Garden, Stanton Sweets, India Hicks, Le Fashion Cottage and Lace Creations
Colonial Re-Enactors and Crafters
The Evolution of the Gingerbread Man with Susan McLellan Plaisted
​Demonstrations by the Alice Beatty Chapter of the Association of Traditional Rug Hooking

* 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Colonial Café Open – serving traditional American soups, salads, sandwiches, sides and desserts

* 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Santa Visit

* 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Bernards High School Madrigals Performance


Ticket Information
Admission at the door is $10 (Members of the Jacobus Vanderveer House and children 12 and under, free). For a complete schedule of activities, visit www.jvanderveerhouse.org or call 908-396-6053.

Proceeds from Colonial Christmas benefit exhibit development, historical interpretations, and educational programs at the Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum.


Directions to the Jacobus Vanderveer House & Museum
The Jacobus Vanderveer House is conveniently located near Routes 78, 287 and 22 at the River Road exit on Routes 202/206 in Bedminster, New Jersey.  Enter through River Road Park.

GPS users can input the following coordinates: 40.666816, -74.644819
Google Map users can enter: Jacobus Vanderveer House

Parking, restroom, and dining facilities are available on site.


About The Jacobus Vanderveer House                                  

For more than two centuries, the Jacobus Vanderveer House, located in River Road Park, has been at the center of Bedminster Township’s rich and colorful history. It is situated on part of the 218 acres that make up River Road Park in Bedminster Township, Somerset County. 

Jacobus Vanderveer, Jr., son of Vanderveer, Sr., a wealthy Dutch miller, built a small Dutch frame-style farmhouse just west of the North Branch of the Raritan River on the northern outskirts of Pluckemin. In 1778, during the War of Independence, Vanderveer lent his home to General Henry Knox, who was to command a new artillery encampment and training academy being established by the Continental Army on a hillside above the village of Pluckemin. General Knox, along with his wife Lucy and family, occupied the house from the winter of 1778 through the summer of 1779.

The Vanderveer house is the only surviving building associated with the Pluckemin encampment, which is considered to be the first installation in America to train officers in engineering and artillery. General Knox established “The Academy” and subsequently created its successor, The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.  

The Jacobus Vanderveer House and property were purchased by Bedminster Township in 1989 with the help of Green Acres funding. The house was listed in 1995 on the National and New Jersey Registers of Historic Places. The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House is a nonprofit organization formed to restore and develop the historic site as an important educational and cultural resource. During the past decade, the Friends have restored the house, created historically accurate period room exhibitions, established historic collections, supported important research, and embarked on a program of education and interpretation to tell the stories of General Henry Knox, the Pluckemin military encampment and the community’s key role in the American Revolution.

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