LIVERMORE — The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center will open for an interactive Christmas celebration that will take you back to the days of old.

Experience Christmas in the 19th century and participate in living history activities around Norlands’ beautiful and tranquil estate. Activities will include wagon rides, period crafts in the one-room school house, storytelling, parlor games, cooking in the farmer’s cottage, and tours of the simply decorated Washburn family mansion.

Make your own calling card before entering the mansion and then present it to the “help” so the mistress of the house, “Mary Maud Washburn”, may receive you. At 1 p.m. in the mansion you can listen to a piano performance by Kimberly Fleury and Jenavieve Feith, neighborhood children. Sing along with Christmas carols and play parlor games led by the ladies of the house.

Soup, cider and cornbread will be available between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., while supplies last, all prepared in the Washburn’s kitchen. For only $5, fill a bag with delicious homemade cookies to take home. Handmade aprons from vintage fabrics will also be for sale. Proceeds from the aprons and the cookie walk will benefit Norlands’ “Raise the Barn: Rebuild the Magic” fund.

Find “Aunt Clara Howard” in the farmer’s cottage and listen as she shares stories for all ages. At noon, you can take a walk in the woods in search of a Christmas tree with a Washburn neighbor. Bring snowshoes. The tree will be displayed in front of the school house. Farm work doesn’t stop on holidays, so be sure to visit farmer “Israel Martel” in the tool shed and watch as he makes shingles and splits fence posts. Talk to him about life on a 19th-century family farm.

The gift shop will be open and filled with unique treasures to meet your holiday shopping needs. There is something for everyone, such as old-time toys, books, prints, cards, caps and bonnets, dolls, stick candy, and more. Norlands’ T-shirts and timber frame pegs sales will benefit the barn raising fund and make unique holiday gifts. Sponsor a peg for $25 in honor of someone special. Write your name or a unique message on the peg and it will live forever in the new Norlands’ barn.

Leave with lasting memories of what Christmas was like in a simpler time in rural Maine. The joyous feeling of an old-fashioned Christmas will no doubt carry you through the season.

The event takes place between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 adult, $6 age 12 and under, $25 family (two adults with two to three children).

The Washburn-Norlands Living History Center is at 290 Norlands Road. For more information, call 207-897-4366 or visit www.norlands.org.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 15. Check Norlands’ Facebook page or outgoing message by calling 207-897-4366 on the morning of the event.

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