The Spirit Of Christmas Lives On At Greenfield Village

Only a gentle snowfall could have improved the evening.

On Friday, Jennifer and I stepped into a Christmas card from the past at “Holiday Nights” in Dearborn’s Greenfield Village.

On eight nights during the holiday season, the Village comes alive with the sounds and smells of Christmas from days gone by. Families of robust children in woolen mittens, young lovers enjoying the romance of winter fireworks, and older folks reminiscing about their own distant childhoods mingle along the candle-lit walks. Costumed presenters celebrate Christmas as it was back in the 1800s.

Visitors can hop into a Model-T for a village tour or climb aboard a horse-drawn wagon, where a banjo player coaxes the riders into a rowdy sing-along. On the agenda: Sipping hot apple cider, singing along with the Main Street Carolers, and presentations by skilled artisans. The young at heart can borrow a pair of ice skates and take a spin around the ice rink.

There are live reindeer—and of course, Santa is there, waving to the children from the second floor of the Robert Frost house in the Village. Ho-ho-ho!

No “Happy Holidays” heard here—no one’s afraid to say “Merry Christmas”! Carolers still share their Christmas joy with songs like “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night.”

I had not had the foresight to make reservations for the spectacular holiday dinner at the Eagle Tavern, the Village’s historic stagecoach stop. Not to worry, though: We feasted on turkey at Taste of History and followed up with Buckeyes, a favorite chocolate-peanut butter treat.

If you’ve never been to this extravaganza of holiday spirit, check it out this year—There are still six “Holiday Nights” before Christmas.