Christmas Past Celebration
Event Details
110 Parkside Drive
West Branch, IA 52358
Contact Name: Janlyn Slach
Email: janlyn.slach@nara.gov
Phone: 319-643-5301
Website: http://www.nps.gov/heho/index.htm
Event Description
West Branch, Iowa, the birthplace of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States, will host “A Christmas Past” events from Friday, December 6 until Sunday, December 8. The festivities officially begin with a tree-lighting and holiday tubas on the Village Green at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6. For a complete schedule of the weekend’s activities, visit www.mainstreetwestbranch.org.
To emphasize Herbert Hoover’s history for feeding those in need, donations of nonperishable items will be accepted for the West Branch Food Pantry at the Visitor Center and at the Presidential Library and Museum.
Horse-drawn wagon rides on Friday and Saturday evenings start at 5:30 p.m. from the Visitor Center of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. The rides take visitors through the historic site and historic downtown West Branch. The last wagon rides begin at 8:00 p.m.
A park ranger will demonstrate the art and craft of blacksmithing in the Blacksmith Shop on Friday and Saturday nights from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weather permitting, a park ranger will demonstrate snowshoeing on the Village Green Friday and Saturday nights between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The park has some snowshoes to lend, or bring your own.
Historical interpreter Sarah S. Uthoff will appear in character as Laura Ingalls Wilder telling historic stories on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Visitor Center. For more information about programs and activities at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site call (319) 643-2541.
Beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday and continuing through Sunday there will be free admission to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. See the Hoover Museum’s annual holiday exhibit, Heartland Christmas. This exhibit features 20 trees , each decorated to represent a theme from Iowa, America’s Heartland!
The Young Footliters will perform Adventures of Rose Red Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 2:00 p.m., then Cinderella & The Substitute Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Performances are free and there is no reserve seating. The Uncalled Four quartet will be singing Christmas carols in the rotunda Friday and Saturday evenings and the West Branch Community Choir will perform on Sunday afternoon at 1:30. The museum’s annual holiday open house is Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with Santa Claus and free holiday refreshments served. For more information about programs and activities at Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum call (319) 643-5301.
