PlanPhilly: Planning Philadelphia's Future

Holiday Tour including Powel House & Elfreth's Alley

Celebrate the Christmas season in the birthplace of America’s Christmas.  Start with holiday  refreshments in the elegantly decorated Powel House ballroom, where Commander Washington celebrated his wedding anniversary on Little Christmas.  You will than take a guided walk through 18th century neighborhoods, completing your celebration with Christmas treats on Elfreth’s Alley. The Powel House, where Eliza Powel presided over America’s first salon, was brimming with concerts, balls and holiday feasts every December.  As you walk through America’s most elegant 18th century neighborhood, learn about mummery, wassailing, Belsnickel (the German’s cranky pre-Santa), the grand houses on Chestnut Street boasting Christmas trees drooping with fancy gifts – and Benjamin Franklin accidentally electrocuting himself instead of his Christmas turkey.

Your tour will end in Elfreth’s Alley, the cozy street where colonists of all nationalities could see each other’s unique holiday customs – or, like the Quakers, avoid them.  Perhaps you will even find one of those German Christmas trees hung upside down from the ceiling, to keep the mice away from the edible decorations.

Tours will begin at 1pm at The Powel House, 244 S. 3rd Street and will conclude at 2:30pm at Elfreth's Alley, 126 Elfreth's Alley, where, refreshments will be served.

Tour dates are: November 26, December 3, December 10, December 17

$20; $10 Student; $50 Family of Four
http://www.elfrethsalley.org/