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November 10, 2023
Friday, November 10 from 6:00 pm-8:45 pm
Hernando Dickens of a Christmas Commences with the Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree Lighting, Ice Skating in the Historic Downtown, and Holiday Movie on the Courthouse Lawn.
Saturday, November 11 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Horse-drawn Carriage Rides with historic tour, Ice Skating, Trolley Tour of Homes, Christmas Farmers Market, Holiday Train Display, Victorian and Holiday Entertainment, Children's Activities and more.
Hernando Dickens of a Christmas will recreate an atmosphere of the Victorian Era during the holiday season.
The event is in conjunction with the Hernando Chamber of Commerce Christmas Open House November 12 & 13, when downtown businesses will be filled with Christmas décor, and oh yes, they will have lots of fabulous specials.
Visitors can enjoy a Christmas farmers market with holiday wares. Stop by for a hot cocoa and other delightful treats from our local farmers market vendors. The young ladies can purchase old-fashioned bonnets and Mississippi Master Craftsman Greg Harkins will display and sell his renowned handmade chairs using techniques passed down from the 1800's. Mr. Harkins is a Fellow member of the Mississippi Crafters Guild and has also been on HGTV's Home Town series. Pick up Mississippi Arts Commission Artist Cristen Craven Barnard's beautiful Christmas cards and prints for the holiday season.
The DeSoto Arts Council will host local artists displaying unique items at their building across the street and will children's and adults workshops throughout the day.
Hop on a horse-drawn carriage ride at the DeSoto County Museum, with Victorian tour guides who will take you back to a time during the late 1800’s. An interactive train display will be located inside the museum for children and adults to enjoy and learn about the first train that came through Hernando in the 1800s.
A Twist & Loop activity in the Ferguson Log Cabin will also welcome children to learn the lost art of script/cursive handwriting with a Victorian teacher.
A new Trolley Tour of Homes will take passengers around the city with a Victorian tour guide to view and learn about the history of some of the oldest homes in Hernando.
At 10am, an adult/child High-Tea with special guest Miss Manners at 1 Memphis Street, and at 2pm an adult-only High-Tea with historic storyteller will have stories to tell of the past. Reserve your seat for a tea with friends and meet the ladies of the Victorian era, as they transport you to the early days of afternoon and high-tea fashion from head to toe. Learn about the "Secret Language of the Fan" and how it played an important role in communication and for relaying secret messages. Guests will enjoy traditional tea and finger foods.
Mississippi Humanities Council Storyteller, Andi Lehman will tell tales of Mississippi during the Victorian era on the courthouse lawn and you might even see Queen Victoria herself!