Bells will be ringing
And everyone will be singing at Victorian Christmas
Among a FULL list of events, Victorian Christmas will be filling the town with music this weekend with an elaborate concert series at venues throughout the downtown area. Beginning with the Opening Ceremonies (6:30 pm) at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church (134 E Bishop St), there are four performances slated:
6:30pm – Carols by Brass choir comprised by members of the Bellefonte community band and Little German Band (held outside the church, weather permitting)
In the Church Auditorium:
6:30pm – Carols by St John’s Catholic School Children under the direction of Natalie Stanton
7:00pm – Opening Ceremony hosted by The Brian Belge Dickens Troupe
7:15pm – Bellefonte Community Choir concert under the direction of Tricia Andriaccio
On Saturday, the Bellefonte Area Elementary School Students, accompanied by a student brass choir, will perform Christmas Carols on the Courthouse steps. They will be filling the downtown diamond with their good cheer from 11:15 to 12:00 pm. (102 S Allegheny St). The Rama Lama Doo Wop group may find you, as they will be street caroling throughout the afternoon.
Trinity United Methodist Church, St John’s Episcopal Church, St John’s United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church and Center County Library and Historical Museum will play host to the Concert Crawl on Saturday from 11am to 4pm. Thoughtfully scheduled with staggered times, you’ll be able to hop around town to catch many different performers.
Trinity United Methodist Church
128 Howard St
11:00am – Hot Styles Dance Co.
12:15pm – John Tompson, blues piano
1:30pm – Claire Parker – harpist
2:45pm – OPEN
St. John’s Episcopal Church
120 W Lamb St
11:30am – State College Tri-M Honor Society music students – Erik Clayton director
12:45pm – Paul Leskowicz and SCHS Jazz students
2pm Rick Hirsch and the Fraser St Saxophone Ensemble
3:15pm – Ned Wetherald, organ recital
St John’s United Church of Christ
145 W Linn St
10:30am – Alice Statham – harpist
11:00am – Nittany Valley Symphony Encore Ensembles
12:30pm – the Bellefonte Middle school string ensemble
1:30pm – Dylan Meyers, accordion
Presbyterian Church
201 N Spring St
11:30am – Elizabeth Webb, vocalist
12:45pm – Victorian Renewal – musicians from the First Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte
2pm – No Filter Jazz Group
3:15pm – The Little German Band
Centre County Library and Historical Museum Piano Recitals
200 N Allegheny St
12pm – Kevin Munnell
1pm – Stephen St. Amant
2pm – Tyler Turpin
The Christmas cheer may start with the music lineup, but it certainly doesn’t end there! The Christmas Cordial and Fezziwig’s Holiday Party hosted at State Burger Co and St. John the Evangelist, School Auditorium respectively, are ticketed events that still have some availability!
A Christmas Cordial , Friday December 9, 2022 - 8:45-10:30 PM
Raise a glass of Christmas cheer and toast to the joy of the season! Directly following the Community Choir concert Friday night, one of the new events this year “A Christmas Cordial” will happen at State Burger on the Diamond (101 S. Allegheny St.).
This is a limited ticket event which includes passed hors d’oeuvres, local craft beverages, and music by Jay Zimmerman Jazz.
Purchase tickets here!
Fezziwig’s Holiday Dinner Party Saturday, December 10, 2022 – 6:30 pm
Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig request the honor of your presence for an evening of old-time parlor games and hilarious theatricals including the 12 Days of Christmas sing-along, the Yorkshire Yawning Contest, and the traditional Yule Log Ceremony. The family-style dinner includes turkey with all the trimmings plus dessert, lovingly prepared by the Bellefonte Knights of Columbus Council 1314.
St. John the Evangelist, School Auditorium, East Bishop Street, Bellefonte, PA
$32 per Adult, $15.00 for children 5-12, age 4 & under free
Reservations & prepayment required
For tickets, visit Plumb’s Card & Gift Shop, 105 N. Allegheny St. (cash or check only) – or click here to purchase your tickets online!
Rides for thrill-seekers and sight-seers.
The Famous Christmas “Speeder” is Back! Take a ride departing from the Bellefonte Train Station and ticket holders can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies! Santa and his friends will be there for warm greetings and pictures! Tickets are $5 for all ages and sold during operating hours on a first come, first served basis!
Friday, December 9 from 6PM-9PM
Saturday, December 10 from 10AM-4PM
Sunday, December 11 from 12PM-4PM
If you’re looking to slow yourself down after the speeder, take a horse drawn carriage ride departing from the Brockerhoff House (105 S Allegheny St).
Rides will be operating Friday, Dec. 9, 2022 5 – 7pm and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10 and 11, 2022 11am -3pm. Currently Friday and Saturday ride times are full, but there is some availability Sunday. You can also stop by the Brockerhoff throughout the weekend to inquire about any times that may have opened up. For reservations and tickets contact Melissa at Melissa.hershey@gmail.com.
Shop Til You Drop
Shop for those last-minute Christmas gifts handmade by a variety of artists, artisans, and crafters displaying their wares just in time for holiday gifting. Saturday from 9-5 at the YMCA and Elementary school, the Arts and Crafts Show will feature many of the area’s makers and a 2pm special ice/wood carving demonstration by Woodraptor Bobby Gummo near the Courthouse.
Sunday’s Winter Market is located at Talleyrand park from 10-4pm. Skilled makers and artisans will fill the open air market during the final day of the Victorian Christmas festivities. Downtown Bellefonte businesses are invited to participate at a reduced rate. (Sign Up Here)
Visit the Class of 2026 at the Cadillac Building (207 S. Allegheny St) for gift wrapping of December 10th from 10am to 4pm. While you’re there, recharge with some baked goods, ciders, hot chocolate and coffee before you head back out!
For complete details visit the Bellefonte Victorian Christmas website and follow their Instagram account (@bellefontevictorianchristmas)
