The Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) Christmas by Candlelight Tour will return Friday, Dec. 6, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Two Mississippi Museums, the Old Capitol Museum, the state Capitol, and the Governor’s Mansion. The tour offers a festive evening filled with live holiday music, crafts, sweet treats, and a photo opportunity with Santa.
Holiday shoppers can stop by the Mississippi Museum Store at the Two Mississippi Museums and receive a 10 percent discount available on purchased merchandise. Visitors can also explore the model town of Possum Ridge and its trains—an annual exhibit which will be open from Dec. 1 through Dec. 31.
All sites will be decorated with Christmas decor, and Eudora Welty House & Garden staff will offer holiday ornament crafting at the Old Capitol Museum.
Free shuttle buses will run between MDAH tour sites, allowing visitors to walk or drive. Parking is free at the Two Mississippi Museums visitor parking garage and the state Capitol parking lot. Street parking is also free at each location.
Christmas by Candlelight Tour Events:
Two Mississippi Museums
5 p.m. Germantown High School Choir
6 p.m. Johnson Elementary School Choir
7 p.m. Lanier High School Choir
* Model trains and town of Possum Ridge on second floor * Shop at the Mississippi Museum Store. * Holiday craft activities
Governor’s Mansion
* Photos with Santa Claus * Trackless train rides * Hot cocoa and cookies * Self-guided tours of the historic mansion and East Garden
State Capitol
5-8 p.m. Sessions Jazz Ensemble * Chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives are open for all to enter. Offices of the Speaker of the House and the Governor are available for viewing. * Stop by the Capitol Gift Shop for a special Christmas gift.
Old Capitol Museum
4-6 p.m. 41st Army Band
6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. Holmes County Central High School Singers * Enjoy festive holiday lighting, traditional decorations, and faux snow on the grounds. *Holiday ornament crafts and cookies from Campbell’s Bakery
Capital City Lights will also take place downtown as part of the festivities on Dec. 6. This event is sponsored by Visit Jackson and Downtown Jackson Partners.
MDAH was founded in 1902 to collect, preserve, and provide access to the archival resources of the state. MDAH’s commitment to preservation continues today through the work of the department’s five divisions–Administration, Archives and Records Services, Historic Preservation, Programs and Communication, and Museum. The Museum Division currently oversees 11 sites and projects throughout the state.
For more information about the Christmas by Candlelight Tour, call 601-576-6850 or email info@mdah.ms.gov.