Winter Wander 2021!

The Court End Council is excited to announce that Winter Wander will be held
on Sunday, December 12, from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

This annual community tradition invites individuals and families from across the greater Richmond Region to celebrate the season while exploring fascinating history and enjoying a variety of activities and performances. As a bonus, each site will have a recipe to collect that you can enjoy making from the comfort of your home.  

Attendees will enjoy children’s activities, refreshments, music, entertainment, tours and much more. All sites will require masks indoors. Winter Wander will include free admission and shuttle transportation to the following nine historic sites:

– The Valentine: Children’s activities, refreshments, live entertainment, and tours will kick off the winter season.
– The Valentine First Freedom Center
– The Governor’s Executive Mansion: Stop by the Executive Mansion to hear from Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz (Director of Education and Historic Interpretation), and historical interpreter Dontavius Williams will talk about 19th-century cooking! Grab a ginger snap, a cup of hot cider, and a recipe!
– St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Guided tours will be held of the sanctuary (sanctuary has been recently renovated and the church celebrated its 175th year in 2020), with hot cider on the breezeway. 
– Historic Monumental Church: Historic Richmond will hold an open house with guided tours of Monumental Church.
– The John Marshall House: Christmas in Early America Open House Tour; Make-and-Take Holiday Crafts; Hot Beverages and Snacks; Holiday Group Photos: We’ll provide the decorated, historic backdrop; you bring your camera and your crew!
– Historic St. John’s Church: Church Open House and Visitor Center open from 1:00-4:00p.m.
– The American Civil War Museum’s White House of the Confederacy: Open 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tour the first floor of the historic Clay St. house and learn surprising stories of food, family and freedom that demonstrated resilience and determination during wartime and winter in Richmond.
– The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar*: Explore our main exhibit, “A People’s Contest,” on a special gallery quest to discover stories of food, family, and freedom. Pick up your guide from our interpretive cart in the lobby and collect a period recipe. (*discounted rate of $5 for local residents)
– Mason’s Hall: Open house!

About Court End Council: Court End Council includes a number of downtown historic and cultural sites that work collaboratively to host Winter Wander among other events.