Woodstock, Vt.: A Historic Festival in a Picturesque Town
By Erin Skarda Monday, Nov. 21, 2011
Is there a better place to celebrate Christmas than Vermont, where the air has a fragrance of pine needles and the ground is (most likely) dusted with snow? For the past 25 years, Woodstock has hosted Wassail Weekend, a pre-Christmas festival that is rooted in 19th century Norse culture and traditions. While the city itself is a sight to see during the holiday season, Wassail Weekend brings a distinctive parade of more than 50 horses and riders adorned in holiday costumes and period dress, as well as wagon and sleigh rides, a wassail feast and tours of the city’s most notable historic buildings. (Wassail is a hot beverage, often something akin to cider, associated with Christmastime.) The city even makes it easy to complete (or start) your holiday shopping: throughout the festival, local shops stay open late, with enticing window displays that appear to be plucked from a movie scene. It’s everything you imagine Christmas to be, but so much more.
(WEB Note: We always love a good plug for our little hamlet and our annual Wassailin’ Festivities…but when a writer refers to Woodstock as a “city” we lose a bit of respect for the publication which clearly has written and/or edited the piece without visiting “Our Town”. On another related note, we wish there was a way to bring back the bonfire BEFORE and DURING the parade since it can get mighty chilly waiting for the various sections of the horses to move around the Village Green. We know, we know, we remember the horse or two that freaked out and ran amuk….causing injury to itself, but somehow, lighting the bonfire after the parade seems a bit, er, anticlimactic. We also think fondly of Kendalls past who were essential to organizing this event. Oh, one more thought….we’re hoping that a couple of well-known Woodstock Early Birds familiar with horses who happen to contribute to this blog might also be seen parading through town? What about it, guys?)
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 
Posted by Beth on December 2, 2011 at 12:07
We are very pleased to have Woodstock named as the “most Christmassy” town in America. I think Woodstock embodies Christmas past and present, with our wonderful history and upscale shops!
With regard to lighting the bon fire before the parade, I am afraid we have to depend on the knowledge and experience of the folks at GMHA who are adamant that the fire can provoke an otherwise gentle horse to bolt, causing potential harm to families and friends who have gathered to enjoy the celebration. I would rather Woodstock be known for the wonderful, ‘Christmassy” Wassail celebration, than make the news because our parade caused an injury! So come and enjoy the bon fire, the Memory Tree, the music of the season and the luminaries- after the parade!
The Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce
LikeLike
Posted by Toni Richie on December 2, 2011 at 15:01
Why not a little compromise? Why not start off with a small campfire, around which we freezing spectators can warm our toes. Then when the horses are out of sight, the bonfire can be lit in all its magnificence. Will anyone be selling hot cocoa? with whipped cream? or hot cider w/cinnamon stick?
LikeLike
Posted by Woodstock Chamber of Commerce on December 5, 2011 at 08:52
The Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce will be there with the “Wassail Cafe'” starting at 11:00am . Enjoy!
LikeLike