Hard Hogmanay!
Kick off your New Year’s Eve in the Scottish tradition at the William Trent House. On Saturday, December 31st, from 2-3 pm, the Trent House Visitor Center will host the traditional Scottish celebration of Hogmanay. Guests can enjoy various activities, including live bagpipers, learn the authentic shortbread recipe from the days of William Trent, listen to Scottish folk tales, and enjoy some Scottish treats. Guests will also have the opportunity to hear from Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson as she reflects on her childhood memories of the holiday in Scotland. The event will conclude with singing Auld Lang Syne and placing cards with your wishes for 2023 in a fire for good luck!
If weather permits, this will be an outdoor event. If outdoors, the event will be held on the grounds of the William Trent House (15 Market St, Trenton, NJ 08611). Guests of all ages are invited to gather around the cozy firepits, indulge in warm apple cider, and enjoy an afternoon of music and stories. But if there’s rain or snow, do not fret! The festivities will carry on indoors if inclement weather occurs on the morning of the event. Please be aware that if the event is moved indoors, there is a maximum capacity of the first 40 registrants.
Registration is available here: Registration – Hogmanay. The morning of the event, please be sure to look out for an email from trenthouseassociation@verizon.net to confirm whether the event is indoors or outdoors. At this time, you will also receive confirmation if you were included in the pre-registrants group with an indoor seat reserved. If your registration is confirmed and you can no longer attend the event, please get in touch with the Trent House to prove it, and the spot can be given to the next registrant on the list.
This family-friendly event is held as an homage to the namesake of Trenton, William Trent. As a young man, our city’s founder immigrated from Scotland to Philadelphia, where he’d become a wealthy shipping merchant. Now, decades later, the City of Trenton is invited to come together to celebrate the traditions of our founder’s homeland. Each year, the William Trent House hosts various events and educational opportunities to tell the stories of the people, property, and history of the William Trent House. In addition, the museum tells the legacies of the region’s Indigenous, European, and African cultures. It explores how the three merged to influence one another in colonial New Jersey.
Register at your earliest convenience if you’re interested in attending this festive celebration. If you have any questions before the event, contact the organizers here: Contact Us – William Trent House. So, as we bid adieu to 2022, kick off the year’s last day the Scottish way!
