Varnum Blog

Colonial Yuletide Event at the Varnum House Museum Returns!

Celebrate General James Mitchel Varnum’s 275th Birthday at the Varnum House Museum’s Colonial Yuletide Open House (Sunday, December 17, 2023)

The Varnum House Museum in East Greenwich, RI (Google Maps), will celebrate General James Mitchell Varnum’s 275th birthday at a Colonial Yuletide Open House. This holiday event will take place on Sunday, December 17 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM and feature festive decorations and museum tours. In addition, the event will include:

  • Opening ceremony on the Varnum House Museum grounds featuring Varnum’s Regiment in uniform.
  • Cutting and serving a birthday cake to celebrate James Mitchell Varnum’s 275th birthday. There will be singing!
  • Short talks from local historians regarding 18th-century history, General James Mitchell Varnum, the value of historic house museums, and celebrating the holidays in early America!

“We are delighted to bring back Colonial Yuletide after a few years’ absence,” said Joanne Breslin, Vice President (VP) of Varnum House Museum and Commander of Varnum’s Regiment. “Colonial Yuletide had become a much-anticipated holiday tradition, drawing visitors from throughout the State. This year, the date coincides with General Varnum’s 275th birthday, so we have two important occasions to celebrate.”

The Varnum House now has a dedicated team working on new partnerships, programs, and outreach efforts focusing on education, inclusivity, and hidden history. Leading this effort is Varnum Continentals’ new VP, Joanne Breslin, who sought the position specifically to revive the Varnum House Museum and transform it into a center of learning, heritage, and culture.

Contact the Varnum House Museum for more details about this event: 401-884-1776 or [email protected] . The suggested donation is $10 per person ($5 for children).