On Friday, December 4th, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm, the quiet little town of Sharon, Wisconsin will once again step back in time and visit the late 1800’s and host a “Victorian Christmas Evening”.

Hosted by the Sharon Main Street Organization, which guides the restorations and revitalization of the Historic Downtown District, this 14th annual romantic Victorian night promises to delight all in attendance.

As always, Sharon will roll out the welcome mat to visitors for this grand festival. With holiday windows aglow, chestnuts roasting on open fires, sleigh bells ringing, carolers singing, Victorian restaurants serving, romantic music abounding and decorated horse and buggies, this evening won’t want to be missed by young or old. Not only, will this lovely old Wisconsin town be decked out in all its holiday finery, but visitors will notice that most of the locals and merchants are dressed in full Victorian regalia as well.

Plan to start your evening at 5 pm sharp as all the downtown restaurants open with delicious homemade menu items and specialty eateries await the hungry Victorian visitor. An amazing magician will be on hand walking the Victorian Streets and captivating small and large crowds alike. Carolers, musicians, dancers, actors and their own Town Crier will entertain you all evening long.

Begin your evening with a horse drawn carriage ride. Leaving from North Street along side the train tracks, your carriage awaits you, to take you on a magical ride to view the many Victorian homes and holiday decorated historic streets.

Then it’s back to the town, where wassail will flow as well as hot chocolate and spiced cider.

As in long ago times, sweets of all description will abound, as well as hot roasted nuts, kettle corn, fried bread and hot soups. Don’t forget to stroll down the streets of Sharon and look for the Town Bum. He’ll be roasting chestnuts over an open fire and waits to share his words of wisdom with his guests.

Gather around the Village Christmas Tree at 6 pm for the lighting ceremony and enjoy the wonderful sounds of the season with the singing of holiday carols.

The most anticipated highlight of the evening is the Horse Driven, decorated and lighted, Carriage parade. As you wait to see the splendor of the carriages, you can hear the sound of sleigh bells off in the distance as they make their way into town. Delight in the beauty of these wonderful period carriages, buggies and wagons as they slowly enter the streets, pulled by everything form ponies to Clydesdales. Their drivers are dressed in vintage attire, complete with rosy cheeks and mitten clad hands.

Finally, with child-like anticipation and excitement, the crowd strains to see the man in the red suit and listens for those five cherished words, “HO, HO, HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

As Santa is ushered into town, he comes with full white beard and roly-poly belly and a sack filled with special surprises for those visiting “good little girls and boys.”

Mark your calendars now and plan on creating a family tradition. Join everyone in Sharon, Wisconsin to make this Holiday Season one of Magic and Merriment, and a Victorian Christmas Memory that will last a lifetime. For more information, contact the Sharon Main Street Association at 262-736- 6246.

Unique Eateries

Street Peasants & Food Peddlers
Eat-in Restaurants with Entertainment
Roasted Chestnuts
Cinnamon Fried Bread
Freshly made Kettle Corn
Hot Chocolate, Cider & Wassail
Old Fashioned Bakery
Homemade Fudge and Confectionaries
Hot Cinnamon Roasted Nuts
Bob Crachit’s Plum Pudding

Entertainment

Magician
Dulcimer Players
Carolers and Victorian Dancers
Victorian Minstrels
Dog Sled Demonstrations
Old English Music throughout town
Bell Ringers
Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Children’s performances
Time Era Vocalists

Schedule

Restaurants Open at 5:00 p.m. for your dining convenience.
6:00 pm — Tree Lighting Ceremony
7:00 pm — Lighted Horse Drawn Carriage Parade
6:00–9:00 pm — Professional Entertainment, Shoppes to visit, Full Coarse Eat-in Restaurants, Photos with Santa, Horse Drawn Carriage Rides.

Map and Directions

Located on Highway 67, just 7 miles north of Harvard, Illinois, 18 miles west of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and 22 miles east of Beloit, Wisconsin; Sharon’s extravagant celebration is an easy drive from just about anywhere in the area.