Winter Wonderland - The Coleman Collection
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Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection
November 27 - December 31
Now in its fifth year at the Courthouse Galleries, Winter Wonderland has settled into its new surroundings. Begin your holiday and New Year countdown with Holidays Around the World, which celebrates diverse cultures and traditions from many nations. Watch for the Snow Babies frolicking nearby in the courtyard.
Each year, newly renovated figures add to the enchantment of visitors and remind young and old of holidays past. Scenes from a Victorian era offer a Chalet with animated carolers, strollers and skaters. Fanciful elves prepare their treats at Santa’s Bakery and Candy Shop, while more of his crew ready by constructing toys and wrapping gifts for distribution.
View other holiday favorites such as Sleeping Santa, representative of one of the first figures that launched the Coleman collection during the 1960s. On special weekends, the inaugural Singing Santa returns to rejoice audiences with seasonal songs.
• Tuesday-Thursday 9:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday 9:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.
• Sunday 11:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
• Christmas Eve - New Year's Eve, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Closed Monday's and Christmas Day
• Weekend activities include crafts, music and activities.
Fee: Museum Admission $5
A ticket to Winter Wonderland includes admission to Andalo’s Clubhouse.
For more information call 757-393-8543.
Presented by the Courthouse Galleries, High & Court streets.
757-393-8543 | www.courthousegalleries.com
A Brief History of The Coleman Collection.
In existence since 1966, the original Winter Wonderland at the Coleman's Nursery featured an animated figure "Sleeping Santa" which had a sign that read "Do not wake until December 24th." Winter Wonderland quickly became a tradition with many area families and those throughout the Hampton Roads region.
In 2004 the nursery closed, the property was sold, and the popular collection was in need of a home. The Portsmouth Museums Foundation negotiated a five-year financial pledge to Coleman's for the purchase of the collection in order keep it in Portsmouth for future generations to enjoy.
The Coleman Nursery legacy lives on at the Courthouse Galleries
Through the joint efforts of the Museums Foundation, museum staff and countless volunteers... the tradition continues at the Courthouse Galleries. The museum is now transformed each November and December into a spectacular showcase of thousands of glittering lights and refurbished animated figures now known as Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection.
As Sleeping Santa continues to snore and animated carolers sing familiar Christmas songs, the 1846 Courthouse in Olde Towne Portsmouth has come alive for the past five years with the restored Winter Wonderland. The Coleman Collection holds vivid memories for Hampton Roads families of elves, snow babies and woodland creatures. The Portsmouth Museums Foundation and the staff of the Portsmouth Museums are to be commended for their vision and dedication to a wonderful community tradition in Portsmouth that continues to delight our visitors – the “young and young at heart”!
Martha Frances Fortson
Executive Director
Portsmouth Museums Foundation
