VANCOUVER — Clark County residents had the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of the 1840s Victorian-era winter holiday season at the annual “Christmas at Fort Vancouver” special event Saturday at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
At the fort, visitors heard caroling by the Madrigal Singers as they enjoyed warm holiday wassail, games, craft making and music with historical dancing. In addition, the festive ambiance at “Christmas at Fort Vancouver” was designed to provide a memorable historic holiday scene where visitors with cameras captured photos of friends and family with costumed reenactors.
Popular blacksmithing and black powder demonstrations were also held throughout the holiday event. The park provided craft materials needed for attendees to make wooden toy tops, wreaths, tassels and potpourri ornaments, which families used to make their own Victorian-era holiday treasures to decorate their homes or to give as gifts.
In conjunction with holiday activities at the reconstructed fort, visitors were invited to join in “A Celebration of Birds,” hosted by the Friends of Fort Vancouver at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center. Current featured artist Joy Pomaika’i Hou’oli O’Hearn, demonstrated the traditions and techniques of Hawaiian feather art for the public.
Free children’s activities were also available. Through a generous donation from Home Depot, children were able to build and take home birdhouses and volunteers helped children make pine cone bird feeders. The Friends of Fort Vancouver Bookstore at the Visitor Center was also open to help those in attendance find a unique gift.
