Historic Washington State Park to present 39th annual Christmas and Candlelight

(WASHINGTON, Ark.) – Historic Washington State Park will host its 39th Annual Christmas and Candlelight event on Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13. Tour venues will open at 3 p.m. Luminary lighting and music programs will begin at 5 p.m.

Homes and buildings within the historic town will be decorated with period decorations, and thousands of luminaries will light the streets. Park staff and volunteers will be dressed in period attire throughout the park, sporting fashions from the 1830s through the 1880s. Musical programs will be featured on both nights; see the schedule below. A horse-drawn surrey will be available for rides. Williams’ Tavern Restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a buffet beginning at 4 p.m.

Admission for the event is $20 per vehicle (CASH ONLY). For more information about the event, contact the park at 870-983-2684. We want to acknowledge and thank the different decorators that help make all the homes and structures look beautiful this time of year. We hope you come out and enjoy the hard work they put into this event. The event would not happen if it were not for the many volunteers that take part.

Live Greenery – Arkansas Game and Fish, Paul Siders of Washington, Arkansas, and Warren Webster of Columbus, Arkansas

1836 Courthouse – Pat Cleburne UDC Chapter of Hope, Arkansas

1874 Courthouse – Shover Springs Extension Homemakers Club of Shover Springs, Arkansas

Block House – Family of Josh and Jaime Williams of Washington, Arkansas

Crouch House – Nevada County Extension Homemakers Club of Prescott, Arkansas

Morrison Tavern Inn and Kitchen – Family of Alan and Nugget Moses of Washington, Arkansas

Purdom House – Hope Civitan Club of Hope, Arkansas

Royston Log House – The Eagle’s Nest Specialty Welding and Machining of Buckner, Arkansas

Royston Town House – AFGC Columbia County Friends and Flowers Garden Club

Sanders House and Kitchen – John Cain DAR Chapter of Hope, Arkansas

Williams Tavern (Exterior) – Hempstead County Master Gardeners of Hope, Arkansas

Williams Tavern (Interior) – AFGC Columbia County Friends and Flowers Garden Club

 

Friday, December 12, 2025 Music Schedule

Royston House

5:00 p.m. —8:00 p.m. Brenda Westerbuhr, violinist – Washington, Ark.

 

Washington Methodist Church

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.* Live Nativity Scene (Front Yard)

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Hope Methodist Primary School Choir – Hope, Ark.

5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Nashville Primary Choir – Nashville, Ark.

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Nashville Global Methodist Church Choir – Nashville, Ark.

7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Hempstead County Melody Boys – Hope, Ark.

*Nativity program will be performed in-between performances at the Methodist Church

Washington Presbyterian Church

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Jenny Hainen Trio –Kirby, Ark.

5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Garrett Memorial Christian School Singers – Hope, Ark.

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Faith Baptist Church Choir – Texarkana, Ark.

7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. TBA

Williams Tavern Restaurant

5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Jerome Underwood and Friends – Hope, Ark.

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Rachel Parson & Friends, guitarist – Columbus, Ark.

1874 Courthouse

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. TBA

5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Jennifer Taylor, guitarist – Emmet, Ark.

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Richardson Family – Texarkana, Tex.

7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Tishara Arnett, vocalist and “Twas the Night Before Christmas” reading & St. Nicholas

Outside Caroling
Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girl Troops TX-2289 – Hooks, Tex.
Jenny Hainen Trio – Kirby, Ark.

 

Saturday, December 14, 2024 Music Schedule

Royston House

5:00 p.m. —8:00 p.m. Brenda Westerbuhr, violinist – Washington, Ark.


Washington Methodist Church

5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. * Live Nativity Scene (Front Yard)

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Washington Global Methodist Church Youth – Washington, Ark.

5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Hope Methodist Church Choir – Hope, Ark.

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Harding Global Methodist Church Choir – Texarkana, Tex.

7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Hempstead County Melody Boys – Hope, Ark.

*Nativity program will be performed in-between performances at the Methodist Church

Washington Presbyterian Church

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Jonathan Bradford, pianist – Hope, Ark.

5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Rachel Parson, guitarist – Hope, Ark.

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Jimmy Ivers & Claire Tatom, vocalists & Beth Maroney, pianist – Hope, Ark.

7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The Harmenizers – Hope, Ark.

Williams Tavern Restaurant

5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Jerome Underwood and Friends – Hope, Ark.

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. TBA

1874 Courthouse

5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Kaitlyn Higginbothom, vocalist – Texarkana, Tex.

5:45 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. New Boston High School Theatre Troupe – New Boston, Tex.

6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Four States Fusion Chorus – Texarkana, Ark.

7:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. “Twas the Night Before Christmas” reading & St. Nicholas

Outside Caroling

Four States Fusion Chorus – Texarkana, Ark.

Howard County Children and Adult Center – Nashville, Ark.