A Note from our General Manager: Happy Holidays!
Published November 29, 2017
Dear Friends,
As I write this, we have just 27 days left until joyous Christmas morning arrives and we get to see the faces of those we love warming our hearths and hearts. As we approach that blessed morning, we all find that though the days are shortened, they are filled with celebrations and responsibilities, as we are each Santa’s helpers.
The Gettysburg Hotel has been my home for the last four years and I’ve embraced every part of this little town. I’d like to share with you some of my favorite Gettysburg Christmas traditions. My hope is that they provide you with more opportunities to spend time with those you love, to create your own memories, and to fully embrace the magic and wonder of this special time of year.
Each year, one of the greatest joys for me is the Christmas kick-off celebration, Breakfast with Santa. Last year, we hosted 624 guests, each coming to introduce their children to Kris Kringle himself and providing him with the highly valuable Christmas wish list. We know your children have been nice this year and we hope to see them on December 2nd between 7:30-11:30 am. Come hungry because we will have a delicious pancake and scrambled egg breakfast. It takes the entire community to make this event a reality and it is planned in partnership with Gettysburg Dental and the United Way. All proceeds from the event go to the United Way of Adams County and help to fund their programs throughout the year.
By the first weekend of December, I know many of you will be ready to put up your Christmas trees. I highly recommend heading to the wilderness to cut down your own, a tradition I shared with my children every year when we lived in Connecticut. If you’re looking for a local option, there are many throughout the area, but one I’d recommend is the Showers Tree Farm, a family run establishment since 1963, located in Aspers, just a short drive from downtown Gettysburg.
If you’re anything like me, the Christmas shopping list grows longer each year with more gifts and increasingly elaborate menus for the holiday parties I host. Last year, I did all of my shopping locally and visited the great downtown businesses like Lark, Gallery 30, and Codori’s . I look forward to adding two new businesses, the Nerd Herd and Redbud, to my list of must-go-to places. I’d also encourage you to visit our local markets for all the fresh meats and produce you’ll need to create a festive table with all of the traditional holiday favorites!
Tuba Fest will be back this year for their annual concert. It always amazes me that tuba players from around the country come together on this one night each year to bring the Christmas Spirit to Gettysburg. It’s an incredibly unique opportunity to hear the delightful holiday melodies that these brass instruments can produce. If you need a little help getting into the holiday spirit, come enjoy a cup of cocoa from us and let this music guide you to the magic of the season.
Another must-see event that I enjoy each year is the Christmas Carol, presented by Totem Pole Playhouse at the Majestic Theater. Join Mr. Scrooge as he is transported through time and learns the lesson that is good for each of us to remember… that the holidays are a time for love and family and it’s never too late to make a difference. I encourage you, if you have the means, give to someone this year who needs your help. Volunteer at a food bank, donate a warm coat, or just take a cup of cocoa to someone who looks cold. Everything we do to help our brothers and sisters in the community has an impact. That one small act of kindness may change someone’s world forever.
Once Christmas is done and gone, our attention will shift quickly to the New Year and I’d like to invite you to join us for our incredible New Year’s Eve Celebration. While you make your resolutions and write them down, we’ll prepare a delicious five-course meal that you can enjoy before the dancing ensues. Admittedly, the countdown to midnight is my favorite part! Step out into the Town Square and enjoy the fireworks show as you ring in the New Year with those you love.
My wish for you this year is that you experience the love of family and friends, that you make memories to last a lifetime, and that your homes, hearts, and tummies are full of all the good things this season offers.
