Fall Lantern Tours Light Up Schoenbrunn Village in New Philadelphia

Nothing says fall in Ohio like taking a stroll in the crisp autumn air, and Schoenbrunn Village in New Philadelphia is offering a unique way for visitors to do just that this season.

The Fall Lantern Tours are a Schoenbrunn Village tradition, inviting visitors back centuries in time for a hands-on experience that allows them to see life in the 1700s by the soft glow of lanterns. Taking place on the evenings of Sept. 12 and 13, visitors will be equipped with battery-powered lanterns to help guide their way along a lighted path that leads to the preserved and restored buildings of this 18th-century Moravian community.

“Exploring Schoenbrunn Village by lantern light is a unique and enlightening experience,” Tanner Immel, site manager of Schoenbrunn Village, said in an Aug. 19 press release. “We hope families from all over the state will visit for these special tours.”

Schoenbrunn Village was founded in 1772 as a Moravian mission and bills itself as the home of Ohio’s first church, settlement, schoolhouse and civil code. Schoenbrunn prospered in its short life, which lasted until 1777 when the settlement was abandoned. Today, its 18 log structures have been restored to their former glory, along with the church and gardens. The original settlement cemetery remains.

Lantern Tours offer a chance to explore the village by nightfall but also learn more about trades and practices of the day. Stop by the buildings in Schoenbrunn Village (lit by the glow of candlelight) and learn about maple sugaring, candle making and writing with an ink and quill. 

Visitors can also enjoy a sampling of delicious snacks, as well as a visit to the gift shop and museum, where the exhibits are open to the public.

For ticketing information, visit ohiohistorystore.com.

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