[Archived] Tickets on Sale for Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tour

 Sweeter this year! December 13th and 14th

See – and taste – historic Alexandria in a whole new light this holiday season! Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tour, Alexandria’s premier historic holiday event, blends chocolate and history through special tastings, seasonal decorations, period music, and tours highlighting chocolate through time.  Three of Old Town Alexandria’s finest historic sites will welcome guests on Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14 as The Historic Division of Mars sponsors this historic chocolate event.

This year’s tour includes Carlyle House Historic Park (121 North Fairfax Street), Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 North Royal Street), and Lee-Fendall House (614 Oronoco Street). Tour times are Saturday, December 13, 6—9 p.m. and Sunday, December 14, 3—6 p.m. 

The tour is self-guided and the sites may be visited in any order. A free shuttle is provided running in a continuous loop between the sites. Ticket prices are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $5 for children (ages 6-17).  Tickets for this event can be purchased online at http://shop.alexandriava.gov.

Historic chocolate is woven throughout the experience.  Carlyle House, illuminated by candlelight, highlights chocolate during the French and Indian War, including American Heritage Chocolate® samples produced by Mars Chocolate North America.  An 18^th century coffee house comes to life at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, enhanced by the scent of fresh greens and chocolate.  See how chocolate goes from bean to beverage, “take” chocolate, and enjoy 18^th-century music and dancing in the same room where George and Martha Washington danced. For the sights and tastes of a Victorian Christmas, the Lee-Fendall House will feature the latest 19^th-century chocolate delicacy, fudge. 

Old Town Alexandria is served by convenient public transportation, including the free King Street Trolley. Ample public parking is available at the Tavern Square and Market Square parking garages.

To learn more about other holiday events in historic Alexandria, please visit www.visitalexandriava.com and www.historicalexandria.org.

About The Historic Division of Mars

The Historic Division of Mars is dedicated to sharing chocolate’s fascinating journey through time – how chocolate was made, how it was used, where it came from, and what it tasted like throughout history.

Chocolate has been woven through the fabric of American culture for centuries.  With its origin in the rain forests of Central and South America at least 3,500 years ago, chocolate’s rich history is intertwined in the stories of our ancestors.

Mars, Incorporated has more than 100 years of chocolate-making excellence. As the leader in cocoa and chocolate history, cocoa sustainability and cocoa science, The Historic Division of Mars brings the history of chocolate to life through lectures, tastings, and interactive demonstrations. 

A team of Mars Chocolate History Ambassadors led by Rodney Snyder, Chocolate History Research Director for Mars Chocolate North America, bring history to life with a one-on-one demonstration of the historical bean-to-beverage story using authentic tools including live cocoa pods, cocoa beans and nibs, a hot stone metate, winnowing baskets, chocolate drink pots, and stirrers.

About American Heritage Chocolate®

American Heritage Chocolate® was created by Mars Chocolate North America to help educate consumers about the history of our nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foods.

American Heritage Chocolate® is an authentic historic line of products that celebrate chocolate’s important role in the lives of Americans during the 18th century.

Made with all-natural ingredients and no preservatives, American Heritage Chocolate® is an authentic recipe that shares the same characteristics as chocolate made during colonial times. Rich in cocoa, mildly spicy, and slightly sweet, American Heritage Chocolate® is flavored with a blend of spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg, chili pepper, orange, and vanilla.

American Heritage Chocolate® is sold nationally in fine gift shops at historic sites and museums such as Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Fort Ticonderoga, Monticello and The Smithsonian. For a complete listing or to purchase online, please visit www.americanheritagechocolate.com.