On Saturday, December 30th, you and your family are invited for an afternoon of traditional Scottish fun at this year’s Hogmanay celebration. The festivities will begin at 2pm at the William Trent House Museum, located at 15 Market St, Trenton, NJ 08611. This all-ages event will allow you and your family to ring in the New Year in the tradition of William Trent, our community’s namesake.

William Trent, a famed merchant and early resident of what would later be named Trenton, originally hailed from the Scottish Highlands. And back in Scotland, there was no finer way to ring in the New Year than with a Hogmanay celebration. Records suggest that the first Hogmanay was celebrated in 1604, marking the beginning of a number of beloved traditions, including the enjoying of seasonal treats like shortbread, captivating fire ceremonies, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne at the stroke of midnight. Traditional Hogmanay festivities involve a number of rituals and traditions which are meant to foster good fortune for the coming year. And as you get ready to ring in 2024, you don’t have to look farther than the Capital City for the perfect way to say farewell to another wonderful year.

Throughout the afternoon, guests will have the chance to enjoy a number of hands-on activities to demonstrate what a New Years Eve may have looked like in 17th century Scotland. Upon arrival, attendees will be greeted with the sound of bagpipes filling the air. Afterwards, your hearts will be warmed with the tales of childhood memories of Hogmanays past. If you’re hungry for a sweet treat to ring in the New Year, you’re in luck! Guests will also have the chance to learn the authentic recipe for shortbread which would’ve been used in Trent’s time. As the warm sights and sounds of Scottish tradition send off 2023, you will be certain to enter 2024 with a smile.

The annual Hogmanay celebration is a highly anticipated portion of Patriots Week, a weeklong celebration of historic proportions. Throughout the week, organizations and entities from throughout the city will be hosting a number of interactive events to help immerse you and your family in some of Trenton’s most pivotal moments. From a recreation of the Battle of Trenton to hidden history tours highlighting some of Trenton’s off-the-beaten-path gems, this illuminating week of celebration shows off the very best of our community. For more information regarding this year’s events, please check out the Patriots Week website for additional details: Patriots Week 2023.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the upcoming Hogmanay celebrations, please contact the William Trent House Museum team at (609) 989-3027 or by utilizing their contact form, linked here: Contact Us. Additional details about the William Trent House Museum and other upcoming events can be found on their website, linked here: Trent House. 2023’s final days are officially upon us, and we can’t think of a better way to spend it than a day of learning, laughter, and fun right here in Trenton.

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