There is a county in southern Indiana by the name of Posy that coincidentally, or not so coincidentally, rhymes with cozy … and in that county is a small, one-horse town called New Harmony.
Located on the Wabash River, New Harmony (population 683) is a place you’d expect to meet Pollyanna, Huck Finn, and Tom Sawyer.
This town has hosted a Christmas festival the first weekend of December for the last 40 years. When we learned of it, we were all-in. The we consisted of my husband, two sisters and their husbands — one from Colorado Springs, the other from Columbus, Ohio.
Our adventure began at the Ludwig Epple Guest House, which accommodated all six of us comfortably. The home, built in 1819, may be a relic to some but a treasure to us. Every detail reflected the ambiance of its origin while it offered 21st century amenities such as modern kitchen appliances and indoor plumbing. Knotty hardwood floors, antique furnishings, wreaths hung in the windows, colorful glass bulbs accented the center of a long dining room table, and a lace mantel scarf adorned the fireplace. Such whispers of history delivered a graceful, storybook charm.
In the living room sat a 5×7 frame on one of the end tables. In it was a black and white photograph of Santa with a young boy perched on his lap, as his older sister looked on. The smirk across the boy’s face was undeniable and it made me wonder – more than once – of what the exchange had been between him and the jolly old man.
The living room flowed into the dining room, which flowed into the kitchen and I chuckled at a bit of humor planted there. Printed on a small hand towel was the following sentiment: “Honey the nice part about living in New Harmony is if you don’t know what you’re doing, someone else does!”
Just a few steps around the corner from our guest house was the Red Geranium. It was a welcoming restaurant, nestled-in the neighborhood, replete with white linen tablecloths, classic Christmas décor, and friendly service. Once we were seated and drinks were delivered, we raised our glasses and toasted to the season and being together.
As the sun dipped below the horizon and Christmas lights started to glow, we made our way to the festive courtyard of the New Harmony Inn. There, families gathered for a tree lighting ceremony and caroling. Free hot chocolate was offered as well as marshmallows for roasting. Candles were lit and we all contributed to a New Harmony rendition of “Silent Night.” On this night, there was no December snow, only insulated cloud cover that thankfully chased away rain that had fallen earlier in the day.
The Thrall’s Opera House was the setting for an 8 p.m. Christmas concert with The Bergamot. We settled into our front row seats and savored the magic that their music brought to the evening. The audience was invited to join in on such songs as “White Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas is You” among other favorites. Everything about the evening brought Christmas cheer.
Crowds lined both sides of Main Street Saturday morning in anticipation of the annual Christmas parade. There were floats such as Santa’s Sweet Shop, marching bands with feathery plumes, antique tractors, a team of horses harnessed and tagged with reindeer names (of course, Rudolf led the way). There was even a Grinch on roller skates, and when he was close enough to hear my query, I hollered, “Hey, Grinch, can I get a picture with you?” Much to my delight, he obliged. And, oh yes, in case you’re wondering, Santa did come to town. He and the Mrs. were the grand finale, and rode in a horse-drawn carriage. Rumor had it that Santa’s sleigh was in for repairs.
During our visit, we noted what seemed to be an absence of a police presence. Perhaps the head of the police force in New Harmony guided the town in the same way Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry did – as much with his heart as by the book. There were no sirens, neon signs, no skyscrapers, no mega churches, protests on the corner, no double-decker highways, nor hum of traffic. In fact, it was quiet enough to hear the clip clop, clip clop of a horse-drawn carriage that rounded a corner.
Growing up, I always wondered what it would be like to step into a Norman Rockwell painting. After visiting New Harmony for the weekend, I now have my answer.