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For almost four decades, Historic St. Mary’s City’s Madrigal Evenings have heralded the advent of Christmas. The season calls for crackling fires and candlelight, toasts with friends and fine food, the sounds of hearty laughter and familiar music. All will be served, in style, during the 38th season of Christmas Madrigals. 

The hosts, in the roles of Maryland’s colonial settlers, will welcome guests with wassail, oyster stew, and traditional fare in the Jacobean-style State House of 1676. A Southern Maryland family-style dinner will follow. The building will be beautifully decorated for the occasion by the Mistress Brent Garden Club.

This year’s theme, the colonial inn, promises to once again showcase their ingenuity and hallmark use of natural materials. A program of traditional Christmas aires, performed by St. Maries Musica, a troupe of colorfully costumed and skilled musicians, will close the feast.

Madrigals are a production of Historic St. Mary’s City Foundation, a non-profit tax-exempt organization that supports the work of the living history museum at the site of Maryland’s first capital. Historic St. Mary’s City is one of the earliest English settlements in North America and a National Historic Landmark. Proceeds from the Christmas Madrigal evenings enable the Foundation to assist the museum in telling the unique story of Maryland’s beginnings.

A limited number of tickets are still available Historic St. Mary’s City’s Christmas Madrigal Evenings on Friday and Sunday evenings, Dec. 11 and 13. Tickets are $85 per guest ($75 for Friends members) and include dinner, beverages and entertainment.

Advance reservations are required as seating in the Assembly Room is limited. When placing your reservation, it is helpful to have the names of the people in your party on hand. For more information or reservations please call (240) 895-4991 or e-mail mmpadukiewicz@smcm.edu.