Watch history come alive!
Come experience the time WWI paused for Christmas bringing mortal enemies together as friends
December 11 & 12, 2021
Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 2 PM
$10 Adults, $5 Kids (5-11), Under 5 free (Cash Price )
Price Includes admission to the museum
Credit cards accepted (with convenience fee)
Free Parking on-site!
Christmas Truce is a ‘Special Event day’ regular admission prices are not valid
What is the Christmas Truce?
The countries of Europe went to war in the summer of 1914 with enthusiasm and the belief that the conflict would be over by Christmas (December 25) of that year. Within months, however, hundreds of thousands of soldiers had been killed in heavy fighting. In September, the German advance into France had been halted at the Marne and the “Race to the Sea” between Germany and the Allies culminated at the First Battle of Ypres in October. The result was a bloody stalemate, where both sides had built continuous lines of trenches from the North Sea to the Swiss border.
By December 1914 the reality of trench warfare quickly settled in. Heavy rain soaked both the trenches and the No Man’s Land that separated them. For those on the Western Front, daily life was miserable, but it was a misery that was shared by enemies who were, in some places, separated by 50 yards. By Christmas Eve, a tenuous truce slowly started to take hold. The Germans placed Christmas trees and candles on their trenches and began singing Christmas carols. The British responded by singing carols of their own. As morning broke on Christmas Day, both German and British soldiers slowly emerged from their trenches meeting in No Man’s Land to socialize, exchange gifts, and in some places play games.
After Christmas, violence returned to the Western Front. While there were punishments linked to the events of the Christmas Truce, British and German generals quickly took steps to prevent any further episodes of fraternization between their men. There were no subsequent widespread cease-fires on the Western Front until the armistice of November 1918.
How do you get tickets and how do you do to enter the event
1) Upon arrival, you will first enter the museum to purchase your tickets for the Christmas Truce.
2) Next, you will proceed to the vehicle departure point where you will ride a military vehicle to the WWI Demonstration field where all of the Christmas Truce activities will take place.
3) The Gate will open at 10 AM on both days. Come early and stay all day! You will not want to miss anything.
4) Food vendors will be on-site to make sure no one goes hungry!
5) It is that simple!
TENTATIVE Schedule of Events (times are subject to change)
Saturday – 10 AM – 4 PM
10:00 AM- Gates Open
11:00 AM – Christmas Truce Presentation
12:00 PM – Trench Tours
3:00 PM – Christmas Truce Presentation
4:00 PM- Event Over
Sunday – 10 AM – 2 PM
10:00 AM- Gates Open
10:00 AM – Trench Tours
12:00 PM – Christmas Truce Presentation
1:00 PM – Trench Tours
2:00 PM – Event Over