The Henry Clay Memorial Foundation has announced a new holiday initiative at Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate to take place next month. The grounds around the historic mansion will be transformed into a village-like marketplace for “A Kentucky Christmas at Ashland,” an inaugural event featuring Kentucky Proud products and work by other Kentucky artisans and crafters. The event will take place Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a special holiday illumination to take place starting at 5:15 p.m. Rather than lighting the property's 100-ft Norway spruce, as has become an annual tradition, Ashland will instead light trees closer to the house as well as the outbuildings, transforming the grounds into a quaint Christmas village. According to Jim Clark, the organization's executive director, this decision was made to preserve the health of the tree.
“We are creating a new Christmas tradition at Ashland,” said Clark. “I am confident that Henry Clay would approve of this unabashed Kentucky boosterism and creating a community-focused holiday celebration on the estate.”
Musicians, singers and carolers will entertain shoppers throughout the day and into the evening; as dusk approaches, the estate will transform into a European-like winter wonderland, with outbuildings trimmed with white lights and two large and healthy spruce trees also trimmed in lights in a traditional manner. The on-site products available for purchase will provide unique and special holiday gift-buying opportunities.
The former home of Henry Clay will be open for regular tours during the day, with special candlelight open house tours offered immediately following the 5:30 lighting of the tree. The estate's Ginkgo Tree Café will be open throughout the day, offering a seasonal menu and an assortment of holiday treats, and the museum store will be open as well, with a new line of Kentucky-made products sporting the H. Clay & Co. brand.
In line with Henry Clay's nature, the inaugural market celebrates and promotes Kentucky's great wealth of talent found here in Kentucky. In addition to being a great Kentucky leader, Clay was an entrepreneurial farmer and a great promoter of all things Kentucky, especially the breeding and racing of Thoroughbred horses.
The Henry Clay Memorial Foundation was founded in 1926 as a private, nonprofit organization that exists to preserve Ashland, the Henry Clay Estate as a National Historic Landmark, museum and educational center honoring the life and legacy of the American statesman Henry Clay. The organization also seeks to connect Lexingtonians and visitors to local and regional artisans and Kentucky Proud producers.