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Hope's Annual Moravian Christmas
Traditions Come Alive Again, December 13 - 14
Candlelit luminaries glow along village streets and country lanes as costumed guides lead visitors through Hope’s historic limestone Moravian buildings. Festive decorations, the town crier’s bell, lantern light, and winter air set the scene for the Hope Moravian Christmas and Lantern Tours, returning December 13–14, 2025. Now in its ninth year, the event brightens the season with candlelit streets, Christmas exhibits, and demonstrations of the village's Moravian traditions.
Along the village streets and country lanes, candlelit luminaries flicker in the crisp evening air.
Founded in 1769 by members of the Moravian Church, the quaint town of Hope was one of America’s first planned communities. The simple religious settlement thrived here—living, working, and worshiping until 1808, when the community returned to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Today, the Moravian spirit continues to thrive in the small community. Many of Hope's original structures have been lovingly and painstakingly restored to their original condition or re-purposed by local businesses.
The Moravian Distillery
The candlelight tour offers visitors both historical and visual insight into many of the Moravian buildings that once comprised the original town. Highlights of the tour include the Inn at Millrace Pond (the original grist mill), First Hope Bank (the original Moravian meeting house), the Moravian Distillery, the Hope Museum, and several private homes and historic structures.
Hope Community Center
Visitors can also enjoy a live Nativity, holiday shopping, food at the Festival of Trees, and ten uniquely decorated Christmas trees created by community groups. A special feature is the traditional Moravian Nativity, or Putz, a landscaped scene depicting the Nativity with natural elements gathered by children and handcrafted figures representing biblical moments including the Annunciation, shepherds, kings, and the flight into Egypt.
There's still time to reserve your spot on a guided candlelit walking tour on Saturday December 13. Each is a 90-minute, 10-destination guided tour through the historic village. The village of Hope sits at the crossroads of Routes 519 and 521, in scenic Warren County, NJ. For more information email the Hope Historical Society or call 908-459-4918.
Saturday, December 13, 2025 ONLY:
- Guided Lantern Tours: reservations are required and start every 30 minutes between 4 - 6pm on Saturday. $20 per person, no charge for children under 12 and $25 day of the event (subject to availability).
- Self-guided tour maps are available, and this year we’ve added a QR code that links to our Prezi tour for $10.
- St. John’s candlelight Moravian Church Service at 7:30pm is open to the public at no cost and free parking.
Saturday, December 13 (3-7:30pm) and Sunday, December 14 (1-4:00pm):
- Festival of Trees and Moravian Putz Nativity program are open to the public at no cost and free parking.
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