It is time again to set out and light the candles for Rockingham Historic Site’s Annual Candlelight Christmas Tours. The program is being offered Sunday, December 15 from 11 o’clock in the morning until 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

The tours, for which advanced reservations are required, include information on 18th-century Christmas traditions and revolve around a special theme rather than the regular house tour — this year the theme is the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment had roots in the later 17th century, but flourished in the 18th, with major shifts in fields such as philosophy, communication, transportation, religion, science, education, government, and the arts. Our tour guests will learn about different aspects of this age as they pass from room to room, led and informed by the period-dress attired Live Historians Club of Montgomery Township High School.

In addition to the tours by candlelight, there will be period music provided by Practitioners of Musik in one of the rooms and 18th-century-style decorations arranged by the Stony Brook Garden Club. As ever, the Live Historian will also provide refreshments of cookies and warm cider in the Children’s Museum. The Rockingham Association will be present, greeting tour guests, minding candles, and staffing the museum store for light holiday shopping.

Advance tour reservations are required with a suggested donation of $5 and must be made by calling (609) 683-7132 through November 24 or (609) 683-7136 after November 24. Tours will be offered at least every half-hour with 3:30 being the last tour.

Rockingham is located on Laurel Avenue/Kingston-Rocky Hill Road (Route 603) between Route 518 in Rocky Hill and Route 27 in Kingston. For more information, call (609) 683-7132 or visit: www.rockingham.net.