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Work with local greenery, ribbons, berries, and pinecones to craft a handmade holiday wreath in Canterbury, NH. This beginner-friendly workshop with local instructor Jen Hopkins connects seasonal materials to place-based tradition.
Work with local greenery, ribbons, berries, and pinecones to craft a handmade holiday wreath in Canterbury, NH. This beginner-friendly workshop with local instructor Jen Hopkins connects seasonal materials to place-based tradition.
Book with Canterbury Shaker Village
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Operated by Canterbury Shaker Village · Canterbury, New Hampshire
Christmas at Canterbury — Wreath Making is a hands-on holiday workshop held in Canterbury, New Hampshire, where locals and visitors gather to craft wreaths from regional greens under the guidance of Jen Hopkins. The session takes place in Canterbury, a small New Hampshire town set amid mixed hardwood and evergreen stands, and focuses on using locally foraged materials — ribbons, berries, pinecones and branches — to assemble a lasting door wreath.
This workshop reads like a seasonal slice of place: instructors demonstrate basic wreath frames and foundational binding techniques, then hand out bundles of spruce, cedar, pine, and clipped cones. Participants learn to combine textures — glossy holly-like berries set against the flat needles of spruce — and to finish pieces with wired ribbons and a personal bow. The experience is social and tactile; you’ll leave with a finished wreath and the know-how to make another at home.
What makes this offering special is its direct thread to the surrounding landscape. Materials are local, the tempo is unhurried, and the instructor, Canterbury resident Jen Hopkins, brings neighborhood knowledge that ties craft to place. For visitors who came for trails and winter walks in central New Hampshire, this is a warm, creative way to translate the region’s plant life into holiday decor. The class also functions as a small-scale cultural moment: New England holiday greenery has deep roots in colonial-era craft, and this modern workshop keeps that lineage alive while emphasizing low-impact sourcing.
Logistics are straightforward: sessions typically last 90–120 minutes and are accessible to beginners. The host provides materials but encourages participants to bring pruning shears if they prefer. Small groups keep the pace flexible and allow for one-on-one tips. Workshops are ideal for couples, solo travelers seeking a community activity, or families with older children.
As an addition to an outdoor itinerary, the wreath workshop is a practical, memorable stop. Pair it with a nearby woodland walk to spot the same species you’ll be working with, or schedule it after a local holiday market visit. The finished wreath makes a compact, meaningful souvenir that captures the season and the place.
Book early: space is limited and these holiday slots fill quickly. Bring warm layers for winter walks to the material source, and a box to carry your wreath home safely. Whether you’re a hands-on maker or trying a new holiday tradition, Christmas at Canterbury — Wreath Making offers a uniquely local way to celebrate the season.
Sessions are family-friendly but recommend checking age guidelines; younger children often need adult assistance. Materials may vary by date based on what’s sustainably available, so hosts sometimes substitute dried elements like cedar sprays or preserved berries. Expect a relaxed pace and time to personalize every wreath with small keepsakes.
easy.
1.5–2 hours.
No special fitness needed; participants should be able to stand or sit for up to two hours and handle light manual tasks.
No—this workshop is beginner-friendly and Jen Hopkins will walk you through every step, from frame to finish.
Yes; the host supplies greens, cones, ribbons and basic supplies, though you can bring your own accents.
Children are welcome but younger kids often need adult assistance; check age guidelines when booking.
Sessions typically run 90–120 minutes, enough time to decorate and personalize a wreath.
You can usually choose ribbon colors and small accents on the day; talk to the host ahead of time for special requests.
Cancellation and refund policies vary—refer to the booking link for specific terms and timelines.
Using evergreen boughs for winter decoration is a long-standing New England tradition dating back to colonial craft practices.
Hosts emphasize sustainably sourced materials and may substitute dried elements when fresh greens are limited to reduce impact on local stands.
Canterbury Shaker Village is a historic Shaker community and living history museum located in Canterbury, New Hampshire. The Village offers guided tours, special exhibitions, community readings, concerts, hands-on workshops, and seasonal events that interpret Shaker life, craft, and communal practices. Educational programs highlight primary sources and personal narratives, including special tours inspired by Nicolas Briggs’s memoir Forty Years a Shaker and guided walks led by the Village’s education staff such as Director of Education Kyle Sandler. Visitors can attend readings in the 1792 Meeting House, music on the green, antique and vintage car shows set among fall foliage, and exhibition openings that honor the Shakers’ legacy. Workshops and demonstrations teach traditional Shaker skills; examples include a cherry oval box workshop led by instructor Dick Bennett and farm-to-table dinners paired with historic tours at community gatherings like Simply Shaker. Members and preview events bring curators and historians together to contextualize artifacts, as seen in the Keeping Faith exhibition talks with curators Renée Fox, Kyle Sandler, and Shirley Wajda. Canterbury Shaker Village maintains credibility through documented artifacts, named curators and educators, and a range of public programs that connect visitors directly to Shaker material culture. The Village’s calendar of events and combination of tours, exhibitions, and hands-on learning provide reliable opportunities for visitors to explore early American religious life and Shaker craftsmanship. Public programs often include live music, community readings, vintage car exhibitions, curator talks, and light refreshments during exhibition openings to deepen visitor engagement with Shaker history and authentic material culture.
Book with Canterbury Shaker Village