Community Ice Cream Social

Date: TBD

Held outdoors on the grounds of the Historic Courthouse, the Ice Cream Social is a perennial community favorite and the official kick-off to Stillwater’s Lumberjack Days. Featured fun includes:

• Live music
• Children’s games and activities
• Historic medallion button sales and the first medallion clue reading 
• History Exhibits, 1900’s County Jail Tours 
• Old-fashioned candy booth 
• Root beer floats, Brats / hot dogs, chips, etc. available for purchase.  
• Bike giveaway

Proceeds from the root beer floats, candy booth and Historic Courthouse merchandise go towards the Historic Courthouse Restoration Fund.

The Ice Cream Social is free to attend and open to the public. Bring a blanket and enjoy live music on the lawn. In the event of rain, the event will adapt and move indoors.

Due to Executive Order 20-103, the Historic Courthouse is currently closed. Photo sessions are not available at this time.

It’s time to get into the holiday spirit! Experience the splendor of the holiday season and capture your merry memories at the Historic Courthouse with a holiday photo session. Professional and amateur photographers are welcome to reserve a one-hour session in the courthouse while it is beautifully decorated for the holidays, including the Santa’s Workshop holiday display. Online reservations for sessions are available on weekends from November 14 – December 27. To request a holiday session on a weekday or after office hours, please call 651-275-7075. Please review the guidelines listed below before reserving.

Holiday Photography Guidelines

The Washington County Historic Courthouse welcomes photography in the building and on the grounds during the winter holiday season. However, all professional and amateur photographers must request permission for their photo session and follow all photography guidelines. This ensures that there are no scheduling conflicts with other photographers, tours, or private event rentals.

• One Hour Holiday Photo Sessions are available on weekends from November 16 through December 29 and may be reserved online. To request a holiday session on a weekday or after regular office hours, please contact 651-275-7075.
• The session fee is for the space only. A photographer and/or prints are not included in the session price. You are welcome to bring your own camera or make separate arrangements with a photographer to meet with you.
• Photographers must make a reservation prior to setting client dates or arriving at the Historic Courthouse.
• Holiday photography sessions are $30 per hour for standard family sessions, mini sessions, etc. For larger scale wedding photography, commercial, lifestyle, product, etc. shoots, please contact the Historic Courthouse for rates.
• Reservations are based on a single time opportunity and multiple sessions are not permitted without prior arrangements made with Washington County Parks staff.
• Please check in at the Parks office upon arrival.
• Use of commercial screens, external power sources, panels, backdrops, props, lighting, or other professional equipment must be details in the photography application and pre-approved.
• Please respect the work and space of others at the Historic Courthouse. The Historic Courthouse is a working building. Do not enter any offices that are not public space. Respect the tenants working in the offices by not blocking doors and keeping noise levels to a minimum.
• Please do not block any stairwells, hallways or doorways with your shoot or equipment. The Historic Courthouse offers public and private tours daily. Staff and visitors must be able to access all public areas of the building.
• Do not enter into any rooms that are in the process of being set-up for an upcoming event.
• Parks staff reserves the right to ask you to leave a space at any time.
• No antique furniture is permitted to be moved from its original location without prior permission.
• No climbing, sitting or standing atop any antique furniture pieces placed throughout the building.
• Please do not leave any personal items unattended. Washington County Parks is not responsible for any lost, broken, or stolen items.

Experience the splendor of the holiday season with the 29th Annual Christmas at the Historic Courthouse!

All proceeds raised from this event benefit the Historic Courthouse Restoration Fund and help preserve this historic landmark.

2021 Event Schedule

• TBD

Holiday Bazaar

2021 Vendor Applications 

Visitors have begun the holiday shopping season at the Historic Courthouse for the past 29 years! Join the tradition and experience a holiday event like no other. This is a juried event and approximately 30 vendors will be accepted in 2021. To be eligible, please submit the vendor application and photos of your product and booth setup for review by the deadline listed in the application. We especially seek out local vendors with a variety of handcrafted and/or local goods. 

2021 Christmas at the Courthouse Vendor Applications will be available in April.