A New England holiday tradition, Lantern Light Tours is a 70-minute progressive play that is set on Christmas Eve in 1876. Featuring actors from Connecticut and neighboring states, the cast weaves a heart-warming holiday story in the setting of the historic buildings and vessels of the Museum.

The Lantern Light Tour plot is changed every year and the writing and production planning begins early in the spring. For 2015, the story focusses on the Sawyer family, a young couple expecting their first child who come to Mystic and are not able to find lodging for the night. There is a surprise inheritance, a villainous Mr. King, a rousing tavern dance, and a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas in their busy toy shop.

“While not a direct telling of the Nativity, we adapted many details of the story to our setting in amusing and clever ways that we think the audience will enjoy,” said Denise Kegler, the program manager for Lantern Light Tours.

Visitors join a group of 16 to tour the Museum’s 19th-century village, stopping at designated points to take in the next chapter of the story. Performances are November 27, 28 and December 4, 5, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20. Tours begin at 5 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.mysticseaport.org/lanternlighttours, or by calling 860.572.5331. Tickets are $32 for adults ($26 for Mystic Seaport members) and $25 for children ages 5-17 ($19 for youth members). Lantern Light Tours are not recommended for children under the age of 4.