Yankee Candle Village, Deerfield, Massachusetts
Gorgeous Gardens surround the outside of the store.
The Yankee Candle Flagship store in Deerfield, Massachusetts is more than a shopping destination for me. To me it is a full on excursion and immersion into another world. When I used to live in Connecticut in the past, I would make the trip at least once a year. I loved to bring my young son. Since moving back to Connecticut in 2020, I have made it twice. The first time was a quick stop after meeting someone nearby. A week before Christmas, I brought my 87 year old mother. It was like going for the first time; it has been years since she’s been there, and her Alzheimer's had erased her memory of previous trips. Going with her enabled me to appreciate the true wonder and magic of this place.
When pulling into the parking lot, there are several areas to park. I prefer parking on the end furthest from the restaurants at the village. This allows quicker access to the magical portion of the store and convenient checkouts when you are done!
When you enter from this end you will have two shopping areas and the checkout center to your right. Convenient restrooms are straight ahead slightly to the left. I start, after visiting the ladies room, to the left. This brings you to the candy shop and the toy shop with playthings of all kinds for kids young and old.
A clock counts down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds to Christmas Day.
The shopping area melds into one of the magical areas: the toy workshop. Look above to your left and you will see an automated clock listing the days, hours, minutes, and seconds to Christmas Day with mechanically animated elves. “Presents” follow an overhead track mimicking the workflow at Santa’s workshop. This isn't the only attraction along the ceiling line. As you walk through the whole village, watch for model trains running above your head.
From Santa’s workshop, a walk through castle arch passages bring you into the first part of the Nutcracker Castle area filled with hutches with nutcrackers, dragons, armored knights, beer steins, and more as well as brightly decorated Christmas trees filled with gorgeous ornaments. Harry Potter has also invaded the castle with homages and items to purchase. Make sure you take your turn to sit on the throne and have your picture taken or opt to have one with the life sized armored knight, or the 6 foot tall nutcracker. The next area is a recreation of the outside of the castle with pools of water to create a moat of sorts.
Next is the Bavarian Village. In the middle are large Christmas trees which slowly revolve and are covered with ornaments for purchase. Little shops have been built into the walls, so you feel like you are actually in a small European village. The lights in the center are dim while the shop interiors are bright to create an evening shopping experience. Each shop has a theme: angels, snow globes, carolers, nutcrackers, etc.
The Bavarian Village opens to the Black Forest area where it actually snows - okay, not real snow, but it is still amazing! When we were there it was snowing every 5 minutes or so, since it was so close to Christmas. I believe it snows closer to every 15 minutes the rest of the year.
From the forest, you enter an area of Department 56 villages. In addition to the standard village, there are a plethora of villages set up including Whoville (my favorite), The Addam’s Family, Nightmare Before Christmas, Harry Potter, and more. Each has its own display area and is set up incredibly well. When we were there a young couple was slowly going through and counting something. I didn’t ask, but it was sweet to watch them.
Most of the rest of the village is focused on the shopper. There is the General Store which has a myriad of kitchen and dining gifts. Here you will find all sorts of foodstuffs, spices, mixes, utensils, aprons, etc. Then there is the Man Cave and Pet Room; these are smaller areas, but worth a perusal.
Then you enter the Candle Emporium. Everywhere you look there are candles of all sizes and scents. There is a large center area with quite possibly 100 types of votives; I have never really counted. Although there are candles displayed here and there throughout the village, this is the mecca for the Yankee Candle shopper. Plenty of staff cover the area looking to be as helpful as possible; one lovely woman even helped me tie my scarf onto my backpack. Scents, waxes, candle holders, shades and toppers are also found in this area.
There are two ways out from the emporium. You can enter the middle of the village and stop by the popcorn or fudge shop for a break. We took a rest at one point and split a piece of fudge while sitting at the full sized Italianate water fountain. This central area is only being utilized at about 75% during the pandemic. Only the fudge and popcorn areas are open, but, hopefully, that will change in the future. There is more shopping to be done in this area including stunning windchimes, birdhouse and other outdoor accouterments, and personalized ornaments. You can actually access most of the rest of the village from this area dubbed the New England Market.
At this point, all you have left is the Home Market, which is filled with clothing, accessories, more home goods, and stocking stuffers galore. Make sure you find your way to the Sale Scenter to find some bargains.
Take time to walk around the outside areas of the village. The flower gardens are resplendent no matter the season. There are several picnic areas as well. There used to be a fabulous tavern, Chandler's, which is no longer there. Instead there is Hillside Pizza, currently take out only, and Powder Hill Brewery. I have not tried either as of the original writing of this post. If I do, I will update and let you know.
Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the wax making area is closed and you cannot make your own candles at this point. I still have the candles Derek made twenty years ago.
