By Tammy Stanard, Stowe Volunteer

This holiday season at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, there is a secret hidden in the Holidays at the Garden event: a throwback to a time many of us were not yet alive to experience. Holidays at the Garden is a magical annual event that runs throughout December where The Gardens are filled with millions of lights sparkling brighter and even more amazing in creativity than past years. Upon your arrival to the Garden Pavilion that welcomes you to Holidays at the Garden, you may see a small sign that’s quite easy to miss…and this is intentional. Because if you follow the sign, you’ll travel down an innocuous hallway and find a doorman who will welcome you to The Peacock Parlor, the stunning speakeasy that Stowe hosts just during Holidays.

In the 1920s, no one would be so bold as to provide signage pointing to a speakeasy, give you directions or stand as a doorman. Speakeasys rose in popularity during the U.S. Prohibition Era, a period from 1920-1933 when U.S. law prohibited the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages. Thankfully for us, those days are long gone! The Peacock Parlor Speakeasy is a little bit easier to find. These days, Stowe staff and volunteers would be happy to direct you to it and you won’t risk arrest or public shame by attending. Still, the Peacock Parlor captures the spirit of a hidden, secretive lounge and serves as a throwback to a different time.

The Peacock Speakeasy at Stowe transforms a meeting room into a full-service 1920s-style bar. Upon entry you will see a tasteful display of peacock themed décor, a modest wood bar and multiple cozy seating areas, perfect for for intimate gatherings and groups up to five people. A table of beautiful decanters will catch your eye near the door. My favorite place to relax and enjoy a cocktail is the two larger comfy chairs. The liquor may not be bootleg, but the cocktails are undeniably tasty! Here’s just a sip of the expansive cocktail menu:

  • Berry and Bright: A sparkling gin spritz jingles with lemon and spiced cranberry, topped with a full-glam crown of bubbly Prosecco
  • Cran You Hear What I Hear?: Bold bourbon and tart cranberry harmonize with winter spices, ending with a ringing high note of lime.
  • Chai Hard (is a Christmas Movie): Vodka, Irish cream and chai welcome you to the party, pal. Yippee-chai-ay, merry sipper!
  • Mrs. Claus’ Sunset: A radiant blend of rum and pineapple, with a kiss of grenadine and a flirty twist of orange.

Butterfly Milkweed, a native plant

Youth Education programming at Stowe

The special secret of this speakeasy is not only the holiday themed drinks, but all the elements that pull this magical space together. Everything in the Peacock Parlor was purchased second-hand, whether from Facebook Marketplace, thrifting or antiquing. This makes sense because the very nature of a speakeasy is old-fashioned, but it also fits into Stowe’s sustainability mission.

Stowe has renewed its commitment to sustainability and conservation, dedicated to protecting their 380 acres of property so that all can find their path to nature through education, recreation, art, horticulture and caring for their beautiful gardens and trails. Here are some other ways Stowe has embraced sustainability:

  • Education programs like field trips and camps help spark a passion for conservation and wildlife for youngsters.
  • Stowe has formed a new partnership with Husqvarna and uses new, battery-operated equipment that minimizes gas usage and reduces noise pollution on the property.
  • The Husqvarna partnership is launched in conjunction with a mowing plan that reduces mowing acreage to restore natural space for native plants and animals.
  • Stowe champions native plants that support pollinators like butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. They even have begun collecting and maintaining a regional seed bank for native plants that includes over 40 species!
  • On the flip side, Stowe staff and volunteers continually work to remove invasive species from the property that choke out native plants and take over.
  • They recently launched a Sustainability Advisory Committee to lead these efforts and more across the organization.

And this is just the beginning! From secondhand furnishings to sustainable landscaping practices, Stowe takes every step possible to create a greener world.

So, if you’re planning on visiting Holidays at the Garden, be sure to check out the Peacock Parlor speakeasy! It’s open during Holidays at the Garden at the following dates/times:

  • Thursday, December 18-Tuesday, December 23 | 5-10 p.m.
  • Wednesday, December 24 | 4:30-7 p.m.
  • Thursday, December 26-Friday, December 27 | 5-10 p.m.

Enjoy the thrifted décor as you sip on a tasty beverage; it’s another small reminder of the small ways we can all be a little more sustainable this holiday season.