The Nathanael Greene Homestead will be holding its annual Christmas shopping event this Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The fundraising event will take place at 50 Taft St. in Coventry and benefit the restoration of the Homestead’s 19th-century Well House.

Featured during the event will be local businesses like Big Bear Trading Company, Kenyon’s Grist Mill and the Homestead Gift Shop. Complimentary apple cider and cookies will be provided for all in the Visitors Center of the Homestead, and a suggested donation of $8 for adults and $4 for children is recommended.

“But we’re reasonable,” said Dave Procaccini, president of the Board of Trustees for the Nathanael Greene Homestead. “If a family of five attends, then we’re not going to charge them over $20 because it’s the holiday season and we know money can be tight.” He also noted that the suggested donations are equivalent to admission donations for regular tours.

Procaccini added: “We invited Big Bear Trading Company, who has always supported us and always does a great job. He carries really nice jewelry, and various stuff that historians would use when they’re putting on a period presentation. It’s always reasonably priced. Paul Drumm and his son Ben run Kenyon’s Grist Mill, and it is the oldest manufacture in Rhode Island. They’ve been milling corn for over 300 years, and they will be selling cornmeal, johnnycake mix, and clam cake mix.”

As people shop on Saturday, Don Lurgio will sing Celtic and Christmas songs from noon to 3 p.m. On Sunday, the Seven Mile Road Baptist Church Choir will perform Christmas songs at 11:30 a.m.

“I’ve worked with Don for many years and he’ll probably sing 18th century standards, and also throw newer songs in. He does a really nice job, and it adds a really nice layer to the event. It takes you back,” Procaccini said. “The church choir consists of six or eight people, and once they come out of church, they immediately come to us and sing. They’ll sing traditional Christmas songs, and it’s usually songs people know.

Elected president of the Board of Trustees seven years ago, Procaccini has made some big changes in how the Homestead operates.

“The way the Homestead was run hadn’t changed in 93 years. There were caretakers who lived on the property and they had maintained the grounds and gave tours,” he said. “When I got there, it was evident that it didn’t work anymore, so we did away with a caretaker and converted the caretaker’s house into to a visitor’s center with a gift shop.”

He added: “We also brought in volunteers to give tours and run events and maintain the grounds. We expanded the property from 11 acres to 15 acres through a donation. Local 57 Operating Engineers Training School in Johnston moved their students to the homestead for three months, and did a lot of site work for us with their heavy machinery. We built a parking lot, we just built a barn, planted an orchard, and two years ago we repainted the Homestead. The Kingston Reds have even made their headquarters at the Greene Homestead, and will be using our barn as their armory.”

According to Procaccini, the Homestead relies entirely on donations and small grants, which was one of the reasons it started the Christmas event five years ago.

“This event was started in order to try to get more donations each year, at that first one we had, we raised money to maintain the amount of oil both buildings would use in the winter,” he said.

Unlike last year’s event, this year the Homestead will stay open for five hours and incorporate a reading of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” by one of the its volunteers during both days.

“Our volunteers are like a family, and we’re all very diverse in the skill we bring together,” Procaccini said. “We are always looking for new volunteers to help preserve history.”

For more information, to volunteer at the Homestead or to donate toward the preservation of the Well House, visit nathanaelgreenehomestead.org or visit the Homestead’s Facebook page.