About

Thursday Arrival: Aloha! From Route 20, you will see the Sturbridge Host sign and take a right down a long driveway (366 Main St, Sturbridge, MA). When you get to the hotel, park on the far left side and enter that door for the lobby. You can check in to your room starting at 4pm. Pick up your key at the front desk and get settled. We will be making a reservation at 5pm for the historic Publick House Tap Room restaurant (277 Main St, Sturbridge, MA). Keep an eye out for a sign up email as we get closer to the date.

Pool Check-In: After dinner, starting at 7pm you can come to the pool area to check in with event registration and enjoy the pool as we welcome you to Hawaii! We will lounge by the lagoon and enjoy a vintage movie on the big screen. There’s limited seating, so bring your parents’ vintage lawn chairs if you can dig them out of the garage!

Pearl Diver Plunge: At 9pm, our “Pearl Harbor Plunge” kick off party will be in the GBVS Kahuna Lounge (Suite 124). During the research for this year’s event, we came across a long lost Hawaiian legend stating that “on the fifth day after the 2nd full moon” something magical happens at Pearl Harbor. The myth states that you can swim underwater without holding your breath, but only during the last few hours before midnight. To see if this legend is true, we invite you to join our group of trained divers, bartenders, and the Hydronauts Band, as we explore the depths beneath Pearl Harbor! However, we must be cautious,… a wise Hawaiian ali’i (chief) told me that there are unique forces that we must respect. He said we will enter this harbor in present day, but if we stay too long, we may be lost in time! So be careful, and we urge you to arrive in your best swimming/diving or aquatic creature outfit. As with all the weekend room parties, bring some cash for tip money to appease the island spirits!

Friday morning: After a wild night of time travel. I’m sure you could use some coffee and a good morning meal. The hotel does not serve breakfast, but you can find a number of nice local spots within a couple minutes drive. The year is now 1941, so based on history, let’s take a quick side-trip from Hawaii… At 10am feel free to join us for an impromptu field trip to the well-stocked Sturbridge Antique Mall (128 Charlton Rd, Sturbridge, MA), just down the road. There’s also a large shopping plaza right next door, for anything you may have forgotten. See the schedule page for the address.

Friday Lunch and Bowling: What vintage adventure would be complete without some bowling?! Come try for your best score at Bogey Lanes (199 N Brookfield Rd, East Brookfield, MA). Our theme may be 1940’s, but feel free to bring any period bowling apparel or accessories! See their website for details/food options. A sign-up request will be sent to guests in a future email update.

Friday Presentation/Activities: At 4pm Tim “Swanky” Glazner will bring us his stunner presentation “Don the Beachcomber and the Mob in LA”. This will take us through the early 1930’s history of how Donn Beach started his first Tiki Bar and the movement we now love! Plus, details to come on other Friday activities! Those arriving on Friday can check into their hotel room starting at 4pm.

Friday Dinner: We will be making a reservation at a nearby restaurant for dinner at 5pm. Look for a future guest email for sign-up info. At 7pm guests arriving Friday can check in with GBVS at the hotel pool area to get your wristband and gather for the Room Crawl!

Room Crawl: At 8pm, is the moment you’ve been waiting for, the Nor’Easter Island Room Crawl! All are welcome to tour the decorated guest rooms and where they’ll be offering exotic themed libations and refreshments. The year is now 1942, and there’s a war on, so do your part to support, don’t forget to donate cash to buy bonds for the war fund (i.e. room crawl tip money)! Come take a tour and get to know each other. If you are up for the experience, there are a few slots left for our growing list of room crawl hosts. Sign and ask questions to gbvintagesociety@gmail.com.

Saturday morning: The Vintage Oasis Market opens at 10am. Come shop the multitude of wares offered by vendors from all over the east coast!. As part of the market, you can also enjoy the sounds of the Vintage Oasis Music Lounge with an assortment of Surf and Rockabilly bands featured throughout the day! At 11am, come to the Courtyard to take part in Greg Theberge’s interactive presentation. Also at 11am the hotel bar opens, featuring a selection of classic Tiki cocktails, beer, soda, etc at affordable prices.

Afternoon Activities: This year The hotel will be providing lunch options and beverages in the Ballroom concession area starting at 11am. No need to venture out in the cold for food! Music will finish up at 1pm in the vendor hall and then we’ll have an hour set with Amy Kucharik on ukulele in the Palm Courtyard. Check out her set and this is also a great time to get your photos in the Pearl Harbor encampment area. We will have photographers throughout the day and possibly an opportunity to take photos with the WWII Jeep! Most importantly, get set for our 2pm Pool Party with Cylde Bisbee and the Wheelhouse Revelers! We look forward to hearing this great band and seeing your 1940’s swimwear! 🙂 Plus we’re still adding more to the afternoon schedule, stay tuned!

Grand Luau: As the sun sets, the excitement builds for the Grand Luau! Starting 6pm, get a drink from the bar and find a seat in Palm Courtyard. There will be an delicious Hawaiian style BBQ dinner buffet provided for guests who registered for this option. The year is now 1944. The tide of the War is turning and Hawaii is starting to return to it’s peacetime activities. Amy Kucharik and the Cephalopops will take to the Courtyard stage and set the perfect mood for a traditional evening luau. Performers from the Polynesian Fusion studio will then bring you the vibrant dances of Hawaii, Tahiti, and the Maori people of New Zealand! The luau will conclude at 8pm and guests can head over to the Ballroom to get their seat for the Victory Dance.

Victory Dance: It’s 1945 and VJ day is here! America can finally let loose and celebrate! The Compaq Big Band goes on stage at 9pm and they will amaze you with their exciting music of the era. Those who are brave enough, should take advantage of the free swing dance lesson preceding the band at 8pm. This dance and the lesson are open to outside guests for only $25. If you are a local swing dancer, we’re only an hour from Boston and there’s a great dance floor. (All other ticket options include the dance as part of the weekend package.)

After Party: Once you’ve danced the night away, come to the Kahuna Lounge (GBVS Suite 124) where we’ll celebrate the Greatest Generation with the birth of the Greatest Tiki cocktail, the Mai Tai! We’ll have an open-bar selection including of other fine drinks/cocktails. Plus, surprise activities so we can enjoy the evening as long as possible and hopefully find ourselves a way back to 2026!!!!

Sunday Morning: We did it, we’re finally back to 2026! Where there’s no war, and everything is fine with the world, right…? Regardless, it’s time to take the big flight home (and the hotel kicks us out at 11am). To celebrate our “victory”, we’ll have one last patriotic get together at the Cracker Barrel just down the road. (215 Charlton Rd, Sturbridge, MA)

E huakaʻi me ka palekana, a hui hou!

Travel safely, until we meet again!