Service Club Christmas Tree lighting Friday at Annandale National Historic Site
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Annandale National Historic Site is celebrating the beginning of its Christmas season Friday night.
It starts at 7 p.m. when they light the Christmas trees on the ANHS lawn in honour of Tillsonburg's service clubs.
"The service clubs always supported the Annandale Project," said Patricia Phelps, Culture & Heritage Manager/Curator. "They've always been a key partner – in the restoration of the museum of Annandale House, and in supporting it through the 40 years of the museum's existence."
The Service Club Christmas Tree Garden on the front lawn adds 'another layer' to their Christmas decorations.
"At 7 o'clock we'll be lighting the trees, then we invite everyone inside to tour the museum," said Phelps. "We also have hot apple cider and Christmas cookies in our program room, where you'll find our Penny Sale of stuffed Christmas stockings. For $2.50 you can get a sheet of tickets and try your chance at one of 30 Christmas stockings, each stuffed with a 'theme.' There's a list of items for each stocking so people know what's in them.
"All three floors of the house have been decked in seasonal splendor by more than 30 volunteers, who have spent hours... hundreds of hours, decorating. We couldn't do what we do around here for Christmas without our volunteers – they are an integral part of this, and they are a wonderful group of people. They give of their time, and give a great gift to Tillsonburg by decorating the house."
In the Pratt Gallery, they will be opening their Christmas exhibit – Oh Christmas Tree, which examines the history of the Christmas tree, from the first trees people brought into their homes to artificial.
The exhibit is a re-working of the first-ever exhibit hosted in the museum gallery 25 years ago, Phelps noted. November marks the anniversary of the museum's move from the old site by Lake Lisgar to the 30 Tillson Avenue location.
"We are decorated for Christmas from November 28th until Sunday, January 5th, which will also be the Mayor's New Year's Levee."
With all the decorations in place, Phelps and the ANHS staff are feeling the Christmas spirit.
"Oh definitely," she laughed. "It's hard not to get in the Christmas spirit when you're surrounded by bows and lights and garland... and sparkly ornaments. Literally, hundreds of feet of bows, hundreds of feet of lights, and hundreds of ornaments are used to decorate. We have over 27 rooms that get decorated throughout the building, and we decorate the hallways as well, so we are surrounded by Christmas. And so the Christmas spirit just kind of... grabs you."
The museum's Christmas children's program also began this week. More than 700 students, from Kindergarten to Grade 6, tour the museum each holiday season.
"When you combine all those decorations, and all the wonderful, very excited children, you can't help but get into the Christmas spirit."
THREE CONCERTS
At Friday night's lighting of the Service Club Christmas Tree Garden, tickets will be available to purchase for the series of three upcoming Christmasfest concerts, which start Thursday, Dec. 4th with Oxford Winds Community Band at North Broadway Baptist Church.
Tickets are $15 each, or buy a pass for $38, which also includes seasonal refreshments during intermission for each of the concerts.
For more details on the Christmasfest Concerts, or the museum's Christmas season, contact the museum at 519-842-2294.