Victorian Christmas Brings Joy and Memories
By C. MacDonald
The Victorian Christmas Open House in Huntington Beach’s oldest residence would have made William and Mary Newland, and their 10 children, proud.
The HB pioneers and community leaders loved to celebrate the holidays in their 1898 home, which once overlooked more than 500 acres of sugar beets, celery and lima beans.
Recently, the Huntington Beach Historical Society brought the ornate home to life with the aroma of freshly made tacos, cider and coffee; the sounds of holiday piano music; the singing of popular Christmas carols and the decor of candles and festive lights. Read more>
This historic home is one of nearly 100 house museums throughout California welcoming guests to special events for the holidays. Here are a few celebrations you might enjoy:
- ARCADIA December 8, 2013 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Queen Anne Cottage’s An Old-Fashioned Holiday at Los Angeles Arboretum
- AUBURN Bernhard Museum is all dressed up for Victorian Christmas 2013, open Tuesday through Sunday
- CALABASAS December 8, 2013 Santa is Coming!
- CAMARILLO Camarillo House December 11, 2013 Santa visits the Ranch
- CAMPBELL Ainsley House Open House on Sunday, December 15 and Thursday, December 19th from 5:30-8pm.
- CHICO Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 8, 2013; special evening tours on December 12- 15
- CHICO Stansbury Home Victorian White Christmas December 8, 2013, 1-4 p.m.
- DUBLIN Sunday School Barn Holiday Tea December 8
- FREMONT Christmas at Ardenwood December 7-8, celebrate the holiday season in Victorian style!
- FRESNO Christmas at Kearney Museum Victorian Christmas. Tours held Dec. 8, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 2013. Tours at 1, 2 & 3 p.m. $10 adult admission, $5 car parking.
- HAYWARD Santa Claus is Coming to Historic McConaghy House December 14, 2013
- LAKE FOREST Heritage Hill Candlelight Walk Dec. 14 & 15, 2013
- LONG BEACH Victorian Christmas at the Historic Bembridge House December 8; Holiday tours on Dec. 10, 14, 17, 21 and 28, 2013
- LONG BEACH Rancho Los Alamitos Holiday Open House and Tour Dec 12 & 13
- LONG BEACH Rancho Los Cerritos Old Time Christmas Festival Dec. 8, 2013; Dec. 14-15 Christmas in 1878 Tour
- LOS ANGELES Historic Victorian house tour at Grier Museum December 8, 1 to 5pm
- MARTINEZ Martinez Adobe Las Posadas celebration December 14, 2013
- MENDOCINO Ford House Decorated for Christmas mendoparks.org
- MOUNTAIN VIEW The Rengstorff House Holiday Open House December 10, 2013
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