For many, it’s not Christmas until they’ve explored the Logan County History Center and Orr Mansion during their open house, which continues this weekend. The free event is open to the public on Friday, Dec. 12, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13 and 14, from 1 to 5 p.m.
Besides the annual Christmas tree decorating contest, this year features rooms decorated under the theme of favorite holiday films and TV specials, take-home crafts, and musical performances from a variety of local talent. Saturday and Sunday will also include refreshments.
Considering their theme for the holiday open house, the decorators chose six favorite movies or TV specials. Wander through the second-floor rooms and third-floor ballroom and you’ll see a fun collection of Christmas memories.
Those rooms and their decorators are:
• It’s a Wonderful Life — Erin Rudat and Karen Tracey.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas — Judy Snyder and Laura Harshfield.
• A Christmas Story — Rudat, Beth Marshall and Chloe Simmons.
• A Charlie Brown Christmas — George and Diana Wackerman and Jeanne Jenkins.
• National Lampoon’s A Christmas Vacation — the “Dazzlers,” Kit Wehe, Tam Van Ness, Leslie Warne and Sharon Kinney.
• Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas — Amy and Todd McCormick.
• White Christmas — Marshall, Simmons, Snyder and Don Corwin.
But a Christmas at the History Center is so much more! You’ll find decorated trees lining the hallways for the annual contest. This year there are 14 “grownups” trees and nine from the kids. You’ll receive a ballot and can vote for your favorites as you ooh and ahh over all the fun holiday spirit.
Moving into the Orr mansion, the voting continues. You can choose one favorite first-floor room, from the kitchen and the dining room to both parlors, the entryway and the music room.
Once again, Christmas carols will fill the mansion as local performers share their talent, with several piano students presenting their end-of-the-year recital. While the pianists will perform in the Orr Mansion music room, the Friendly Senior Center Choir (Saturday at 1 p.m.) and the Popular Demand Quartet (Sunday at 3 p.m.) will sing for attendees in the Transportation Museum.
You can pick up the complete schedule at the history center.
