Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. Hosting 30th Candlelight Christmas Open House

Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. will hold its 30th annual Candlelight Christmas Open House on Dec. 4 and 5 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

The theme for this year's event will be 175 years of Christmas to coincide with the 175th anniversary of the formation of Blair County.

The award-winning, completely restored 200-year-old Jacob Walters Log cabin will showcase the early years of Christmas from the early 1800s to 1880s. The cabin will feature what a Christmas and a holiday was like in 1846, the year that Blair County was founded. It is one of the oldest buildings in Blair County and the oldest in Duncansville. It is one of the few log cabins not moved from its original location.

The Hollidaysburg House Museum, built in 1872, will feature decorations from the 1880s to the 1980s, different styles of Christmas trees, toys and decorations along with reenactors in period-appropriate clothing. Joshua Juda, president of Historic Hollidaysburg Inc., said, "We have gathered some very nostalgic items to show."

He added that this year, the reenactors will be in the parlor playing the games of the period. Juda said that they will interact with attendees by explaining customs from the past like clothing, holiday meals and games. People will also be able to ask them questions.

The Blair County Genealogical Society Library will serve as a complimentary refreshment stop for ticket holders and will offer tours of their building, which will feature special history displays.

Decorations in both the Historic Hollidaysburg Museum and Walters Cabin will feature a collection of vintage and antique decorations from primitive and early American to Victorian, WWII era, mid-century modern and retro 1970s and 1980s.

Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. is a 501c3 Nonprofit Historical Society celebrating forty years serving Hollidaysburg and surrounding communities with their local history museum, walking tour book and the largest area collection of Hollidaysburg historical themed items.

Tickets are available at the door. Ages fifteen and under will be admitted for free. Cash only.

For more information, the public may please contact Historic Hollidaysburg Inc. by phone (814) 696-0313, email historichollidaysburginc@gmail.com and see updates on the Historic Hollidaysburg, Inc. Facebook page.

To help with expenses, the Candlelight Christmas Open House is sponsored by Chris' Hallmark in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center Altoona.

This event is a fundraiser to raise money for the annual budget and ongoing renovations to our 150 year-old house museum.