Candlelight Walk At Heritage Hill

Can you see the magic?

We are doing our best this year to attend Holiday events that are a bit different and a bit old-fashioned.  My husband and I have a weakness for the ideal "old fashioned" Christmas that we read about in books and see on old movies.

We wish it was really snowing

For a few years I have been meaning to take the family up to Heritage Hill Historic Park in Lake Forest for their Candlelight Walks.  They only have them a couple weekends in December and I always miss them!  This year I put it on the calendar early and we were lucky that the weekend we chose wasn't rainy or too cold.  

Since we have never been to the park, I had no idea what to expect.  The park is at the back of a strip mall and I almost missed it as we pulled in.  However, once we walked up, we were greeted with hundreds and hundreds of candlelights on the walkways, lights in the trees and on the buildings and beautifully decorated wagons and outhouses!  

A decorated bridge near Santa's hang out

The park is transformed each year by their volunteers and each building is decorated in traditional fashion for the time.  There is also wonderful live performers in each building as well.  In our first house, we were greated with a duo of guitar players who strummed along as we toured the 100 year old farm house and a guide answered all our questions about the family who lived there and how they lived.  It was amazing to think of a Christmas a hundred years ago in that house, with six kids, parents and ranch hands all pitching in to enjoy their Christmas together.

The decorated wagons were a treat to see

We wandered through the Adobe house and were able to sample real chestnuts roasting over an open fire when we exited.  What a treat for me.  Turns out I really like those!  From there we enjoyed some warm Mexican hot chocolate while sitting and listening to the carolers sing and even singing along.

Hot chocolate and carolers

The girls found a puppet theater where they could pick a puppet to work and perform their own puppet show.  This was so much fun for them, and I loved that they put so much thought into providing these activities for the kids.

We sneaked a peek behind the curtain

Our favorite building was the schoolhouse.  This schoolhouse was used locally and has been fully restored.  It was thoughtfully decorated with what would have been used in the 1860's.  This added true warmth and character to the whole experience.  We were lucky enough to get "seats" at the schoolchildren's desks and watch the wonderful band they had playing.  We enjoyed a toe-tapping along to the music.  When the band packed up, we listened to two members of the South Coast Storytellers Guild.  They were wonderful!  The entire room was packed with visitors and everyone fell hush and listened to their story weaving tales.  

Schoolhouse rockin'

We can't forget Santa!  This jolly man was a joy to talk to and even let my huge 12 year old sit on his knee!  He even had helpers to take our picture for us.

Swapping elf-stories with the big guy

If you are looking for more of an "unplugged" and old-fashioned Christmas experience, be sure to check out this event next year.  

Enjoying our un-plugged night