Victorian Christmas in Waco
A holiday trip back in time
’tis the season to be in Waco. The Historic Waco Foundation (HWF) will again ring in the holiday season with its traditional Christmas on the Brazos event, A Victorian Christmas.
From Dec. 3 to Dec. 11, visitors can take a step back to get into the holiday spirit and gain insights into Waco’s heritage. All four historic Waco house museums will be decorated for the holidays: Earle-Napier-Kinnard House, Fort House, McCulloch House and East Terrace House.
“A lot of good things are hap- pening in Waco these days, with the Magnolia Market and the revital- ization of the city,” says Julie Olivere, director of marketing and programs with the Historic Waco Foundation. “But we wanted to show visitors and travelers how it all started, our history. All four of our historic homes were built in the Victorian era.”
HWF has quite a history of its own. The foundation, which was established in 1967 to preserve and interpret the area’s local history, owns, curates, preserves and exhibits more than 6,000 pieces of decorative art, artifacts, archival material and textiles. The organization has hosted Christmas on the Brazos annually for several decades.
This year’s festivities will focus around Fort House, the 2016 Historic Waco Foundation Showcase. Visitors are invited to experience a vintage Victorian holi- day as HWF decks the halls and hosts activities for audiences of all ages.
Located in the heart of the newly developed Silo District and within walking distance of downtown Waco, Fort House will be dressed in its holi- day best, offering guided tours to the public Tuesday through Saturday.
Along with tours, Fort House will also be the venue for other holi- day-inspired festivities.
Breakfast with Santa will take place Sat., Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon; families can participate in holi- day crafts and take a picture with the man in red himself. Tours for this event will also be provided by guides dressed in authentic Victorian attire. Cost for Breakfast with Santa is $10 per family and includes photos and meals.
Celebrations will conclude with a catered Candlelight Dinner (tickets $80 to $100) that same evening to capture the magic of the season.
