This is the Place at Christmastime

This year my little sister scored free admission vouchers for the Candlelight Christmas at the This is the Place Heritage Park. She invited us to come along with her and her boyfriend, my mom, and my niece Chelsea.
We've never been there, and they have also special things going on for the Candlelight Christmas, so it was a lot of fun. They had things such as a "train" decorated in swags of evergreens to ride,

an old-fashioned Father Christmas to visit

real live Reindeer to see and pet

and the entire Pioneer village decorated as it would have been in Pioneer days.

We saw a printing press and a print of one of the first Christmas cards, a family making handmade candles by candlelight, and a cute puppet show in the Town Meeting Hall. There was also a beautiful live Nativity in a barn, with live animals.

There were some other things that we didn't get to see. But with all the real candles in the buildings, and bonfires out on the walkways (and with a child who was hell-bent on destruction), we were getting rather nervous (and cold) so we didn't try to see it all. You would think that 6 adults could easily manage our 4 children. But, ah no. Not ours. (sigh) We sure did appreciate everyone's patience and help, though.

And thanks again to Heather for a fun evening for free! :) Such a neat place to visit for Christmas.