The 26th annual Festival of Trees will deck all the halls at the San Joaquin County Historical Museum this year.
This family event launches the holiday season on Dec. 2 and 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum located in Micke Grove Park south of Lodi about one mile west of Highway 99 and south of Armstrong Road.
It’s a step back in time to walk onto the festive museum grounds with historic buildings, displays and docents dressed in vintage Victorian and pioneer clothes. The museum’s eight exhibit buildings will be brimming with more than 60 festive trees, each decorated according to a unique theme by different individuals and groups from throughout San Joaquin County.
The festival also features charming Christmas exhibits, entertainment and food for purchase. There will be many special things to see including demonstrations of woodturning a child’s toy and an extensive model train layout with the Polar Express theme for viewing. Vendors will to sell unique handcrafted items, and docents will sell a variety of handcrafted wares in the Docent Boutique.
For children, there will be many hands-on activities including decorating cookies, making rag dolls, dipped candles, punched tin ornaments and other crafts. There is a nominal fee of $1 to $3 to make the crafts. Children also will be able to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, and families can purchase photographs of their children with Santa.
Entertainers including dancers, singers and barbershop quartets will perform throughout the festival. Food for purchase will be available on the museum grounds.
In addition to all the holiday festivities and decorated trees, visitors will enjoy the museum’s historical exhibits and the new Innovations in Agriculture exhibit in the Cortopassi/Avansino Building. The county museum features extensive collections of tractors, agriculture equipment and tools.
General admission tickets are $10 and $2 for children 2 to 12 years old. Children under 2 are admitted free. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the museum at (209) 331-2055. With advance tickets, the $6 parking fee into Micke Grove Park is waived. Tickets also may be purchased at the event.
Festival of Trees is the museum Docent Council’s annual fundraiser. The funds raised support the youth education programs where children experience pioneer life. About 4,200 San Joaquin County elementary school students participate in the museum’s living history programs Valley Days and Pioneer School each year. Other education programs operated throughout the year include Farm to Fork for kindergarteners to second-graders, museum tours and classroom visits by docents who explain the historic contents of “Grandmother’s Trunk”.
For more information, call the museum at (209) 331-2055 or visit www.sanjoaquinhistory.org.