After a one-year absence, Preservation Williamsport’s Victorian Christmas event is back and better than ever. The always highly anticipated event takes place this weekend, November 19 to 21. This event celebrates and highlights Williamsport’s beautiful and charming architectural heritage in some of its vintage homes and some of its churches and other public edifices.

According to Preservation Williamsport and Victorian Christmas committee member Vicki Fischer, “Our mission remains the same as when the event was first started. We want to increase public awareness and appreciation of the fine architectural heritage in the Historic District and Williamsport proper. In addition, we want to educate the public (including all ages) by instilling knowledge and appreciation of the Victorian style and the importance of its preservation for future generations. Finally, we want to encourage the beautification of and continued interest in the historic district.”

Proceeds from the ticket sales go back into beautifying the historic district by hanging and maintaining 56 lovely floral baskets that grace the period light posts during the summer months. Over 50 of these fixtures are donned with lighted wreaths, trailing garlands, and silk ribbon during the winter holidays. These baskets and wreaths are arranged and maintained by Lady Di’s Floral & Garden Art. Funds also provide for the flowers and their maintenance at the portal entrance to the historic district and preservation projects at the Rowley House Museum.

“Each year, there is a theme or educational focus dealing with the Victorian Era. This year our topic is ‘Visual Arts of the Victorian Era,’” Fischer told Webb Weekly. “Bob Kane Jr. will be our highlighted speaker discussing 19th-century art and architecture. You can plan on learning how interior and exterior home design dramatically changed in that era.

“His talk will be held in the sanctuary of Trinity Episcopal Church, 844 W. Fourth St., at 6 p.m. on Friday evening (19th). In addition, we are pleased to have Connie Phillips, a member of the Committee, speak about ‘How Victorian Women Wore Their Art’ at 2 p.m. on Saturday (20th). This event is included with your Victorian Christmas tour ticket. We hope you join us for a visual look at the Victorian Era.”

The Victorian Christmas event includes activities throughout the weekend. Some may want to enjoy the Billtown Christmas Parade in downtown Williamsport on Friday at 6 p.m. Immediately following; there will be a tree lighting ceremony on the Park Place lawn at 7 p.m. Bring your children and grandchildren and enjoy caroling led by the Williamsport Music Club. Listen to the festive music while you enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. A special visitor will be there — Father Christmas is joining the festivities! Later, enjoy some evening music at the Backhouse Café Coffee and Tea. The Uptown Music Collective has a performance, WUMC: FM Radio Hits of the ‘70s, on Friday and Saturday evenings at the Community Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. (admission fee).

The Artisan Holiday Market will again be available for your shopping pleasure for two days this year. It will be held at the YWCA at 815 W. Fourth St. on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Please note the change in days.) There will be a wide selection of arts and finely crafted holiday gifts. Explore this wonderful display of handmade items from these talented juried artisans. Also located at the YWCA will be the Duboistown Garden Club’s Annual Show and Sale.

Other weekend activities include the annual Will Huffman Toy Train Expo, loved by train enthusiasts from all over, at Park Place and the Thomas T. Taber Museum, on Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

For all you creative enthusiasts, Wine & Design will be open all three days (see website for details and additional pricing for this event).

Peruse through Otto Bookstore for specials (with Victorian Christmas ticket) on Friday and Saturday.

For Williamsport Symphony Billtown Brass Band fans, there will be a ‘Kickoff the Holidays Concert’ at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church on Saturday at 4 p.m. (admission fee).

Fischer added, “Also, be prepared for an unusual experience this year. As you ride the trolley to the various homes on tour, you might just encounter some Victorian-dressed characters providing some interesting entertainment.”

Fischer said the Committee is very excited about ‘Music on Saturday’ this year! The Williamsport Music Club will have strolling carolers from 10 a.m. to noon in the historic district near Park Place. The Hawthorne Opera Theater will be performing at the Park Place Gazebo from noon to 2 p.m. This is all in addition to the music at the homes on tour and concerts at some of the churches on Sunday. Each year the music offered to guests enjoying the event increases.

This year, their extensive architectural tour has been expanded to include both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, November 20th only, view the splendor of ‘Homes, Historic Sites and Museums’ from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is where you can visually appreciate the true quality of architectural splendor in our area. “We would not be able to do this without the willingness of the homeowners. They take the time to have their homes prepared and allow multitudes to walk through them,” said Fischer. Do not miss the interesting downtown buildings and museums. On Sunday, November 21st only, enjoy the exquisiteness of our local churches on the tour from noon to 4 p.m.

In addition, two Victorian Teas will be held. One will be at the Peter Herdic House on Saturday, November 20, from 2 to 4 p.m., and the other will be held at the Backhouse Café Coffee and Tea on Sunday.

Fischer said the Committee is so grateful for the support of local businesses and or individuals who support this endeavor as sponsors. Once again, there will be complimentary trolley rides to the various sites on the tour (Saturday only). A mask is encouraged when riding the trolley. Please be prepared because some of the homes on tour may require one.

The churches are all located in the Historic District (except for one) and within walking distance. The home base for parking this year will be Penn College Parking Lot, 115 College Ave., where there will be plenty of parking. The main site for ticket sales will be the Backhouse Café Coffee & Tea, 901 W. Fourth St. This will be the first trolley stop after Penn College.

Tickets for the tour on Saturday are $20 for adults; $5 for students (age 6-18), and free for children (age five and under) and can be purchased at the Community Arts Center, The Historic Genetti Hotel & Suites, and the County Visitors Bureau. On the day of the tour, they can be purchased at the Backhouse Café Coffee & Tea, the homes on tour, and the James V. Brown Library. For additional ticket information, call: 570-419-2989 or go to their e-ticket site: http://www.2021victorianhomes.eventbrite.com. Wristbands will be sold for the church tour on Sunday. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for students (age 6-18), and free for children (age five and under) and can be purchased at the Backhouse Café Coffee & Tea on Saturday and the churches on tour on Sunday. For e-tickets, visit http://www.2021victorianchurches.eventbrite.com.

The Committee certainly appreciates all who helped to make this endeavor happen.

“We love when people from out of town visit our beautiful city and experience the local ambiance,” said Fischer. “So, we work with local hotels to develop reduced-rate packages. There is a list of special thanks in the brochure and on the website: http://www.victorianchristmaspa.com. UPMC is our new Transportation Sponsor this year. iHeartMedia is the returning media sponsor helping to spread the word through radio. We are very thankful for all the individual home sponsors, food around town sponsors, and radio ad sponsors. Please look at our Facebook page: Victorian Christmas in Williamsport.”

The houses, historic sites, and museums featured on the tour for Saturday, November 20th are:
– The Hermance House, at 405 West Fourth Street. Sponsors: Robert M. Sides Family Music Center, Albert and Judy Styrcula, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, Patinaz.
– The Peter Herdic Inn, at 411 West Fourth Street. Sponsors: Susquehanna Community Bank, TurnKey Construction Inc., The Kiessling Group/Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.
– The Rowley House Museum, at 707 West Fourth Street. Sponsor: In Memory of Ruth Grieco.
– The Vallamont, at 904 Campbell Street. Sponsors: It’s My Party Store, The Buttery Biscuit, Evergreen Wealth Solutions, Wine & Design.
– Broadhurst, at 1310 Campbell Street. Sponsor: The Calistri Children in Memory of Ruth Grieco.
– Oak Ridge, at 1640 Oak Ridge Place. Sponsors: DiSalvo’s Restaurant & Lounge, Simply Savor on the Fly, Allison Crane & Rigging, Sticky Elbow.
– The Hadley-Lyon House, at 1024 Packer Street. Sponsors: Steve and Pam Wiser, Dave and Cathy (Piccolo) Bower, Steve and Candy Dewar.
– The Thomas T. Taber Museum, at 858 West Fourth.
– The YWCA, at 815 West Fourth Street.
– James V Brown Library, at 19 East Fourth Street.
– The Community Arts Center, at 220 West Fourth Street.

The churches featured on the tour for Sunday, November 21st are:
– City Alliance Church, at 380 West Fourth Street.
– St. Joseph the Worker Church, at 702 West Fourth Street.
– Covenant Central Presbyterian Church, at 807 West Fourth Street.
– Trinity Episcopal Church, at 844 West Fourth Street.
– Christ Community Worship Center, at 436 West Fourth Street.
– The Wildwood Cemetery Chapel, at 91 Wildwood Boulevard.

This is the 22nd anniversary of the event founded by members Nan Young, Gloria Miele, Marcia Miele, and Ted Lyons Jr. This year’s Victorian Christmas committee includes Nan Young, Jill Confair, Dianne Peeling, Bethann Campbell, Peachie O’Connor, Hallie Luppert, Connie Phillips, Deb Taylor, Vicki Fischer, Meg Smith, Jennifer Flint, Nicole Nardi, Valerie Lundy, Linda Sterling, Mary Holstein & Mary Jo Bower. Tom O’Connor is the Treasurer.