(Seguin) –Those looking to experience an old-fashioned Christmas are invited to enjoy the simpler times this weekend at the Big Red Barn.
The doors to the Texas Agricultural Education & Heritage Center will open up for the annual Country Christmas celebration.
The event is set for Friday and Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.
Board member Ronald Heinemeyer for years has helped to promote the two nights of fun activities. Heinemeyer says Country Christmas helps families celebrate the season while also helping them gain a better appreciation of agriculture and heritage.
“Country Christmas is something that the board established many years ago. In fact, it probably started the year that the board first met. That was one of the first activities we had, and our intent then was to do and still is – is to have events out there that would incorporate family, and this is definitely one of those. If you want a place to go for Christmas with your family, I would highly recommend going to the Red Barn on Dec. 10 and 11,” said Heinemeyer.
Board member Kay Willmann, says the Heritage Village alone provides the perfect holiday spot.
Decorated with thousands of twinkling lights, she says the buildings, which reflect pre 1900 and early 1900s farm and ranch living, are always a holiday favorite for guests year after year.
More importantly, Willmann says the barn houses a part of Santa’s workshop making it always a favorite tradition for local children
“We spent the better part of the last couple of weeks decking the place out with lights and Christmas trees – lots of Christmas trees this year and every museum has Christmas in it, and we will have music in the front hall all evening. The plan is to have music in every room. Every museum will have some Christmas music so you can just stroll around, enjoy the exhibits, enjoy the activities we have there for children and the Pecan Museum will have some crafts where kids can do some homemade ornaments. They can decorate cookies over in the Bartoskewitz Farm House. Even when they are doing their ornaments, we will have them write letters to Santa Claus and then they can hand deliver it. Santa Claus this year has been affected by all that delayed shipping. Everybody is experiencing delayed shipping and so is he. So, at the Big Red Barn this year, he’s going to have to be in his workshop out there in the garage working on toys etc. So, when the kids can go out there, they can deliver their letter to him and then go over and decorate some cookies,” said Willmann.
Heinemeyer says the ag center, which also includes the Pecan Museum of Texas, is especially excited to show off new upgrades made to the center.
He says guests will also get the chance to check out some of the latest collections gifted to the Big Red Barn.
“One we had at the Koehler Mill Shop (was) the collection of the late Charlie Koehler’s tools there on display and they will be open and certainly, the public can take a look at it. We have put together the collection that Mrs. Springs left after her death of her doll collection, and she had a tremendous collection. In fact, we are not able to display them all at one time. We’ll change them out every four months. But we have a good collection of those, and they can see those. Hilda Krueger and bless her heart, she left us this year, but her collection of the Snow Village is fabulous and Kay along with Mary did a lot of work in trying to display that and it is certainly something that I think people would be interested in, “said Heinemeyer.
Live entertainment on Friday will feature Kirk Herbold & Friends from 5 to 8 p.m.
Performing on Saturday will be Tom Townley from 5 to 6 p.m. and The Wyatt & Charlie Snow from 6 to 8 p.m.
A musical line-up featuring local choirs and musicians is also slated for Friday and Saturday in the Heritage Village’s Zion Lutheran Church.
Other festivities include live farm animals, hayrides, kiddie train and an open fire marshmallow roast plus food and drink. Parents are also invited to bring their cameras for free photos with Santa each night from 6 to 8 o’clock. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 12 and under.