The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society is hosting a free Christmas open house as part of the organization’s “Vintage Christmas Celebration.”

The celebration will include story and craft time for children, live music and a chance to meet live reindeer, as well as other activities put on by various community organizations.

The main portion of the event will be held on Dec. 5, 2015 at Heritage Junction, located at 24101 Newhall Ave. Festivities will start at 8:30 a.m.

“There will be crafts and treats, all the (historic) houses will be open and tours will be given,” said Cathy Martin, event organizer for the open house.

The Forge Ahead Arts group will be teaching children how to make personalized Christmas cards and will also help them write letters to Santa.

The Newhall Holiday Trolley will also be operational, starting from the main heritage junction location and running through Old Town Newhall with three stops along the way.

Related Story: Photos: Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society Hosts St. Francis Dam Tour

Music sheets will be placed on the trolley for riders to sing along to Christmas carols.

“Last year, people were just singing ‘Jingle Bells’ up and down the streets,” said Martin.

The event is animal friendly, and pet owners are invited to attend an animal blessing at the Ramona Chapel, where they will receive a certificate to commemorate the occasion.

The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society will also be celebrating their 40th anniversary at the 35th annual Christmas open house.

Last year was the first year that the wider downtown Newhall area was included in the festivities, and over 1,000 people attended, Martin said.

This year’s event is expected to draw even more, “we’re expecting a couple thousand,” she said. “The more the merrier.”

To provide entertainment for a larger crowd, the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society has doubled the number of organizations that are involved with this year’s open house, Martin said.

Martin hopes this event, and others like it, will draw more people to downtown Newhall.
“We want to keep the momentum going,” said Martin. “This is the core of our city.”