The Holmstad to host annual Christmas Open House Dec. 17
Families are invited to celebrate the holidays at The Holmstad's eighth annual Christmas Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. The free afternoon celebration includes live ice sculpture carving, a petting zoo, caricature artists and face painting, Mr. and Mrs. Claus with their favorite elf, and trolley rides to view the life-size holiday yard art created by resident artists and woodworkers. A great opportunity for holiday family photos!
This year's life-size yard art includes a 14-piece nativity, a skating scene with an ice-skating duo; Santa's sleigh with reindeer; Dickens-themed carolers and angels; and a busy scene from Santa's workshop. There will be face painting, raffle prizes and lots of good cheer to go around.
Music venues throughout the community will host holiday musical performers. Refreshments include ham and roast turkey from the meat carving station, a mashed potato bar, passed appetizers, and dessert from the fruit pie bar.
Each year resident artists and members of the wood shop create new additions to the ever-growing holiday yard art collection. To create the figures, woodworkers start with a 4- by 8-foot by ¾-inch exterior grade plywood and then cut, sand and prep the pieces for the resident artists in the Creative Arts Center, where they sketch each character by hand and then paint the piece. Some figures, like Joseph and the Three Wise Men, measure upward of 6 feet tall. The camel and the bull each required an entire 4- by 8-foot sheet of plywood.
The open house is free and reservations are not required. For information, call (877) 226-7310 or visit www.theholmstad.org.