Naper Settlement decks the halls to show Christmas in the 1800s

The reindeer who visit Naper Settlement this weekend may not have the gift of flight like Santa's famous fleet, but those at Christmas Memories still may be scanning the skies.The 19th-century Christmas celebration will include launches of sky lanterns around 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. First introduced in China centuries ago, the lanterns were extremely popular during the Civil War, said Maureen Malloy, museum education event coordinator."They look just like hot air balloons, but they're 3 feet tall," Malloy said. The biodegradable, fire-retardant lanterns may travel 5 to 7 miles across the countryside and have been known to stir concern from casual onlookers, Malloy said."They've been mistaken for UFOs," she said.Their presence this weekend is just one way an 1800s-style Christmas will be recalled at the settlement.The historically significant buildings and the grounds of the museum village will be decked out in 1800s-style Christmas season finery, Malloy said. Several groups and individuals loaned their expertise to the decorating effort, including the Naperville Woman's Club and the Naperville Heritage Society Weed Ladies."A lot of people were involved and the city of Naperville helped decorate these buildings," Malloy said.When visitors venture inside the buildings, they'll not only find costumed interpreters ready to help them imagine Christmas nearly 150 years ago, they'll find 10-minute dramatic presentations depicting life on the prairie back then."They'll be in total character, dressed in costume, telling it like you were there in 1861," Malloy said.Other learning opportunities will include snowshoe and cross-country skiing demonstrations at 8 p.m. Friday and ice sculpture demonstrations at 2 p.m. Sunday, she said.Dog sled demonstrations, featuring 12 Siberian huskies, are slated for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.A couple of reindeer, cared for year-round by Rick and Tammy Anderson of Summerfield Farm in Belvidere, will be on the grounds, available for close encounters with curious children."The kids just go crazy for them," Malloy said.Also roaming the grounds will be Ebenezer Scrooge and Father Christmas, while Mrs. Claus stays warm inside the museum store.Entertainment will include a magic show, shadow puppets, musicians, a vaudeville show, a gingerbread house contest and horse-drawn wagon rides.If you goWhat: Christmas MemoriesWhen: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday Where: Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., NapervilleTickets: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6.50 for ages 4 to 17Info: (630) 420-6010 napersettlement.museumFor a full schedule, see Page 2.Take a look at last year's event on dailyherald.com.