Community Corner
Candlelight Tours Set Holidays Aglow
Thousands of luminaries light up the night as attendees revisit the past at Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest.
Christine Rousselle and her two daughters, Bella and Jessica, came to go caroling with the girls’ Girl Scout troop, but they stayed to enjoy the sights and the music, said Rousselle on Sunday.
“Bella just said she’s having quite a nice time here,” Rousselle said. “It’s a nice way to kick off the holiday.”
opened its doors Saturday and Sunday for a night of lights, music, and a step back into the early 1900s for the 26th year in a row.
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On Saturday alone, more than 1,200 attendees visited the park, said docent Joyce Russelle.
“For a lot of people, it’s just part of their Christmas now,” she said.
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Featuring over 1,000 luminaries trailing the various pathways of the park, the weekend festivities allowed attendees to explore the Serrano Adobe, the Bennett House, the schoolhouse, and St. George’s Mission for a $4 entrance fee. Cookies, hot chocolate, and spiced apple cider were also provided for nominal fees.
Music and entertainment were available in all the areas of the historical park. With attractions from Spanish guitar and flamenco dancing to Victorian carolers straight out of a Charles Dickens novel to a brass quartet, the melodic beats of singing and instruments could be heard as attendees milled around to visit all of the attractions.
“My favorite part was almost everything,” said 7-year-old Jakob Holmberg, with a smile. “I like all the lights.”
Originally from Mission Viejo, Jakob and his mother, Sandy, came to the park on Sunday to see the luminaries, said Sandy Holmberg.
“We just need to get a picture with Santa,” she added.
Attendees kept docents and volunteers busy as lines were formed at every refreshment stand, and lines to visit each of the historical attractions were full all the way up to each entrance. Everyone was given the option of singing along to classic Christmas carols at the schoolhouse, eating chestnuts roasted over an open fire, and playing with marionette dolls.
“It’s nice to see all of the families together,” said docent Mary Lee Lindquist. “It really kicks off the holiday season.”
