Christmas Village

Many people opt to visit a Christmas village during the holiday season, as well as driving around town to see the lights. Often set up in true-to-life sizes, these villages are destinations for those who enjoy seeing the lights and get into the spirit of the season. These villages can be a drive-through tour, walking tour, or even an interactive experience, with characters dressed in period costumes or as Santa and elves.

To find a local Christmas village, check your community’s calendar of events. Community groups, clubs, churches, and chambers of commerce may put on villages in centralized locations open to the public during the month of December. Watch local news programming for villages featured in human interest stories that may be within a day’s driving distance.

If your family is planning a trip outside the state, or is looking for a destination for Christmas activities, check out tour guides and state travel guides for festive places to visit. Below are some larger villages that may be worth checking out if you plan to be in the area.

A popular winter destination, Koziar’s is located outside of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are open to the public from the beginning of November through January 1. Things to see at the village include:

• Santa’s Toy Shoppe
• Train Platform and Miniature Village
• Christmas in the Jungle
• Christmas Beneath the Sea
• Manger Scene

Originally started as a Christmas display for his wife and children in 1948, William Koziar eventually expanded the layout so much that visitors requested to see the property.

Located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, this village is open from November 23 until January 1, 2007. The village boasts over 100,000 lights and has Victorian-era Christmas scenes that are reminiscent of the city’s early heritage. Visitors can walk or drive through the park.

Another Pennsylvania attraction, Overly’s Country Christmas is located on the fairgrounds in Greensburg. Main attractions of the village lit with 2.4 million bulbs include:

• Hartman Station (model train display)
• Waterwheel and Wishing Well
• Santa’s Workshop
• Sweet Shoppe
• Country Kitchen

This village in Lake Orion, Michigan is open almost year round. Featuring a wide array of Christmas shopping and shops, it is over 90,000 square feet. Besides the unique shopping options, be sure to view the stained glass windows at the Canterbury Toy Shop and the Canterbury Castle Banquet Center. Canterbury Clock Tower has a Dickens theme. Stop by the Pavilion for different events and festivities, and take in the 19th-century German carousel at the same time.

Due to hectic holiday schedules, not everyone has a chance to visit a real-life Christmas village. Instead, you may choose to decorate your home with a miniature village. Great for mantels, coffee tables, and bookcase tops, they add a special spark your home. In fact, many of the miniature villages become collector’s items, and people enjoy adding to their village year after year. Giving an accessory piece to a collector is a great gift idea.

The Precious Moments brand Christmas village has been a best-seller for years. You can make the village your own by adding characters to the homes and shops that you want featured in your own village. “Sleigh Bells Ring” is one such character, featuring a small boy ringing a bell as he moves down the street with his sleigh. Or, add the “Visions of Sugarplums” musical tree outside one of the shops. To get your own village started, enroll in a subscription service to ensure that you get all of the pieces of the village delivered to your door.

Another popular miniature village is the one by artist Thomas Kinkade. The Kinkade village features a bed and breakfast, Santa’s workshop, and chapel. Each piece is able to light up for display in the evening hours. This village’s theme centers around Victorian-era homes and accessories.

A wide variety of miniature villages are available. Check with your local gift shops, arts and crafts shows, and department stores to find the style that suits your home the best. Country, kids, pets, and vintage villages are other popular themes for villages.

To keep your village display looking its best, try these tips:

• Add “snow” to your display by using pulled cotton or pillow filling.
• String lights around the bottom of the table where the display sits.
• Keep display out of reach from small children and pets.
• Dust your display before placing out, as particles can get trapped in tiny crevices.
• Add a “lake” to your village by finding a cheap flat mirror to place in your village.
• Consider running a miniature train set through your village.

The best way to pack your miniature village is to re-use the original packaging. If you have all ready gotten rid of the original packaging, use Styrofoam, packing peanuts, and newspaper to cushion each piece. Then place carefully and tightly into a sturdy cardboard box. You do not want any room for sliding within the box, as that may cause damage or breakage.

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