ROCKWELL ó This year’s Festival of Trees in Rockwell features a miniature Victorian Village with a train. Tonight is opening night, with activities including Santa for the children, refreshments, music and the lighting of the town Christmas tree. Admission is free.
The ninth annual Festival of Trees is at the Historic Rockwell Museum, located next to the gazebo at the intersection East Main and Broad streets.
The Festival of Trees continues through Dec. 13. Hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays. The trees are then donated to needy families in the community.
The Victorian Village display will still be open on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 20, 2-4 p.m.
Mallory Allen of nearby St. James Lutheran Church spent well over 100 hours setting up her village collectibles. The Victorian Village of more than 50 lighted buildings includes downtown shops, government buildings, museums, theaters and a university. The richly detailed buildings are in the ornate architectural style of the high Victorian period. Most are from series by Lemax, and several are from Department 56 and O’Well.
An Ohio River & Western train by Bachmann circles the village. Allen explains the train is in a scale of ON30, which was designed especially to fit collectible villages. The track is HO scale, being used as a 30-inch narrow gauge track.
Horse-drawn carriages, gazebos, signs and figures bring the village to life. A Dixieland band and dancers entertains the early evening crowd of theatergoers awaiting the red-carpet opening events at the Symphony Hall and Royal Opera House. Shoppers already laden with packages have street vendors competing for their last dollars. Children in the park enjoy a Punch and Judy puppet show and a working carousel.
Several surprises are scattered throughout the village. Visitors might spot a couple kissing, hoboes and a snowball fight between the village lads and some nuns.
St. James Lutheran Church of Rockwell sponsors the Victorian Village. Nine decorated trees line both sides of the village exhibit. They were decorated by the American Legion Auxiliary, the Red Hat Brigade and Rowan Rowdies, Civitan Club, Rockwell Lions Club, Ministries of Living Water Church, Ursinus United Church of Christ Youth Group, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Christiana Preschool and Mr. Jean Puckett, president of the Rockwell Historic Society which sponsors the festival.
Puckett decorated a tree with his collection of gold filigree ornaments.