Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose, yuletide carols being sung by the fire and folks dressed up like Eskimos.
At over 4500 feet elevation, Julian is one of the few places in San Diego County where "it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas" and the local weather forecast predicts snow next week in the mountains.
Julian's Country Christmas festivities begin at 4:00pm on Saturday, November 29th with a Tree Lighting Celebration at 6:00pm of the town's huge living Christmas tree. This popular annual event draws hundreds of visitors who gather at Pioneer Park to watch the tree lighting, drink hot cider, and visit with Santa. There will be warming stations throughout the town offering hot cider or cocoa, pastries, candies, and other holiday treats. The entire town has been decorated with Christmas wreaths and garlands and most businesses will be open until 9:00pm. Entertainment includes the Julian Wandering Carolers, a Living Nativity scene, Santa's arrival in a fire engine, and more.
"Julian offers holiday visitors the perfect Norman Rockwell Christmas experience," according to Tracy Turner, President of the Julian Merchants Association, "with its nostalgic, small town atmosphere and cold temperatures."
Visitors to this historic mountain community during the holiday season can indulge in a Victorian Christmas tea, sip hot cider or hot chocolate, shop for one-of-a-kind gifts in the small boutiques, or sing Christmas carols with costumed holiday carolers. They can watch the annual Living Nativity tableau, cuddle under a blanket while riding down Main Street in a horse drawn carriage, take in a performance in historic Town Hall of "A Christmas Carol", stay in a cozy bed and breakfast that's all decked out in holiday finery or bundle up and take a stroll down a quiet country lane.
Other holiday activities include a holiday home tour, a gingerbread house contest, holiday crafts, breakfast with Santa, an open house at Santa's Village, sugar cookie decorating, musical performances, and much more. For a complete list of holiday events, visit www.julianevents.org.
