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Bellefonte Victorian Christmas brings holiday cheer

Gingerbread houses on display at The Diamond Deli during Bellefonte Victorian Christmas on Saturday, December 12, 2015.
Gingerbread houses on display at The Diamond Deli during Bellefonte Victorian Christmas on Saturday, December 12, 2015. adrey@centredaily.com

Bellefonte had just about everything that encompassed the holidays.

But some said it was missing something.

Snow.

According to the National Weather Service, it reached 60 degrees in Bellefonte on Saturday during the 34th annual Bellefonte Victorian Christmas.

“There’s no way I should be in shorts right now,” said Bellefonte resident Carson Korman, who walked downtown with his wife and two sons to participate in the events.

Bellefonte Victorian Christmas is an annual event organized by the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association leading up to the holidays.

It included breakfast and visits with Santa, an arts and crafts show, model train exhibit, tour of the Bellefonte Art Museum, horse-drawn carriage rides, live entertainment and Christmas carolers, and a showing of “Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol” with actors from State College Community Theatre.

Those same characters were also found wandering around the borough performing sidewalk skits and singing Christmas carols.

“It’s the kind of perfect thing in a small town to get you ready for the holidays,” Korman said.

His sons, Jayden, 6, and Erik, 8, said their favorite activity was visiting Santa on the Diamond near the Centre County Court House.

They both asked for XBox games.

Event co-chairwoman Sally Houser said weekend festivities usually bring 7,500 to 8,500 people to Bellefonte.

Bellefonte Victorian Christmas will continue 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Britney Milazzo: 814-231-4648, @M11azzo

Sunday’s events

10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.: Free shuttle bus between Bellefonte Middle School and High School parking lots, on the diamond downtown, corner of Allegheny and Linn, and CPI Festival of Trees

11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Horse-drawn carriage rides, departing the Brockerhoff on Allegheny St.

11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Arts & Crafts show and sale, YMCA downtown and at Bellefonte Middle School

11 a.m.-4 p.m.: Model train exhibit, Bellefonte Middle School

Noon-5 p.m.: Bellefonte Art Museum display and sales, 133 N. Allegheny St.

Noon-4 p.m.: Santa’s House open on the Diamond

Noon-4 p.m.: Festival of Trees, CPI

1 p.m.: Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol, Bellefonte Middle School, 100 N. School St.

1 p.m.: Victorian High Tea with entertainment, Reynold’s Mansion, 101 W. Linn St.

2 p.m.: Historic Downtown Walking Tour, departing Centre County Courthouse, on the diamond

2 p.m.: Victorian Bell Choirs, Trinity UMC

3 p.m.: Tiny Tim’s Christmas Carol, Bellefonte Middle School, 100 N. School St.

4 p.m.: Callanish concert, Trinity UMC

7:30 p.m.: Bellefonte Victorian Christmas “Grand Finale”, Bellefonte High School theatre, 830 E. Bishop St., Bellefonte High School Theatre, E. Bishop St.

This story was originally published December 12, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Bellefonte Victorian Christmas brings holiday cheer."

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