Holiday music and refreshments, appearances by Santa Claus, an open house at the Christiana Freight Station and more will be featured as part of the Christmas in Christiana celebration to be held on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14 and 15. Many events will be centered at the William P. Brinton House, 17 Green St., home of the Christiana Historical Society.

The event is being organized by several community organizations, including the historical society, the Christiana Lions Club and the Lancaster Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, which is headquartered at the Christiana Freight Station, 10 Railroad Ave.

Events will begin on Dec. 14 when children age 12 and under can join Santa at the Freight Station from 3 to 5 p.m. Children will receive a hot dog dinner and a photo with Santa. There will also be hayrides and refreshments, including cookies. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

"Melodies of Christmas on the Porch" will be presented by the historical society at the Brinton House on Dec. 14. During the event, to be held from 4 to 7 p.m., a guitarist and carolers in period attire will provide live music on the porch. Free hot chocolate, coffee, tea and popcorn will be served by historical society volunteers while visitors enjoy the music and play board games, marbles or checkers. Information about joining the historical society will be available.

Guests will be able to ring a railroad bell next to the porch for a donation, with proceeds to benefit the ongoing restoration of the Brinton House. A bonfire will be tended by Boy Scout Troop 20.

Borough residents are asked to donate nonperishable food items for the Octorara Area Food Cupboard, which will be picked up by members of the Christiana Fire Company as they escort Santa Claus through Christiana and the surrounding area from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 14. Santa will be portrayed by Jim Groff, vice president of the historical society and a member of the Lions Club.

Tours of the Underground Railroad Center at Zercher's Hotel, 11 Green St., will be offered from 3 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 14 by women in period attire, who will also provide information about the Christiana Resistance.

A "Light Up Christiana" lighting and decoration contest will be presented by the Christiana Lions Club on Dec. 14. Judging of homes will begin at 6:15 p.m., and cash prizes will be awarded for the winners of Santa's Choice, Up-Town and Down-Town. There will also be three honorable mention prizes. Homes will be judged on amount of effort, curb appeal, use of luminarias and creativity.

In addition, Moores Memorial Library, 9 W. Slokom Ave, Christiana, will provide free refreshments and give away books on Dec. 14 from noon to 7 p.m., and New Beginnings Church of the Cross, 1 Penn Ave., Christiana, will present a live Nativity on Saturday evening.

A new activity this year will be a Santa's Christmas Shoppe being offered at the Brinton House on Dec. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. For the first time since the society acquired the building in April of 2022, local residents will get a peek inside the house, which has been undergoing a major renovation.

Two rooms will be open for the event, which will be decorated with Christmas trees and furnished for the event. "Santa will talk with the children about what gift they would like to give to a parent, teacher or guardian," explained historical society member Charlene Ranck. "Once they have talked with Santa, the children will go through the door to the Santa Shoppe in the other room. The children can pick small gifts, which have been donated. It may be a pair of socks or a flashlight or keychain. They can wrap it, put on sticker that says, 'Don't open until Christmas,' and they get to take it along with them."

While waiting for Santa, children may play checkers, marbles and other games, take part in a scavenger hunt around the Brinton House or complete Christmas crafts. Refreshments will be provided.

An open house will be held at the railroad station on Dec. 15 from 1 to 5 p.m. Visitors will be able to tour a retired Conrail caboose, enjoy a 10-by-30-foot model train layout and learn about the railroad history in Christiana through a display of photos and other artifacts. There is also a trackside deck, where people can watch actual Amtrak trains pass, traveling at 90 miles per hour.

In preparation for the weekend, the Lions Club will hold a sale of luminarias. Payment can be dropped off at Shivery Funeral Home, 111 Elizabeth St., Christiana. All orders are due by Tuesday, Dec. 10. The Borough of Christiana is also planning a gingerbread house competition on Dec. 14. Details about the event can be found at http://www.christianaboro.org.

For more information about Christmas in Christiana, visit http://www.christianahistoricalsociety.com/events or http://www.facebook.com/christianahistoricalsociety.