The Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley (HSCV), 237-249 W. Main St., Ephrata, will host its annual Christmas open house on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Guests will be welcome to tour all three floors of the Connell Mansion, which will be decorated for the holidays. Built in 1868 and 1869, the Italianate masterpiece features 13 rooms of exhibit space, filled with artifacts from days gone by.

Music will be provided by Mark Herr on the HSCV's antique pump organ, and Ephrata High School students Anya Gilbert and Sarah Taylor will share their talents on their flutes. Santa will be in the museum to meet with visitors. In the print shop, guests may view demonstrations of authentic type-set printing methods from the past. Patrons can participate in a craft activity and are invited to enjoy refreshments in the Library and Research Center.

New this year will be a Christkindlmarkt, featuring handcrafted ornaments for sale by local artisans. Ornament designs will include tin-type doves by Fred Eberly, a redware dove by Ned Foltz, a dove medallion by Bob Hughes, and a traditional bulb-type ornament designed by Bujno Pottery. People may also purchase mugs stamped with the Connell Mansion cupola. A limited supply of each item will be available, and all will be signed by the maker.

As always, Lou Tshudy will sell her clear toy candy, a traditional sweet treat many may remember from their youth. A small inventory of holiday cards and poinsettias will also be available for anyone who has missed the presale for those items. Additionally, copies of the "Lancaster County Barn Tour" book will be available for purchase, as well as a selection of past HSCV journals.

Attendees may learn about the HSCV's work archiving and teaching about life in the Cocalico Valley.

Admission is free. Parking is available in the rear lot or on the street. For more information, visit http://www.cocalicovalleyhs.org or call 717-733-1616.

Also, the HSCV has announced that copies of its "Lancaster County Barn Tour" book, created in partnership with the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County (HPTLC), are available for purchase. The full-color, 8.5-by-11-inch guidebook directs people to barns across Lancaster County, all of which are easily viewed from the road. The book includes photos of and information about each barn.

Fewer than 150 copies remain, and a second printing is not guaranteed. Books can be purchased at https://hptrust.org/ or http://www.cocalicovalleyhs.org or at the HSCV; Historic Ephrata Cloister, 632 W. Main St., Ephrata; Mainspring of Ephrata, 16 E. Main St., Ephrata; Lititz Historical Foundation, 137-145 E. Main St., Lititz; Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Landis Valley Road, Lancaster; Mennonite Life, 2215 Millstream Road, Lancaster; LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster; or Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St., Columbia.