Special to the News-Sun
LAKE WALES -- Christmas at Bok Tower Gardens is a celebration for the whole family with the traditional Pinewood home tour, new workshop activities, poinsettia displays, member events, holiday concerts, winter walking tours and more.
The highlight of this seasonal event is the Holiday Home Tour at Pinewood Estate. Now in its 18th year, volunteers and sponsored designers have decorated the 20-room, Mediterranean-style mansion on the Gardens property. Pinewood will be open every day Nov. 23 through Jan. 6 for self-guided tours.
This year's Room Design Partners include: The Ledger Media Group, Nettle Creek, Water's Edge Retirement Community, Seaside Sisters of Florida, Lori Draper's Furniture and Accessories, Cornerstone Catering & Events, Dr. and Mrs. Salud, Garden Party Florals, and Citizens Bank and Trust.
"The Holiday Home Tour is our largest fundraiser of the year thanks to scores of visitors who have made this event a family tradition over the years," said Jennifer Beam, director of Visitor Services & Programs. "We are so excited to finally open Pinewood the day after Thanksgiving after a month of installing more than 15 Christmas trees, hundreds of feet of garland, masses of faux snow and thousands of lights."
Each room has a different focus, but they all coordinate with the master theme of "The Nature of the Holidays," as the designers concentrate on making the décor naturally classy. Every room is decorated by a different sponsored designer and the hallways, entrances and other spaces are adorned by Pinewood volunteers who have handcrafted most of the decorations.
"We used technology a little bit differently than we have in the past, setting up a Pinterest account for the volunteer design team so they can pin different ideas," said Elyse Gerstenecker, Pinewood Estate coordinator. "We also focused on crafting more and they made a lot of the pieces you see in the house. Some are as detailed as hand-painted birdhouse ornaments, and others are larger, featured pieces like wreaths."
In the room Gerstenecker designed for Bok Tower Gardens, she incorporated both educational and creative elements. In addition to her text panels that share historical information about Pinewood, she also decorated the room in the style of a 1930's living room.
"I found an old article in American Home magazine that talked about how to make a centerpiece for Christmas," Gerstenecker said. And she created exactly what they suggested--a wooden bowl of popcorn balls with evergreens and red berries. "It's neat be able to give people an idea of what things were like back in ye olden times, even though it wasn't really that long ago," she said.
With as much work that goes into each detail of the home décor, the Holiday Home Tour wouldn't be possible without the dedicated help from the Gardens' volunteers.
"The staff, volunteers and designers who make this event happen have worked tirelessly during the last year to plan for a spectacular Christmas display," Beam said.
Rose Kellermann has volunteered for the Holiday Home Tour every year since it started 18 years ago, and when they switched to having sponsors of individual rooms, she became the volunteer coordinator for the entire design and decorating process.
"The volunteer design team is the most fabulous group of people to work with," Kellermann said. "We can sit down and talk about ideas, throw them away, expand on them and nobody gets mad. We can really create something special because we can interact that way."
Children are encouraged to tour the 1930's-style home and are invited to participate in an ongoing hunt to search for unique holiday decorations. And visitors young and old can experience the decked halls of Pinewood for free on Christmas Day from noon to 5 p.m.
Christmas at Bok Tower Gardens is sponsored in part by CapTrust, WEDU, VisitFlorida, Central Florida Tourism & Sports Marketing/Tourist Development Council, and by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. For tickets to the 18th Annual Holiday Home Tour at Pinewood Estate, visit www.boktowergardens.org/christmas, or call (863) 676-1408 for information about all Christmas events and programs.
Christmas at Bok Tower Gardens - Events and Programs 2012:
Holiday Home Tour at Pinewood Estate - Hours & Admission Prices - Nov. 23 to Jan. 6
The 18th Annual Holiday Home Tour at Pinewood Estate is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays; noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $20 adults; $9 children ages 5-12. Members: $7 adults; $6 children ages 5-12. All prices include general gate admission. Children under 5 are admitted free.
Christmas Carillon Concerts - Nov. 23 to Jan. 6
Bok Tower Gardens' acclaimed carillonneur Geert D'hollander performs Christmas carols from around the world at 1 and 3 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday. These 30-minute live concerts are included with general gate admission.
Winter Walking Tours - Nov. 23 to Jan. 6
Gardens' volunteers lead visitors on an hour-long winter walking tour, sharing information about the flora and fauna and guiding visitors through the Gardens from Pinewood Estate to the Singing Tower. Tours are Mondays through Saturdays at 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.; Sundays at 1:45 p.m. only.
Holiday Moonlight Carillon Concert & Home Tour Night - Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
New this year is the Holiday Moonlight Carillon Concert and Home Tour Night at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30. Geert D'hollander performs a special nighttime, hour-long carillon concert after normal operating hours. Before or after the concert, guests can visit Pinewood Estate for a special holiday home tour complete with hot chocolate and cookies. Pinewood will be open until 10 p.m., and Geert D'holloander will greet guests at the house immediately following the concert. Concert only: $5 per person; free for members. Concert & Home Tour: $13 per person; $7 for members.
Home for the Holidays Workshop Series - Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22
Also new this year, visitors can make and take their own winter wonderland décor with the Home for the Holidays Workshop Series. Learn how to create handmade Christmas decorations like all-natural ornaments and terrariums. Workshops are 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays, Dec. 1-22; $10 per person, supplies included. Reservations are required.
Wintersong by Tammerlin - Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
Tammerlin returns to Bok Tower Gardens at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 to perform a beautiful and unusual holiday program of ancient and modern carols, poems, readings and songs of the season. Their folk/roots vibe encompasses original songs and traditional tunes from the heart of American music - a little bit pop, country, British Isles and blues. Performance takes place at the Visitor Center. Tickets are $25 per person. Reservations are required.
Holiday Hidden Garden Melodies - Dec. 29, noon to 3 p.m.
The Hidden Garden Melodies series continues with a unique holiday performance by Eirinn Abu on noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 29. Abu will be playing his sultry, saxophone renditions of holiday classics in an intimate concert that is included with general gate admission. This special performance takes place at Pinewood Estate and is sponsored by Bob and Diane Armington of The Village Kitchen Shop in Lake Wales.
Sunday, November 18, 2012 - www.newssun.com/111812-bok-christmas