One of the best local Christmas traditions will continue this weekend at Hills and Dales Estate.

Every single year our staff marvels at the fun from the estate’s Children’s Christmas Celebration, which includes children making gingerbread houses, photos with Santa Claus and a sing-a-long and story time. It’s always a lot of fun to watch children get creative with their gingerbread houses, but the little ones steal the show. Confused by what to do, many of them end up eating the candy instead of actually using them as decorations.

You can pay for admission into the house and garden throughout the year, but Saturday is one of the only times per year that the home is opened up for free admission. Another is the annual Picnic in the Garden, a family fun event in the spring. We hope you’ll take your little ones out to Hills and Dales this weekend. 

The event lasts from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., but we know from experience that you’ll want to be there early because there’s typically a big crowd. A perfect afternoon would mean staying downtown afterward, completing some shopping and seeing Santa Claus — again — around LaFayette Square Saturday afternoon.

Since Thanksgiving was so late, the Christmas season is a little shorter than normal this year. We urge you to take advantage while you can.