Jefferson National Expansion Memorial’s annual "Nineteenth Century Holiday Traditions at the Old Courthouse" will take place from November 28 to December 20, 2008. The Opening Ceremony will begin at noon on November 28 with the lighting of the 25-foot Victorian Christmas tree and music by the Caroling Party and the Clarion Brass.

The annual Holiday Candlelight Tour will be held on Thursday, December 4, from 3 to 8 p.m., with Victorian decorations, dancing, and music by the Booneslick String band. In addition to the free program at the Old Courthouse, the Holiday Candlelight Tour also includes visits to other historic homes in Downtown St. Louis, which require a ticket. The Campbell House, the Eugene Field House, the Samuel Cupples House, the Scott Joplin House and the DeMenil Mansion are all included on the ticket portion of the tour. Those interested in ticket information can call 314-421-4689 for further information.

The National Park Service will also host a series of  Wednesday noon concerts and Saturday Holiday Programs. Noon concerts include the Mehlville High School and Madrigal Ensemble on December 3, the St. Louis trio on December 10, and the Gateway Brass on December 17.

Saturday programs feature the Resound Community Youth Chorus of Owensboro, Kentucky on December 6 at 2 p.m.; an 1807 Missouri Frontier Christmas on December 13 from 12 to 4:30 p.m. (with music and dance by the Peacocks, Les Petits Chanteurs, and the Sperreng Fiddlers); and an 1858 Victorian Ball with dance lessons on December 20, from 9 to 11 a.m., with music by the Independent Silver Band.

Please join us for one or more of these festive events, which strive to enlighten visitors about the cultural past of St. Louis during the Westward Expansion era.