"Christmas Past and Present" will be the theme of the Carroll County Farm Museum's annual Christmas tour, scheduled for Friday through Dec. 3 and Dec 8-10 at 500 S. Center St., Westminster
Tree ornaments and greenery reminiscent of the past, as well as contemporary decorations, will be featured. Christmas music will accompany visitors to the farmhouse.
Student musicians in period dress will bring the music of the 1850s to the present. Performing students will include: Jenna Contestabile of Westminster on pump organ; Kristen Geers of Manchester on flute; Ashley Neal of Winfield on flute; Alexia VanHorn of Hampstead on vocals; and Nichole Nazelrod of Westminster on violin.
The Charles Carroll Elementary School Flute Choir will also perform. Players include Julia Beach, Erin Hill, Lindsay Harman, Megan Shultz, Tiffany Zechman, Emily Wire, and parents Cindy Beach, Beth Hill, Deb Levy and Teresa Wire. Instrumental music teacher Valerie Brown directs the flutists.
Adult performers include: Jim Buckley of Westminster on guitar; Bruce Dell and Steve Hersh of Westminster on keyboards; and Rob Miller, Chuck Mooshian and Cass of Sykesville.
Food will be available in the summer kitchen. Also featured will be visits from Santa, poinsettia sales, artisan demonstrations and wagon rides. The General Store will be open for shopping.
A tree-lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Traditional Santa figurines made from a variety of materials will be displayed in the farmhouse showcase. The 200 Santas are from the collection of Jean Staub Myers of Westminster.
On display in the quilting room will be an 1890s Christmas quilt on loan from Wendy Holthaus, a museum house tour guide. She will share the story of the heirloom quilt from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays.
Children's book author Lynn Downey of Hampstead will read from her latest picture book, "The Flea's Sneeze," a rhyming tale of farm animals trying to sleep in spite of a sneezing flea. She can be found in the quilting room during the day on Saturdays. Copies of her book will be available.
A new feature at this year's tour will be Homespun Harmony's first annual Christmas Show. Located in the Farm Museum's restored historic bank barn, the craft show will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Admission for the tour is $1; children younger than 6 will be admitted free with an adult. Information: 410-848-7775.
