Eden State Gardens Holiday Tour | Dec 20, 5-8pm

[Teresa]

A favorite family holiday tradition!

Eden State Gardens Holiday Tour
Dec 20, 5-8pm

The traditional candelight tour of the historic Wesley Mansion at Eden Gardens State Park is on Dec 20 and promises to be a spectacular event. Walk with your family and friends through the luminaries and see the rooms that have been decorated for the holidays by members of the community. After you enjoy the Christmas carols sung by a group of young people, join the Friends of Eden for refreshments in the pavilion.

The public is invited to this event and there is no charge for admission although donations are welcome.

 

[Franny]

A wonderful Christmas tradition.

 

[Teresa]

friend DeLene writes about Eden State Park (Holiday Visions/The Walton Sun 11/27/08)..


Eden Gardens State Park Will Be Well Dressed for the Holidays


By DeLene Sholes

The traditional candlelight tour of the historic Wesley mansion at Eden Gardens State Park is on Saturday, Dec. 20 and promises to be a spectacular event. The tour of the mansion will be open to thepublic between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Walk with your family and friends through the luminaries and see the rooms that have been decorated for the holidays by members of the community. After you enjoy the Christmas carols sung by a group of young people, join the Friends of Eden for refreshments in the pavilion. The public is invited to this event, and there is no charge for admission although donations are welcome.

The beautiful two-story mansion and its gardens are much loved and appreciat­ed by the residents in this area. The two­-story horne on Tucker Bayou in Point Washington was built in the 19th century by the Wesley family and renovated by its new owner, Lois Maxon in 1963.

In 1968, Maxon donated the house and gardens to the state of Florida. Today the Friends of Eden Gardens State Park, a group of dedicated volunteers, help to maintain and repair the house and gardens.

Marianne Burbach, president of the Friends' board of directors, said every room in the house will be decorated ac­cording to a theme. The Christmas tree in the library has the theme of Fanciful Fruits, the staircase is the Stairway to Heaven, and the upstairs sitting room is the Enchanted Forest. Visitors will be able to see the Sugar Plum Fairies and the Birds of Paradise in other rooms.

"Everyone who is working on the decorations is really excited about it," said Friends' member Mary Jo Morris."I think it is so wonderful the way this community has corne together and supported Eden. Without the Friends this beautiful place might not be so lovely," Burbach said. "Volunteers come out every Tuesday and take care of the grounds, We always need volunteers."

The group that calls itself the Gourmet Gardeners meet on Tuesdays at 9 a.m, to work on the grounds. There continues: to be a need for volunteers because the poor economy is affecting the house and grounds just as it affects most everything else, according to Burbach.

Various community groups and indi­viduals will decorate the rooms for the holidays, according to Burbach. Friends' member Tricia Sloan is responsible for coordinating the decorations. The house will be decorated around Nov. 19, and the decorations will remain until mid January, according to Susy Florance, tour guide and special events coordinator of the park.

In addition to the special holiday tours, the park offers opportunities to picnic un­der the moss-covered trees along Tucker Bayou or take a walk along the nature trail. The park also boasts a 600-year-old tree called the Wedding Tree. The pavil­ion is available for wedding receptions. Friends' member Jim Ross manages the Fig Leaf, the store at the mansion that sells merchandise related to the mansion and houses numerous books about the area, including one written by a member of the Wesley family.

The house and grounds are open to visitors throughout the year. Guided tours are offered on Thursday through Monday, from 10 AM to 3 PM according to infor­mation provided by the park's website. Entrance fees to the park are $3.00 per vehicle and $1.00 for bikes and walkers. Tours of the house are $3.00 for adults and $1.50 for children with the exception of the special holiday tour, which is free.

For more information on the park or the Friends of Eden Gardens State Park go to www.floridastateparks.org/edengardenss/default.cfm or www.friends of edengardens.org., or telephone the park at 850-231-1167 or the Friends at 850-231-4214.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Thanks for the reminder, Toots. I marked my calendar, as I always look forward to this tradition, even though I think I could soon give a tour of the house, myself. I am grateful that we have such a cool thing to do around here at Christmas.

 

[Teresa]

Thanks for the reminder, Toots. I marked my calendar, as I always look forward to this tradition, even though I think I could soon give a tour of the house, myself. I am grateful that we have such a cool thing to do around here at Christmas.

couldn't we all? but remember, they have changed up the tour and not really offering the historic story of the house by the people in period dress - just a prettily decorated (sponsored) room with maybe a factoid or two about the room or furnishings. hey - it went a lot faster! more time for snacks after! I guess I like the change only because I was getting pretty bored with the old tour. but the old way was definitely more historic, more informational, more authentic.

 

[Walton Outdoors]

Story and video available

Story and video of this year's Wesley mansion decorations and activities
available on WaltonOutdoors.com

 

[DuneLaker]

The Friends of Eden rock and this event is certainly a special tradition in SoWal. The Wesley House at Eden State Gardens is located on what is perhaps the first land grant in South Walton.