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Eden Gardens Christmas Candlelight Tour and Open House Dec 20
December 20, 2014 by Teresa Lischka
The Friends of Eden invite the public to the annual Eden Gardens State Park Christmas Candlelight Open House on Saturday, December 20 from 5pm to 8pm. Enjoy the traditional walk through the luminaries through the Park to the Historic Wesley House and it’s beautifully decorated rooms. Take a tour through the house and admire the beautifully decorated rooms. Guests can even vote on their favorite room. After the tour is complete, the Friends of Eden will be providing refreshments in the pavilion.
This is a wonderful holiday tradition enjoyed by residents and visitors every Christmas season! Dozens of volunteers from local businesses and organizations have been busy decorating assigned rooms of the Wesley mansion. This year, Walton Guard re-enactors will be in the mansion in period dress. The public will be asked to vote on their favorite room.
Everyone's invited! Admission fees to the park are waived for the event. Donations to the Friends of Eden are welcome. Eden Gardens State Park is located in historic Point Washington, north of Hwy 98. There is ample parking available within the park. For further information call 267-8320.
Many thanks to Friends of Eden Gardens State Park for continuing this unique Christmas holiday tradition. Jim Foley and his "Merry Men and Women" will be placing hundreds illuminations lining the drive into the park and around the mansion. This group of dedicated individuals does an outstanding job year after year, creating lighted pathways in and around the park.
Eden Gardens State Park consists of 124 upland acres just north of Seagrove Beach, across highway 98 in Point Washington, along the shores of Tucker Bayou and the Choctawhatchee Bay. Gracing Eden are gardens everywhere, the beautiful legacy of the many gardeners and master gardeners who belong to the Friends of Eden Gardens State Park, and give lovingly of their time and labor.
Wesley House
The focal point of the park is the Wesley house, a beautifully renovated, two-story house with elegant white columns and wraparound porch complete with rocking chairs. Surrounded by moss-draped live oaks and ornamental gardens, the Wesley house inspires visions of hoop skirts and landed gentry.
Wesley House Guided Tours at Eden Gardens State Park are Thursday through Monday, 10am-3pm, every hour on the hour (year round and through the holidays). You can come out during the day during these times to see the beautifully decorated house. The house is closed every Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tour Park grounds any day between 8am and sundown, 365 days per year!
Adults $4.00, children under 12 $2.00. Enjoy a guided tour of a Greek-Revival style home and the second largest collection of Louis XVI furniture in the United States, in addition to other antiques of the Lois Maxon estate collection. Miss Maxon was a writer and publisher in the early to mid-1900s.
Read more about Eden Gardens State Park and history at SoWal Parks Guide.