Julian Glitters for the Holidays

Photo courtesy of Julian Chamber of Commerce

By Bobbi Zane

When San Diego KUSI television sportscaster Rod Luck illuminates the Julian Christmas tree on Saturday, Nov. 26, it will signal the beginning of the historic town’s annual Country Christmas festivities.

Visitors are invited to join this month-long celebration, when Julian, unlike any other rural town in Southern California, is a glittering holiday display evocative of Christmas past.

The tree-lighting ceremony featuring music by Victorian carolers will start at 5:30 p.m. in Pioneer Park, adjacent to the Julian Pioneer Museum. Santa Claus will be on hand as well as a local girls choral group. Julian High School students will serve warm refreshments in the form of spiced apple cider, hot chocolate and coffee with proceeds to benefit high school activities.

It’s easy to get into the spirit of the season in Julian, where it just feels like Christmas.

Founded during a gold rush in the 1870s, Julian looks and sounds like Christmas too. Twinkling white lights and garland outline wooden false-fronted buildings along Main Street and up the side streets. In the spirit of the season, many shopkeepers add their own favorite Santas, sleighs and reindeer, garlands, wreaths and bows to the show. The Julian Pioneer Museum and historic Grosskopf House are all decked out in authentic Victorian holiday finery.

Everywhere you’ll hear the sounds of Christmas as well…costumed strolling carolers recall Victorian times, when Julian was a thriving Gold Rush town, and Doves and Desperadoes, all dressed up in western costumes, share Christmas memories in living history dramas.

If you want to see what Scrooge is up to these days, drop by Julian Town Hall for a performance of the Christmas Carol put on by the Julian Theatre Company Friday and Saturday evenings December 2 through 17 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee on Dec. 18. Call (760) 765-1688 for information and reservations.

It can be a real pleasure to browse Julian shops during the holiday season. Most, including the Julian Crafters who set up shop in Town Hall during the season, offer one-of-a-kind items that can’t be found in shopping malls. Friendly shopkeepers take pride in providing personal service to every visitor; most will gladly wrap and ship gifts for you.

Also on the holiday schedule are Living Nativity presentations, Christmas teas, a holiday home tour, a U-pick Christmas tree farm, festive dinners at Julian restaurants, plus a performance of Handel’s Messiah by the town chorus in Town Hall on Dec. 18.

Country Christmas normally draws 2000 visitors for the tree lighting ceremony alone. The holiday event has been presented to the community and visitors by the Julian Merchants Association for the past 10 years. Festivities run in Julian from Thanksgiving weekend through New Year’s.

For information, call the Julian Chamber of Commerce (760) 765-1857.