Last Vine Street Victorian Showcase Preview

The big event goes live on Vine Street between 6 and 9 pm  December 12, in Paso Robles between 8th and 21st Streets. This is probably the biggest family party Paso Robles has all year, with the possible exception of Pioneer Day in October.  I showed you Scrooge and the Grinch yesterday, and today I will show you  the Snow Queen's house and some other decorated Victorian homes on display for the evening. Here is the sign designating the Snow Queen's house.

Below is the house itself. I like the simplicity of the wreaths and red ribbons that show off the whiteness of the house so  fitting for an ice queen. Tonight  I expect there will be more lights. I was here just before dark.

Vine Street Showcase, Queen Elsa's house, © B. Radisavljevic

The next house is more festive with its bright lights, Christmas tree, and presents, along with its lighted wreaths. I'm  sure it will be glowing tonight as the guests pass on the dark street. Enlarge any  photo by clicking on it.

Lighted House on Vine Street, © B. Radisavljevic

This last Victorian home does not need a lot of adornment to be beautiful. It looks ready to welcome Christmas guests. I didn't see any sign announcing what will be happening here, but there is always something happening inside, in front of, or near every one of these homes. Musicians and dancers seem to be everywhere, but they are spread out enough so they don't drown each other out. There will be cotton candy, cookies, and hot chocolate, and probably more.

Decorated Victorian Home on Vine Street, © B. Radisavljevic

If you go, dress warmly. It may rain. The temperature will have a high of 57 and a low just above freezing. Bundle up and bring an umbrella and a flashlight. I've noticed that those with toddlers often bring wagons so the walk won't make the little ones too tired. If you are bringing an older person, expect that they may be tired before you are and want to leave early. I found that out the year I took my mother who was in her early eighties. You will probably have to park at least two blocks away, so make sure to leave while the young and the old still have the energy to get back to the car.

If you can't go, do the next best thing. Put on the Christmas music, make popcorn, and drink hot chocolate at home. A fire would be appropriate, too, if you have a fireplace. You can sit in  front of it with your hot beverage or a glass of wine and think of all the people shivering on Vine Street.

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What Happened to the Christmas Train?

Showcase Past

In the few years I've been able to attend the Vine Street Victorian Showcase, one of our loveliest Paso Robles December traditions, there are certain Christmas displays I like to photograph year after year. One of these is the house that displays this train. I will show you more photos of this house below.

Other popular attractions are Scrooge's house, of course, and another is the home of the Grinch. These usually draw large crowds.

This is a video of the Grinch's 2010 performance.

If you can bear with me as I walk through the crowd to finally get close enough to catch Scrooge's 2010 performance, you can get a feel for what the audience eats up and responds to as Scrooge dishes it out.

One other house has also drawn me to it year after year. It is the house with the Christmas train. I have put a close-up of it taken in 2011 beside the first paragraph at the top. I wish I could put the rest of these photos side by side in a row, but I can't. So I will put them as you would see them left to right if you were standing in front of this decorated house. You can click each photo to enlarge it to see the details.

Close-up of Penguin Slide from First Photo, ©B. Radisavljevic

Vine Street Decorated New Construction, 2015, ©B. Radisavljevic

Showcase Present

Since this is one of my favorite displays, I was trying to find it on my walk this week. I knew approximately where it normally is, but it wasn't anywhere near there.

Finally, I got back to 14th and Vine, Scrooge's former home for the Showcase, and I talked to the owner of the house who was in the front yard and told her I was trying to find it. She solved the mystery for me. I discovered I had seen its place at the beginning of my walk and even photographed the house where it had been. Except now it is this new construction. Even so, it is decorated. I hope maybe the more spectacular display will be back next year. This was not the only new construction on the route of the Vine Street Showcase, but it's the most festive.

What is your favorite holiday tradition in your town?

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Sky Light and Christmas Lights

Vine Street Just Before Sunset

Just as the light was being chased out of the sky tonight, I was driving along Vine Street looking for some of my favorite locations in the Vine Street Victorian Showcase. I won't be able to attend the actual event this year since walking is hard right now. I wanted to see the lights early so I wouldn't miss everything. I was actually a bit too early, since not everyone has gotten their home decorated yet. One house I  passed that was ready for Saturday night was this one Scrooge used to  rant from until a couple of years ago.

Decorated House on Vine Street, 2015, © B. Radisavljevic

The Sky Show

I had parked in front of this house,  but I decided to photograph some other houses before driving away. When I  returned to the car, the sun was almost down, and I noticed the ornamental bird on top of the house. I decided to photograph it in the setting sun.

© B. Radisavljevic

After taking many more photos, I headed home, where I noticed my neighbor across the street had his decorations lighted. The sun was gone, but the sky still showed enough color to make me want to take this last photo.

Sky Light and Christmas Lights © B. Radisavljevic

Which lights do you like best? The ones on the houses or the ones in the sky?

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X is for Xmas in Paso Robles

Before my Christian brothers and sisters get upset thinking I'm trying to take the name of Christ out of Christmas, I would refer you to the origins of Xmas as explained in Wikipedia. 

Xmas is  a sort of shorthand using the X, which is the first letter of the Greek word for Christ as a symbol for the name of Christ and so it means Christ Mass, which in common usage we have shortened to Christmas. I have used the shortened term here for obvious reasons. I didn't want to talk about where to get an X-ray in the North County, even though I have been X-rayed several times in the past year and even have photos of my X-rays to prove it.

Christmas is more fun. The City of Paso Robles has its own big celebration in the park for the lighting of the Christmas Tree and the singing of carols. I have never been able to attend that.

In my own neighborhood, the Riverbank tract, the neighbors decorate their homes in some creative ways. The nativity photo at the top, taken in 2014, comes from a home on Sandbar Court that has had a spectacular display every year I can remember. In 2010 I even made a video of it, since it was full of movement and music. It has gotten even better since I made this. I just haven't made any more videos since 2010.

As far as I'm concerned, the most wonderful Paso Robles Christmas party is the Vine Street Victorian Showcase. It's the ultimate block party, except that it occupies several blocks which are closed to motor vehicles during the few hours of fun after dark. All the Victorian houses are decorated with lights. The community participates in a big way with singers, dancers, story tellers, and free hot chocolate, coffee, popcorn, and other treats offered to those walking by.

Visitors can hear almost any music style, but I tend to pay the most attention to the traditional carolers. People walk along until they find a performance or activity they want to stop and listen to, watch, or participate in. There is a snow slide, a Grinch House, and the biggest attraction -- the house of Ebeneezer Scrooge. He comes out and interacts with the crowd as they try to change his mind about Christmas.  On each block, there are several different points of interest. It's a Christmas smorgasbord of sights and sounds.

In 2013 I took my video camera and tried to pick up the highlights -- the parade warm-up, the display of the Morning Star Youth Ranch (this links to a professional video on the ranch's work with rescued horses and troubled youth), Scrooge interacting with the crowd, the Grinch, and some great choral music. Here's my video.

If you ever come to Paso Robles during the Christmas season, you won't want to miss the Vine Street Victorian Showcase. It will entertain you whether you prefer to write Christmas or Xmas.

How does your town celebrate Christmas?