The National Christmas Center, which closed three years ago will open later this year in an 18,000-square-foot interim location.
The grand opening event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 and Nov. 27, as first reported by Lancasteronline.
On January 7, 2018, the 22,000-square-foot National Christmas Center of Paradise closed its doors after more than 19 years. In October of that year, Stone Gables Estate purchased the entire Christmas collection, which it says is one of the largest collections of historical Christmas memorabilia in the United States.
The permanent home of the National Christmas Center will be housed in 40,000 square feet of space in the future restored Barns of Belmont. The main four-and-one-half story 1867 Belmont barn and its associated structures, which were located along Fruitville Pike in Lancaster County were acquired by Stone Gables Estate. The buildings were disassembled in 2015, cataloged, and moved into temporary storage.
But, until then the National Christmas Center will be opened in a temporary location, a short distance from Stone Gables Estate. Those interested in visiting the interim center can take a shuttle from Stone Gables Estate, 48 Industrial Road in West Donegal Township near Elizabethtown.
The National Christmas Center has posted the details on its website.
The interim location will include 18,000 square feet of nostalgic Christmas décor in lights, trees, stores, and more.
Seventeen-foot-tall, real-life buildings with artistic architectural features will depict the streets of Columbia, Pennsylvania as they were in the 1950′s. Featured storefronts include a walk-in Woolworth’s Store, a boy’s toy store, a girl’s toy store, the Sweet Shoppe featuring Klein Chocolates, Miesse Candies, Byers Bakery, and more.
Shops also include Joe - The Motorists’ Friend, Heinemann’s Men’s Shop, Watt and Shand, Dave Burton’s Barbershop, The Train Store, and more.
New to the National Christmas Center collection is the toy soldier boy’s toy store and Anastasia’s Doll Emporium.
The National Christmas Center will be open this year on Nov. 26, Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Dec. 11, December 18, Dec. 20-23 and Dec. 27-30.
Information: stonegablesestate.com/national-christmas-center