Enjoy an Old Time Celebration of Christmas Past in the California Foothills
For a nice change from the holiday season's hustle and bustle, enjoy a relaxing Christmas experience similar to how it was in the late 1800s.
The historic gold country towns of Nevada City and Grass Valley in California go all out every December in honor of their annual Victorian and Cornish Christmas celebrations. Respecting their past roots, both cities have old time celebrations that bring memories of past Christmases. The landmark historic districts of Nevada City and Grass Valley both close of their streets to motorized traffic as they transport their visitors back in time. Town people who descended from gold rush immigrants and Cornish miners put on costumes from the Victorian era for the parties. There is non-stop live entertainment with Christmas singers, cloggers, jugglers, bag pipe players, as well as other entertainment.
One notable part of the Grass Valley festivities is a group of roving Christmas carolers. The Grass Valley Cornish Carol Choir was formed by a group of miners in the early 1870s. The singing choir consisted of Cornish gold miners who started singing at the close of the work day in the mines while strolling to their residences. The miners sing the Cornish Christmas songs that have been passed down from their ancestors for centuries from Cornwall, England.
Neighborhood merchants and eating establishments are open, while handmade gift vendors and food sellers line the streets. Residents mingle with visitors who come from California and beyond for these exciting holiday celebrations. There is something for everyone in the family; they can take part in the festivities, shop for holiday gifts, enjoy a ride in a carriage, or just sit back and enjoy the food and entertainment with family, friends and the local residents.
Nevada City's Victorian Christmas festival is on Wednesday evenings in the beginning of December and on two Sunday evenings in the middle of December. Continuing each Friday night through December 18th, the Cornish Christmas in Green Valley begins the day after Thanksgiving, which is Friday. The only requirement to enter these free celebrations is to have a jolly holiday spirit.
Nevada City and Grass Valley are sited around the 2, 500-foot mark in the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Via interstate 80 and highway 49 north, the Gold Rush cities are a one-hour drive, sixty miles, northeast of Sacramento. Coming from Marysville and the north valley, go east on Highway 20. Through Reno and Tahoe, use I-80 westbound on the beautiful Highway 20.
Booking accommodations early is recommended for overnight visitors. You will find more than a dozen historic bed and breakfast inns, not to mention numerous comfortable hotels and motels, in and around Nevada City, Grass Valley, and the local communities.
In the process of staying here, use your time to look around at Nevada City and Grass Valley real estate and find out why Nevada County is a nice place to live and play given the choice of historic Victorians, waterfront homes, or private places in the rolling hills.
When Skyah Jamsen visited the Grass Valley Cornish Christmas and Cornish Christmas celebrations almost 12 years ago, she knew she had found a place to call home. Skyah contacted Nevada County Properties and with the help of a realtor soon found the perfect piece of Nevada County real estate.
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