VALPARAISO, FLORIDA - In an age of technology and new fangled gadgets, the Yule of Yesteryear, sponsored by the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, offers a glimpse into the past. This year’s daylong celebration on December 15 offers old time Christmas festivities geared for families and different programming throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is attended by several hundred people annually and held in Perrine Park located across the street from the museum in Valparaiso.

Yule of Yesteryear is good old time family fun and an opportunity to enjoy the gifts of Christmas, said Carol Visalpatara, Assistant to the Director of the Heritage Museum.

"One of the main focuses this year is a Victorian Tea in the museum which includes a talk about Victorian manners and what having tea time meant to people of that era, as well as, enjoyment of the tea and goodies," said Visalpatara. Reservations are needed for adults and children for this activity scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Call 678-2615.

Observe the daily life of men, women and children from the Walton Guard, dressed in Civil War costumes, as they reenact the Christmas of 1861 when families joined their military men stationed in Fort Walton Beach guarding the east pass. A variety of activities can be viewed with the Guard throughout the day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"I go to the Yule of Yesteryear because the museum puts it on and I want to support the museum and the people that give of their time this time of year. It’s good for young people to see that you just couldn’t go into a store and buy whatever you wanted from food to gifts. You had to make it all!" said Jane Meigs, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Museum.

There will be a gift-making booth for children promoting the idea of local craft making as gift giving. In that tradition new old time toys such as hand puppets, pop guns, jacks, marbles,

dominoes, pick up sticks, wooden snakes, pencils, arrow heads, old time candies, as well as, a variety of stocking stuffers will be available for purchase. The items for sale at the museum range in price from 50¢ to $120.

Craft demonstrations, displays and crafts for sale are part of the day’s festivities. Two local artists are among those featured. William Simpler from Niceville who specializes in handturned woodworking will have wooden gift items for sale. Vial Fontenot from Valparaiso will be available between 10 a.m. and 12 noon to talk about his art work on display at the museum.

Interested parties can indulge in buying homemade treats at the bake sale. Others may wish to view handmade jewelry, carved gourd items, books for adults and children, butcher blocks, sea sponges from the Apalachicola Sponge Company and CDs with songs of the south and front porch favorites in the Heritage Museum shop and bookstore.

"A lot of people go to the Yule of Yesteryear every year and wouldn’t miss it.

It’s a wonderful place to buy your Christmas presents. I bought a beautiful crocheted dress for my granddaughter a few years ago. Really good stuff for a good price. The proceeds help out the museum," said Rae Williams, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Museum.

"Yule of Yesteryear has been an annual event for many, many years. It was originally started to sell donated items that didn’t fit the museum’s mission and were in storage. It changed through the years and has evolved into what it is today," Williams told The Advertiser.

The tree lighting in the park will be at 4 p.m. followed by caroling.