Victorian Christmas in Nevada City

On Sunday, we traveled to Nevada City, CA, a town roughly sixty miles northeast of Sacramento, to experience the town's fabled Victorian Christmas, an annual celebration entering it's thirtieth year.

For five days in December, the town's historic district travels back in time. The streets are filled with vendors, carolers, and musicians dressed in period clothing.

Cars disappear and horse-drawn carriages take their places.

Even Santa Claus undergoes a transformation and becomes St. Nicholas or Father Christmas. (I wish I had gotten a photo of him, but I only had my iPhone and he has always been a fast-moving fellow.)

The magical effect of time travel was helped by the fact that Nevada City still resembles an old gold mining town. Its most modern building is city hall, with its art deco facade.

The drive to Nevada City was a smooth one. From Sacramento, we took Highway 80 East, towards Reno, and cut over to Highway 49, near Auburn. That took us north through Grass Valley and dropped us right off at Broad Street, the main thoroughfare of the historic district. While the town offers a shuttle for a nominal fee ($2), we opted to find our own parking and walk to the event.

Although part of event felt like the typical weekend art and wine festival, I was still taken with the town's holiday transformation, charm, and sense of community. I wonder what the place feels like during the rest of the year. It might be worth another trip.

If you or future me should ever plan to visit Victorian Christmas, here are a few tips:

• Make sure to verify the times of the celebration. This year it was only held on three Wednesday evenings and two Sunday afternoons in December.
• Be prepared for cold weather. It was chilly while we were there and I was thankful to have my jacket, hat, and gloves.
• Remember to bring a camera. (Do you hear that, future me?)
• Suspend disbelief and enjoy it. There will always be one or two killjoys who will point out every anachronism, but don't let them ruin it for you. It's Christmas. Even cynicism needs a holiday every now and then.