A time for tradition at Filoli A time for tradition at Filoli (November 10, 2004)

The Filoli mansion in Woodside will be dressed in its holiday best in preparation for its 22nd "Holiday Traditions" celebration, to be held from Saturday, November 27, through Saturday, December 4.

Guests will be greeted with a 15-foot silver tip fir tree decorated with neo-classical cherubs and ornaments. The historic mansion will be decorated with swags of evergreen garland and velvet ribbon, and the green and gold-leafed ballroom will be adorned with 18-foot high Christmas trees. Seasonal holiday music will be performed throughout the week.

The courtyard of the main house will be transformed into a formal winter garden, complete with a circular lawn, potted topiary trees, red azaleas and lighted trees.

Children's parties, luncheons, two evenings of dinner and ballroom dancing, and open houses await visitors, but several events are already sold out.

The week's activities include:

** Evening parties: Saturday, November 27 (sold out), and Friday, December 3, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Dinner and dancing with wine, champagne and hors d'oeuvres served throughout the house. Cost is $125 and reservations are required.

** Children's parties: Santa and Mrs. Claus will host a holiday luncheon with pre-assigned seating on Saturday, December 4. Only the 2:30 p.m. seating is available. Cost is $25 per child, $55 for adult members, and $65 for adult non-members.

** Luncheon buffets will be held Sunday, November 28, through Friday, December 3. At this writing, all luncheons on November 28, the 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. luncheons on November 29 and 30, and the 12:15 p.m. luncheons on December 1 and 3 are sold out.

** At home evenings: Visitors will have an opportunity to shop for gifts and decorations from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 30, and Wednesday, December 1. Cost is $25 for non-members and $20 for members.

**At home days: At home days will begin on Sunday, November 28, and continue daily through Saturday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Many of these are already sold out. All events require advance reservations. For updated information, call 364-8300 or visit www.filoli.org.

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