Filoli is ready for the holidays Filoli is ready for the holidays (November 16, 2005)

Santa has set up shop at the Filoli estate in Woodside, where thousands of visitors will welcome the holidays from Friday, November 25, through Saturday, December 3.

"The home and garden will be aglow with festivities," says Irene Valos, chairman of the holiday event.

This year's theme is "Holiday Traditions" and the mansion will be draped with swags of evergreen garlands, velvet ribbon and floral displays. The gold-leaf decorated ballroom will be adorned with 18-foot Christmas trees.

This is the 23rd year for Christmas at Filoli. Among the scheduled events are children's parties hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus, open houses offering shopping and entertainment, seated luncheons, and two evenings of dinner and dancing to an orchestra.

Hundreds of volunteers are decking Filoli's halls for the celebration. Many of the decorations will be for sale, as well as an assortment of cards, candles, toys, books, holiday sweets, wrappings and hundreds of other Christmas-themed items.

The planned festivities are:

** Evening parties: Friday, November 25, and Saturday, November 26, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Dining and dancing with wine and hors d'oeuvres served throughout the house. Cost is $110 for members and $125 for others.

** Children's parties: Saturday, December 3, at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Santa and Mrs. Claus will host a holiday luncheon with additional entertainment taking place in the ballroom of the main house. Cost is $55 for adult members, $65 for other adults and $25 for children.

** Brunches: Sunday, November 27, through Friday, December 2. Brunch will be served three times each day at 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Cost is $55 for adult members and $65 for other adults.

**Holiday boutique and entertainment Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 27, through Saturday, December 3. Evening hours on Tuesday and Wednesday are 5 to 8 p.m. Cost is $20 for members and $25 for others.

Advance ticket purchase is required and prices vary for each event. For ticket information, call Filoli's ticket office at 364-8300, ext. 508.

The Christmas event is Filoli's biggest fundraiser for the estate, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. After December 3, Filoli will close until mid-February when the famous gardens begin to bloom again.

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