Hey Longwood friends! The Longwood Historic Society is so excited to announce that our favorite holiday tradition, “Carols & Cocoa, Presented by AC Cowboys,” is officially returning on Saturday, November 29, 2025!
Mark your calendars! This is the official way we kick off the Christmas season in Longwood, featuring a special historic tour and a heartwarming community tree lighting. New member, Eric Becker, will serve as event coordinator for this third annual holiday event.
A Special Gift to the Community from AC Cowboys
We are thrilled to acknowledge the incredible support from our Presenting Sponsor, AC Cowboys. They have stepped up significantly this year to partner with the Longwood Historic Society. Thanks to their generosity, we can offer a special gift to the community: free admission to the Bradlee-McIntyre House Museum for tours running from Thanksgiving Day through the New Year!
You can get a preview of the museum as part of Carols & Cocoa, but you really should come back to spend more time and have our docents show you all three floors. We encourage everyone to visit and enjoy this historic treasure during the holiday season. The museum is open for tours every Wednesday and Sunday from 1-4 PM.
Part 1: Your Exclusive Ticket to an 1880s Christmas
Want to experience a truly unique holiday tradition? Join our intimate, small-group walking tours! We’ll take you inside six of Longwood’s most beautiful historic buildings—all built way back in the 1870s and 1880s—and they’ll be absolutely decked out for Christmas!
Imagine stepping inside and seeing all the festive wreaths, trimmings, and customary decorations. “Historic Longwood is always beautiful,” said Jason Byrne (society president), “but there is truly something magical about the Christmas season here. This tour provides a rare, intimate look inside these treasures, and the decorations truly bring the history of an 1880s Christmas to life for our guests.”
We’re keeping this experience super high-quality, which means only 150 tickets are available total. Snagging a ticket is the only way to get in on the tour and our cozy reception!
- Tickets: A steal at just $5 for adults (13+) and free for kids 12 and under! Your small ticket fee helps us keep the event running smoothly and allows us to buy audio amplifiers and signs for our speakers and tour guides.
- Get Tickets Here: Don’t wait—spots fill up fast! Buy your ticket now!
Following the tours, all ticketed guests are invited to our Holiday Reception at 5:00 PM at the Longwood Historic Civic Center. Get cozy with hot cocoa served by the Rotary Club of Historic Longwood and delicious hot apple cider provided by Tom and Pamm Redditt of Cottage Gift Shop, plus light snacks and desserts.
Part 2: The FREE Community Tree Lighting (Come One, Come All!)
The final part of the evening is our big, heartwarming “Hallmark Moment”—and it’s completely FREE and open to everyone in the community!
Starting at 5:30 PM, let’s all gather at the big Christmas tree on Ronald Reagan Boulevard (between Warren and Church Avenues) for the Tree Lighting Ceremony and Caroling.
We’ll begin with a touching Christmas Blessing and Unity Prayer led by Pastor Jonathan Tarman of Sanlando United Methodist Church. Then comes the exciting countdown! The church is even providing free songbooks (popular classics we all know!) so we can sing along as their choir director leads the carols.
“This event is fundamentally about community engagement and bringing the town together,” Byrne added. “We hope everyone, whether they join the tour or not, comes out for the tree lighting and the unity prayer. It’s a heartwarming moment that officially starts our holiday season together.”
Full Event Schedule
- 3:45 PM – Tour Check-In (Longwood Historic Civic Center)
- 4:00 PM – Walking Tour Groups Depart (Ticketed)
- 5:00 PM – Holiday Reception (Ticketed)
- 5:30 PM – Blessing, Tree Lighting Ceremony, and Singing Carols (Free, Open to the Public)
A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We couldn’t do this without the fantastic support of our sponsors:
- AC Cowboys (Presenting Sponsor)
- Rotary Club of Historic Longwood
- Cottage Gift Shop
- Sanlando United Methodist Church
- Christ Episcopal Church