Kick off the holiday season at Lights of Spiegel Grove Nov. 30

        Get into the holiday spirit by seeing Spiegel Grove light up for Christmas with more festive lights added to the grounds this year during Lights of Spiegel Grove on Thursday, Nov. 30.
        The event will run from 6-7:30 p.m. at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, the grounds of the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums. Admission is free.
        Visitors can sip warm hot chocolate and snack on popcorn by the campfire. See the “Hayes Train Special” model train display in the museum, and visit with Kris Kringle, the name that President Rutherford B. Hayes used for Santa.         The large Christmas tree in the museum rotunda, as well as the rest of the lights around the grove, will light up at 6:15 p.m. Participants will be able to see the museum tree lighting from the outside of the museum on the side of the building with the columns where the original entrance to the museum is located.
        Carolers will sing beloved holiday songs throughout the event.
        Horse-drawn trolley rides, which will include a story reading with Mrs. Claus, will be available for $6 per person for ages 3 and older and free for kids 2 and younger. Tickets will be sold the day of the event on a first-come, first-served basis. Rides are by South Creek Clydesdales.
        Trolley rides are sponsored by GEM Service Rudolph Libbe Group.
        Christmas- themed tours of the first floor of the Hayes Home will also be offered during this event. They will last a half hour. The first tour is at 5:30 p.m., and the last tour will begin at 7:30 p.m.
        Non-member tickets are $10 for adults 19 and older, $8 for ages 6-18 and free for ages 5 and younger. Tickets for HPLM members are $8 for adults 19 and older, $6 for ages 6-18 and free for ages 5 and younger.
        Tickets are available at https://www.rbhayes.org/news/2023/10/31/general/kick-off-the-holiday-sea.... They will also be sold the day of the event, pending availability.
        An online gingerbread contest will also take place in conjunction with the event. Participants can vote for the winners on their mobile device or computer. To enter or to vote, visit https://www.rbhayes.org/news/2023/10/30/general/enter-hayes-presidential....
        Lights of Spiegel Grove is part of Hayes Presidential’s holiday series of events, called A Presidential Christmas. The title sponsor for the celebration is Mosser Construction, with additional funding by Wright Leather Works LLC.
        For information, call 419-332-2081, visit rbhayes.org, like Hayes Presidential on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @rbhayespres.