The lights and sights of a festive season

By Stephanie Prokop, Staff Writer
   With the holiday season already up and running and Christmas just under three weeks away, trees and lights are up and so are spirits in area towns.
   Below is a list of different seasonal events, organized by date.
   Florence’s Fountain of Life Center, which is located at 2035 Columbus Road, will present its annual Christmas production “A Christmas Spectacular” at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, at 8 p.m. Dec. 14, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 16 and at 8 p.m. Dec. 17.
   The show will include marching toy soldiers, dolls and stuffed animals that come to life, a dancing Christmas tree and more that is sure to be a fun-filled holiday show for spectators.
   Tickets are available at Ward’s Christian Bookshop, on 2301 Rancocas Road, Burlington, or may be ordered online at www.wardschristianbookshop.com.
   For more information, call 609-386-2093 or visit the Fountain of Life Center Web site www.flcnj.org.
   In Bordentown City, the Bordentown Historical Society will host its holiday house tour on Saturday from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.
   The tour, which is self-guided, allows residents and guests to meander throughout historic Bordentown City at their own leisure to see how fellow residents decorate their homes.
   According to Bordentown Historical Society President Diane Flanigan, the house tour includes 13 residences, several public buildings, and even a few neighborhoods that are getting festive by putting up decorations. All in all, the walk will include 23 stops, and “visitors are welcome to view a few houses, go shopping on Farnsworth, have dinner, and then resume the tour,” said Ms. Flanigan.
   Divine Ward Seminary on Park Street will also be participating in the event, and the residents along Thompson Street and residents along the hill top will be decorating their homes as well.
   ”Homes range from mid-18th century to 20th century, and homeowners are encouraged to decorate toward the historic period of their home, or a family or ethnic tradition, and some even change their scenes room to room,” she added.
   Participants are able to start their tour where they chose, and a brochure that includes a map will be provided at the Friends Meeting House, located on Farnsworth Avenue.
   Tickets are limited to 500 for the tour, and Ms. Flanigan said that already the society has sold over half of the allotted amount.
   The $25 ticket fee goes mainly towards maintaining the Friend’s Meeting House and the one-room school house on Crosswicks Street. Tickets are available for purchase at App’s Hardware, Shoppe 202, and Silk and Tweed, all of which are located on Farnsworth Avenue.
   The Downtown Bordentown Association will sponsor holiday horse and carriage rides in historic Bordentown City on from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15, and from 4 to 7 p.m on Dec. 16.
   Tickets can be purchased at Riverline Express Ice Cream Parlor, at 222 Farnsworth Ave., and are $15 for adults, and $10 for children 4 and older. Children under 3 are free.
   In Mansfield, the sixth annual Christmas Light Tour of the village of Columbus will be held Dec. 14.
   The old-fashioned wagon rides though the town will begin at 6 p.m. from the municipal park and will leave every half-hour until 8:30 p.m.
   In addition to the light tour, visitors and residents can expect a family-friendly evening complete with carolers, a live nativity and presentation by the Baptist Church, a storyteller, some surprises on the streets, a bonfire and refreshments.
   In order to make the wagon ride enjoyable, residents are encouraged to “light up the houses of Columbus” by calling the municipal building to register their home. Prizes will be awarded to the home that has the best seasonal decorative display.
   Participants are encouraged to register by Dec. 12 in order to be considered for the prize, and judges will travel the entire town to determine who will win.
   Tickets for the wagon rides will cost $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 4 to 10. Tickets for children under 3 are free, and can be purchased by calling JoAnn Gangel at 609-298-4753.