Get old-fashioned feel for the holidays at this celebration not far from Merced

You know what Christmas looks like in the 2020s, but what about the 1850s?

And, really, have you ever actually eaten chestnuts roasted over an open fire?

Get the opportunity to do that and see how the holidays may have been celebrated during the Gold Rush era at Miners Christmas at Columbia State Historic Park.

Planned from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 20-21, the historical adventure is just 60 miles north of Merced.

Miners Christmas comes courtesy of the Friends of Columbia State Historic Park.

The park’s buildings will be decked out with old-fashioned holiday decorations, according to the park’s website.

There will be crafts, treats, tales and more, all admission-free. Note: some activities could be canceled by wet weather.

“Stop in and listen to Christmas stories from some of the ole’ timer miners, taste chestnuts roasted over the open fire, and make a variety of old-fashioned crafts,” the website says.

You can explore the buildings and sip hot cider and coffee.

And, of course, the kids will love this, noted on the website: “You might even catch sight of Father Christmas as he visits the town of Columbia.”

Columbia State Historic Park is in Tuolumne County about three miles north of Sonora.