I should be saying Happy Halloween today, but I am more consumed with Happy Holidays these days.

It has been a 20 plus year tradition that the Holiday Open House at the Hormel Historic Home occur the weekend before Thanksgiving and we aren’t planning to change that. However, it does make us rush a bit to get all decked out. Our incredibly talented group of decorating elves have begun moving trees around and checking light strands already. The Open House events will take place Nov. 16-18, and although we have tweaked the traditional schedule a bit, there are events planned for all ages.

Game lovers can plan an afternoon of touring, lunching and playing on Thursday, Nov. 16. Sponsored by the Y’s Women, the event has been a favorite for bridge and 500 groups as well as domino lovers and even mahjong players. Bring your group and enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. In Victorian times card games provided entertainment to all ages. Whist is one of the most popular games from the era and is considered to the ancestor of modern day bridge. Other games such as Bread and Honey, Hearts and Loo were also favorite pastimes. Whichever game is your choice, we’d love to have you spend the afternoon playing games at the HHH.

If you enjoy tea (or coffee), you’ll want to have lunch with us on Friday the 17th. Complete with scones, tea sandwiches, and cake, you can tour, listen to music by Reminisce, and take selfies in Victorian costume. According to American poet and novelist Alice Walker, “Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors.” Spend your lunch hour or all afternoon enjoying the HHH picnic in the ballroom.

Santa makes an early stop during the third annual Soup & Santa event on Saturday, Nov. 18. This fast paced event featuring soup, hot chocolate, crafts, comedy, professional photography, and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, is filling up, so don’t let delay, buy your tickets today.

For more adult entertainment on the 18th, we are hosting Soup and Spirits in the evening. Gourmet soup, delicious truffles, and other snacks will allow you to eat, drink and be merry. Tour the home, listen to JCA, see cooking and cocktail demos, take Victorian selfies and make a pretty bow. Charlies Dickens called soup “the elixir of life, rich creative essence of man’s flesh and blood.” Whatever your preferred elixir is, I hope you join us for Soup and Spirts.

If seeing the decorated home is your main priority, self-guided tours will be available starting Monday, Nov. 20 during our regular hours of 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The holidays can fly by at a dizzying pace. At the Hormel Historic Home you can ease into the season by attending one of our festive, fun and elegant events. We look forward to starting the holiday season with you. For complete event details visit www.hormelhistorichome.org.

History Happy Hour: The History of Chautauqua in Austin presented by Dean Ulland

Social 5:30 p.m.; presentation 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13

Chautauqua was a popular education and entertainment program nationwide in the late 19th and early 20th century, and thousands of people form Austin attended every summer. Free for HHH, Mower County Historical Society and Friends of the Library Members. $5 for non-members.

Hearth & Home Series: Surfacing Strengths through Challenge

10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 21

Sandy Anderson will present how life transitions, unexpected changes, and relationships that challenge us can create opportunities to learn new skills and tap into undiscovered resources that allow you to respond with intention rather than just react to the circumstances before you. Free.