Jacqueline Hart, Central City.  The Central City Opera hosted this year’s Tommyknocker celebration at the Teller House over the November 30 weekend. The festival kicked off with the ceremonial “Lighting of the Tree,” on the corner of Main and Spring Streets. Holiday enthusiasts braved the cold temperatures to experience the tree lighting Christmas tradition, followed by the Candlelight Walk to the Teller Opera House, where the party continued.

Volunteers and event organizers reported more attendees this year than in years past, estimating over 200 people in attendance. Despite the large crowd, there was more than enough food to satisfy everyone. This year, the doors of the Teller House were left open and visitors were free to explore the many floors, rooms and even closets in the historic building. Eric Chin, the new director of historic properties for the Central City Opera, said this year he wanted to take away the velvet rope barriers and allow party-goers to experience all the Teller House has to offer. He said, “If I was a guest and saw those ropes, the first thing I would want to do is see whatever’s past them.” As guests overflowed from rooms designated for the party into grand dining and sitting rooms, the atmosphere remained welcoming and comfortable.

Holiday dinner and dessert were followed by Peak to Peak Chorale’s presentation of Little Eddie and Armetus, A Mountain Christmas Tale written by Gilpin County’s own George Blevins from the Gilpin Library. The audience laughed out loud at Blevins’ unique script and the Chorale’s spirited interpretation of the story. If you missed the show, there will be another performance on December 7, 2018, at Coal Creek Canyon, CCCIA.

Partiers were dressed as they pleased. From the traditional Victorian era clothing worn by the Days Gone By Victorian Society, to some of the ugliest sweaters in creation, attendees expressed their Christmas Spirit through their own version of fashion! Mary Sagona made the ugly sweaters she and John Moravek wore to win first and second place in the Annual Ugly Sweater Contest. Sagona reported that she worked on the sweaters off and on for months to create a look obnoxious enough to bring home the prize!

Christmas merry making in Central City continued Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2, with a gift bazaar, horse and carriage rides from Queen City Horse and Carriage, a tea room, food and door prizes, cookie decorating, coloring contests, pictures with Santa Claus and a gingerbread house contest. The vendors present offered distinctive treasures at affordable prices. Julie and Peter DeWolf of The Red Rocks Toffee Company, Lisa Turk, who personalizes all her hand made pieces, of LCT Jewelry, and Cathy Pera of Sea Girl Pearls, to name a few. Cathy harvests the pearls for her handmade jewelry herself, with some assistance from her husband.

Saturday’s activities included a variety of contests for all ages, with some winners announced on Sunday. Throughout the weekend there was something to satisfy everyone’s Christmas spirit. See you again next year!

Happy Holidays!

This year’s winners for Tommyknockers Contests are:

Ugly-Sweater Contest: John Moravez, Mary Sagona and Mike Plante

Gingerbread House Contest: Kyla Nand and Lindsey Glanola

Victorian Costume Contest: Best Couple, Vicky and Craig Barringer, Teree and Julien Gothard and Jaclyn and Jonas Schrock

Best Gentleman: Chuck Roberts

Most Authentic Victorian Lady: Nicoleta Nagel

Best Proper Lady: Brittany Angle and Susan Jeasonne-Hadden

Children’s Coloring Contest Age 5: Finley Gregg, Maddox Duthan, and Hugh Brewer

Children’s Coloring Contest Age 6: Auria Gallegos, Vienn Vaughn and Addyson Myhre

Children’s Coloring Contest Age 7: Caitlyn Ganz, Ella Davidson and Quinn Sill

Children’s Coloring Contest Age 9: Kyla Nand, Amelia Bushy and Eve Maltin

Children’s Coloring Contest Age 11 & 12: Kylah Gone, Gracie Murphy and Aubrey Allen

(Originally published in the December 6, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)