The Longwood Historic Society has announced the return of its popular holiday event, "Carols & Cocoa," on Saturday, Nov. 29. The event, presented by AC Cowboys, offers the public a rare, exclusive opportunity to tour six of Longwood's oldest buildings, followed by a free community tree lighting ceremony.
Exclusive Guided Tours Offer Rare Access
The ticketed portion of the evening provides guests with guided access inside historic structures that are not always open to the public. These buildings, dating back to the 1870s and 1880s, will be decorated for the holidays with festive wreaths and trimmings.
"Many people who live in Longwood have always wanted a chance to peek inside these incredible historic buildings, and this event provides that perfect opportunity," said Jason Byrne, Historic Society President and event founder. "This is an intimate, guided tour that connects our guests directly with the past."
The experience begins with check-in at 3:45 PM at the Longwood Historic Civic Center. At 4:00 PM, five small tour groups will begin the walking tour. Following the tour, ticketed guests will enjoy a Holiday Reception at 5:00 PM with hot cocoa served by the Rotary Club of Historic Longwood and hot apple cider from Cottage Gift Shop, along with light snacks.
Tickets are a nominal $5 for adults (13+) and free for children 12 and under. The Historic Society maintains a strict capacity of 150 guests to ensure a high-quality experience.
Free Public Celebration of Unity
The evening culminates with a grand, free, and public celebration designed to bring the entire community together.
- Tree Lighting Ceremony: Starting at 5:30 p.m., all are invited to gather at the large Christmas tree on Ronald Reagan Boulevard.
- The Program: Pastor Jonathan Tarman of Sanlando United Methodist Church will lead a moving Christmas Blessing and Unity Prayer. The church is also graciously providing free songbooks for the caroling, led by their choir director, following the grand countdown and tree lighting.
"This is fundamentally a community event that marks the official start of our holiday season," Byrne added. "We encourage everyone to come out for the tree lighting and the unity prayer—it is truly a heartwarming community moment."
Tickets and General Event Information
For the full schedule, parking details, and to purchase limited tickets for the historic tour and reception, please visit: https://runsignup.com/TicketEvent/CarolsAndCocoa
The event is presented by AC Cowboys. Supporting sponsors include the Rotary Club of Historic Longwood, Cottage Gift Shop, Sanlando United Methodist Church, and Christ Episcopal Church. Additionally, the generous support of AC Cowboys is making free public tours of the Bradlee-McIntyre House Museum available from Thanksgiving through the New Year. The Bradlee-McIntyre House is also regularly open for docent-led tours of all three floors every Wednesday and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
