Living in warm Florida weather doesn’t mean you can’t fully enjoy the Christmas spirit.
The 28th annual Victorian Christmas Stroll is here for the entire University of Tampa community to participate in the festive exhibit right on campus.
The Victorian Christmas Stroll began on Dec. 1 in Henry B. Plant Museum.
“We’re trying to showcase Christmas past—Christmas as it was when the building was the Tampa Bay Hotel,” said Sally Shifke, museum relations coordinator.
Throughout the museum, rooms are being decorated in the atmosphere of a 19th century Christmas.
“Every exhibit room has a different tree in it with a different theme,” said Shifke.
Something that makes this year’s exhibit different is that a vintage clothing store in Ybor, LaFrance, has lent clothing to the museum that will be featured on mannequins throughout the rooms.
The annual Victorian Christmas Stroll has changed since its first year.
“It started out as a candlelight tour, and it was only for three evenings. It grew in popularity, so we changed it to 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., 23 days in a row,” said Shifke.
UT students don’t need to worry about admission fees, either. Students can come in for free.
Admission includes hot cider and cookies on the verandah.
“The Stroll was started really to attract the community to the museum during the holidays, so the museum would become popular with the Tampa community and not just out of town visitors,” said Shifke.
Creating a Christmas exhibit is not an easy task.
It takes two days just to put up the trees and lights.
“UT students actually help us. We start setting up Nov. 16. It takes two days just to put up the trees and lights. It takes another three days to put up decorations and another full day to do the ceilings where fabric and stars will be hanging from,” said Shifke.
The exhibit isn’t over until the 23rd, so students still have time to take a break during finals week and see it for themselves.
Shifke has a challenge for all of those who choose to visit.
“One of the staff people walked around and counted 100 Christmas trees.
Sixty-seven are really little ones, and we have a 15-foot tree. I challenge students to find them all.”