If a person is already in the Christmas spirit, then the Lutheran Heritage Center in Altenburg, has just the event for them. The center is currently hosting the 16th annual Christmas Tree Exhibit.
The exhibit will be on full display through January 17 and the Heritage Center is open every day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is free.
“It’s a really fun time of the year because we have a lot of new people visit the area and it’s good to talk with them about where they come from,” Gerard Fiehler said. “They come from all over the Midwest actually.”
Those people come from miles around to look at the 50 themed trees that are decorated yearly. Many of the trees have a story with some telling the unquie history of the small towns of Perry County. Many families and even individuals have contributed to the items on some of the trees, including a family from Ohio that helped decorate a tree with feathers and various ornaments.
“They are all pretty much put up and decorated by the museum staff here,” Fiehler said. “Everyone takes pride in putting the trees up and having the people come in and see them.”
While most of the trees are put together and decorated, Fiehler said that they are still in the process of putting some up.
“We’ve been quarantined just like everyone else, so it’s been a challenge getting everything put together. But so far everything has worked out fine,” Fiehler said. ”We just keep on moving.”
Like anything else, the display’s viewership has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. On a yearly basis, the display drives in many out-of-town visitors that come by the busload from across the area. This year, Fiehler hasn’t seen much of that, but there are still some people that come in everyday. The display is up through the holiday season and sees many visitors during the Christmas Country Church Tour as well.
“This year has been turned upside down,” Fielher said. “We are seeing less people this year and very few groups or buses, which is understandable. Maybe people don’t know it’s up yet. But the viewership has been down.”
Fiehler hopes that people who do come by, enjoy the trees as much as he does, especially if they wish to get into the holiday spirit.
“It’s one of my favorite times of the year,” Fiehler said. “It’s fun to see the different trees how we can decorate them differently each year.”
