The town of Bellefonte has made it its goal to transport visitors to Victorian times with its community-wide Victorian Christmas. Every year since 1981, Bellefonte's businesses and town buildings host a different aspect of the charm of a Victorian-era Christmas.

Noreen Davis, a Bellefonte resident, said the Bellefonte Museum is showing the exhibit of Toy Land as a part of the Victorian Christmas event, which runs until Dec. 30.

"What we've mostly got is beautiful dolls and older toys," Davis said. "We've also got some old clothes so the children can try that on."

Davis added that all the dolls and toys are authentic and that they have expanded the exhibit this year.

Millie Ragosta, Bellefonte resident and historical author, said Bellefonte Museum is pleased to host the exhibit.

"We have three tea parties set up for the children," Ragosta said. "They have a beautiful Christmas tree and tiny tables and chairs set up for them."

The whole idea of the Victorian Christmas centers on the magic of a home at Christmas time. That's why a popular attraction is the 12-house tour that invites people to stop and visit each home.

"There is a beautiful brewery with a catacombs on it," Ragosta said. "They dug a hole into the mountain side, and it looks like the under crossing of a cathedral. This is where they store the beer at 50 degrees. They call it the Brewmaster's mansion."

Historic Bellefonte committee member Dona Goldman said that it is just fun to walk around downtown.

"I think just coming to see the beautiful decorations and the craft show and the concert are fantastic," Goldman said.

Ragosta said there are wagon rides to transport visitors around town, concerts that go on all day long in the main room of the court house, people dressed up in Victorian era clothing, and craft shows taking place at the YMCA, 125 West High St.

"They have all kinds of handmade things, candy and all kind of crafts," Ragosta said.

Ragosta said that Bellefonte was a very prominent town during the Victorian era.

"[Bellefonte] was founded by Revolutionary War veterans," Ragosta said. "We're really fond of our Victorian heritage. We had a lot of big hotels and restaurants at that time."

Victorian charm seemed to slip into every part of Bellefonte, including the old match factory.

"We restored the old match factory and it is now a national philatelic," Ragosta said. "It is a national one not just local. They made matches there in the 19th century."

Besides being a community building event, Victorian Christmas also helps bring in business.

"These small towns suffer immensely from commercialism," Ragosta said. "During this, they do a lot of business and people stop in the charming little shops. It's a sort of a celebration of small-town America, especially the Victorian era. That was a slower time when Christmas was important. A wonderful time."