SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Recycling Santa lanterns, using them as decorations on the Christmas tree located on the screened porch of the Price House/Gilchrist Inn, was the idea of Gussie Baker of the Punta Gorda Historical Society, who was volunteering at the Punta Gorda History Park on Wednesday for the Christmas open house of the Price House. Both the Price House and the History Park will be open for Christmas tours from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. through Sunday. Santa Claus will be handing out candy canes to those on his good list. Hot chocolate, cake pops and food will be available for reasonable prices, along with a garden walk lighted and decorated for Christmas.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Don Sanford, his mother Donna Sanford, and his wife Karen cooked up and were serving chili and a few other select items on opening night of the Christmas tour of the Punta Gorda History Park.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Shirley and Dick Miller on the stairs of the Price House, which has been decorated for Christmas in the era of the house.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Just a big kid at heart, Ashleigh Runkle hops on Santa's lap to whisper her Christmas list while Rudolph grazes nearby at the History Park.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Brian Grant and Sue Blackwell in front of the Trabue House at the Punta Gorda History Park, their first stop as they walked through the park, which is decorated for the Christmas season.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Dolores Wilkinson, Nancy Browning, and Barbara and John Finegan tour the inside the Price House. Here, they are in the dining room with its wall of Santas.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Rocking the night away, enjoying the screened porch of the Price House, Frances Rogers, Eloise McDougall and Madie Kirkland visit and reminisce about Christmases past.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Joyce Vogel joined Martha and Stuart Knopsnider at the Punta Gorda History Park, enjoying the Christmas lights and decorations as they made their way to the Price House.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Scott and Sprout Dvorak-Walker share a moment as they leave Punta Gorda History Park after an evening of enjoying the Christmas spirit provided by the volunteers who turned the park into a Christmas wonderland.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Michelle Price and Howard Parson will be on hand each evening with their cake pops (cupcakes on a stick) and hot chocolate.

SUN PHOTO BY BETSY WILLIAMS

Bob Filkins and his wife Joann visit with Santa in the gardens at the Punta Gorda History Park.