The Christmas season is upon us - that joyful season of light in the darkest part of winter. To help celebrate, the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, located in Wright Park on South G Street in Tacoma, presents some great opportunities for celebration and merry making with two very special events:  A Victorian Holiday Celebration and Let It Snow.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, head to the conservatory for a trip back in time to the world of Charles Dickens. Volunteers dressed in gorgeous costumes from the Victorian period will serve refreshments and answer questions, and even dear old St. Nick will be on hand to hear Christmas wishes and pose with the kiddos (and the kiddos at heart) for professional 5x7 photographs ($15). As part of the annual Dickens Festival in the Stadium District, carriage rides will be available to and from Ranko's Pharmacy, which is located at 101 North Tacoma Ave. in the heart of Tacoma's Stadium District.

Have you ever wanted to step inside one of those Christmas snow globes to be a part of that beautiful winter scene? Well, now you have the opportunity to experience a snow globe from the inside. From 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12, the conservatory transforms into a life-sized snow globe, complete with sparkling flakes of snow falling all around on the conservatory's visitors and exotic plants alike.

Admission to the conservatory is just $3 for visitors 12 and older and free for children 11 and younger.

The W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory is named for William Wolcott Seymour (1861-1929), an investment banker and former mayor of Tacoma. Seymour donated a portion of his considerable wealth to the city of Tacoma "to be used as deemed most advisable in beautifying the city."

The money was turned over to the parks department and used to build the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, which stands today as an iconic piece of Tacoma architecture and the home of a unique collection of exotic plants.

So stop sitting around and staring at the burning Yule log in the fireplace. Grab the family and head for the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory in Wright Park for a fun, affordable family outing that just might become a new Christmas tradition. Come celebrate the season with A Victorian Holiday Celebration and Let It Snow.  

Victorian Holiday Celebration, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6; Let It Snow, 6-8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 12, W. W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, 316 S. G St., Tacoma, $3, 11 and under are free, 253.591.5330