CELEBRATION
The Hallstrom House, located at 1723 Old Dixie Highway SW in Vero Beach, is now owned by the Indian River County Historical Society,
which opens it for tours and special events, like the St. Lucia Christmas ceremony.
Hallstrom Home
for theHolidays
86
A SEASON OF CELEBRATION
BY JANIE GOULD
Like the Festival of Trees at Riverside Theatre and
the Christmas parade on Ocean Drive, the St. Lucia
Swedish Christmas Festival at the Hallstrom House
has become a familiar harbinger of the holidays in
Indian River County.
The Swedish festival, named for an early Christian who
was martyred in Rome in A.D. 304, will take place Dec. 8 in
the distinctive brick house on Old Dixie Highway built by
Swedish immigrant Axel Hallstrom in 1918. Admission is
free, but guests are asked to bring a food item that will be
MARSHA WOODS
A Swedish
Christmas tradition
lights up historic
Vero home
donated to a local food bank.
The house will be decked out in Christmas finery, with each
of the nine rooms displaying a tree trimmed with Swedish
flags and ornaments and, hopefully, a Florida sand pine on
the front porch to signify Hallstrom’s pioneer roots. Swedish
treats and refreshments will be served.
The procession led by a local girl in the role of St. Lucia
always ranks as the afternoon’s highlight. The girl will
wear a white robe, red sash and headdress with six candles,
and she’ll be followed down the staircase by several other
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