Blair County Historical Society's Fall and Winter Events

Blair County Historical Society announced their upcoming fall and winter events beginning with this year’s Trick-or-Treat on Thursday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. on the lawn of Baker Mansion. Along with candy, they will have little trinkets and toys.

On Friday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Oct. 31, the Altoona Dance Theatre will be doing a murder mystery at the Baker Mansion.

Kate Rimbeck, Operations Manager for the society, said, “The event consists of someone being murdered and then you have to go room to room and talk to each individual. By the end of the event, you have to decide who did it.”

On Nov. 6, the society is having a beard and mustache contest, which is going to be held at the Arts Altoona building. There will be five categories for the beard portion and five categories for the mustache portion of the contest. There is a fee to enter, but it is a free event to attend. There will also be a basket raffle.

Rimbeck said that there is a basket for everybody’s taste, including pet supplies, DelGrosso’s Park passes, and household items.

“Someone also donated a souvenir cup from Princess Diana’s and Prince Charles’ wedding that was actually collected the day of the wedding,” said Rimbeck. “It was purchased in London. It comes with two English Teas and two teacups.”

Also the week of Nov. 6, the Blair Garden Club will be decorating the Mansion’s Christmas trees. Rimbeck said that this decorating comes early this year, so that everybody has a chance to come and get pictures taken if they want to make Christmas cards. The only cost would be the regular cost of admission.

On Nov. 20 and 21, Santa Paws will be at the side entrance of the Mansion, where the iron stairs are.

“Santa will be sitting there and for ten dollars, you can bring your own camera and your pet and have your family picture taken,” Rimbeck said.

She added that it is going to be a two-day event with ten percent of the proceeds going to the Humane Society.

Dec. 19 will be the last day for the year. It will also be the last day to see some of the exhibits. The current exhibits are the WWII Exhibit, the Korean War Exhibit, the Italian Heritage Display, the Victorian Women’s Display and the 19th Century Utilities and Tools Display.

The November lecture series will be held on Nov. 17. It will be held at The Altoona Railroaders Museum. Dr. Michael Farrow will be talking about 175 years of Blair County.

On Nov. 7, the society will start the “History for the Holidays” event on Facebook. Participants have to like the society’s Facebook page, Blair History and the Baker Mansion. Every week, they will post a historical fact. Participants have to publicly like or share the facts. At the end of the week, everyone who has liked or shared it will be entered into a contest. A couple of names will be drawn and they will receive prizes. This goes on until Christmas Eve.

“On New Years Eve, everybody who has won will have their name entered into a grand drawing, where there will be an amazing grand prize,” Rimbeck said.

For more information on these or any other events, go to http://www.blairhistory.org.