This Is the Place Heritage Park hosts a Candlelight Christmas

SALT LAKE CITY — Derek Tate, 4, shivers with delight as he squeezes the rainwater from the wool of a real, live sheep. He and the animal, which is standing placidly, look about the same height as they eye each other near the outdoor Nativity at This Is the Place Heritage Park.

The air's ringing with the faint but sweet strains of carolers who are serenading visitors with "Silent Night" in one of the old houses that line Main Street. There are about 10 of them, singing a capella in perfect harmony, the pace alternating from the slow, reverent favorites to more rollicking fare.

This is Candlelight Christmas, an annual trip back to holidays past. For a month each year, the state park is transformed at night to Christmas in the mid- to late-1800s.

And visitors can choose between simply observing or immersing themselves in the traditions of a quieter time.

As visitors take a train ride around the park's perimeter, enjoying the lights not only from the park, but also from Hogle Zoo across the way on Sunnyside Avenue, a group of young children burst into a spontaneous rendition of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," followed by an amateur but enthusiastic version of "Jingle Bells."

In Fairbanks Home, two little boys are writing letters to Santa while the woman who supervises explains that when they're done, they can drop them into the fire outside. That's how the letters will get to the North Pole. Like Santa himself, there's magic involved. The letters may disintegrate into the fire, but they are sure to reappear at the North Pole, perfectly intact, in time for the Jolly Old Elf to grant Christmas wishes, she assures them.

On this night, the visitors ranged from the couple visiting from St. George who just thought it sounded fun, to Brian and Angela Hulleberg, who enjoyed a Candlelight Christmas some time ago and are back now with their children. Their son is anxious to talk about the live reindeer he saw at the entrance to the village, while a 5-year-old friend who's with them says proudly that she's planning to place herself on Santa's "naughty" list.

She got the advice to do so from the train conductor. He's been spreading a rumor that the naughty list is the place to be at the park, because there's a special treat attached to it.

Brian Hulleberg says he likes the lights and the Father Christmas down in Christmas Town. His wife loves the "attitude" of both workers and visitors.