The Ellwood House Museum in DeKalb will hold a three-day open house to celebrate the Christmas holiday.

“Christmas Around the World” is the theme for this year’s annual open house which runs Dec. 4-6 from 1 to 5 p.m.

ooms in the Ellwood Mansion, 509 N. First St., will be decorated in traditional Christmas motifs representing 15 different countries.

Some of the countries represented will include France, Germany, Sweden, Finland and Latin America.

Museum director Gerald Brauer said the theme, chosen by Co-Chairwomen Kaye Speckhart and Bev Evensen, was chosen to showcase “the international flavor of DeKalb.”

Brauer said the event is a community project. Decorations and time have been donated by area churches, greenhouses and individuals who have ethnic backgrounds. He said the decorating will be completed by Wednesday.

The Ellwood Mansion has been running this event annually for about 20 years, he said.

A large Christmas tree in the living room of the mansion will be decorated by the DeKalb Questor, a group which studies antiques, in a country-American theme, Brauer said.

During the exhibition, the Carriage House, Victorian Playhouse and the mansion will be decorated and open for public observation, Brauer said, but the museum building will not be open.

The Stage Coach Players theater group will also perform during the open house.

Brauer said the group will perform in the ballroom of the Mansion on Saturday and Sunday. The group will perform a re-creation of a traditional Victorian Christmas with songs throughout both days, Brauer said.

Santa Claus and his sleigh also will be at the Carriage House daily during the exhibition, Brauer said.

Also, some handmade gifts and decorations will be for sale in the Holiday Shop located in the lower level of the mansion.

Admission for adults is $2.50. Children under 12 with an accompanying parent will be admitted free.