Visiting Casper during the holidays is like stepping back in time to a slower, gentler age when every event was treasured and a congenial down-home spirit reigned. While Casper is a small city with a college and a lively music, art and theater scene, there's nothing akin to big-city holiday frenzy. Enjoy the traditional downtown ablaze with holiday lights, as are many neighborhoods, where residents decorate their homes with exuberant lighting. Family-friendly activities abound.
In pioneer times, the Oregon Trail, Pony Express, California, Mormon and Pioneer Trails passed through Casper, considered the crossroads of the West. On Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the sprawling National Historic Trails Interpretive Center welcomes visitors to its fifth annual Holiday on the Homestead open house. Re-enactors in period costumes show how the early settlers celebrated the holidays inside their homes during the pioneers' press westward. The music of yesteryear further pulls visitors back in time. Admission is free.