The hotel's guests were nestled, all safe in their beds.And like Santa's elves, Robert Averill and Gary Burger were hard at work, spreading holiday cheer. The interior designers were busy transforming the Historic Hotel Bethlehem into a sparkling symbol of the holidays. It's a process that takes the pair more than a 1,000 hours, mostly late at night as to not disturb the guests, at the hotel that has stood on Main Street in the Christmas City since the Roaring Twenties.From antique paper mache snow geese and six 7-foot-tall toy soldiers to the more than 35,000 lights and 31 Christmas trees, Averill and Burger cover every corner at the hotel with holiday cheer. "The hotel does so much to make the holidays special," Averill says. "And the history part of it means so much to us."Planning the decor is as much a part of the process as the execution. In July, Averill and Burger fly to the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market for inspiration. The pair have been decorating the hotel for the holidays for the past 11 years, so the show is an opportunity to find new ideas and see the latest trends.

After this year's show, Burger says the duo knew exactly how they would approach this year's trimmings — ornaments and decorations in shimmering gold, bronze, silver and copper fitting the theme of "Let There Be Peace on Earth.""It came to us on the plane on the way back," Burger says.Keeping "peace" in mind, the designers also chose to use something new this year — a few animal decorations."I never use critters," Burger says. "But owls and doves and birds go with the peaceful theme."With a plan in place, the designers order what they need to make the holiday magic happen. Around August, the orders start to arrive, and the hotel's receiving dock is full of boxes of decorations.Unpacking, sorting and organizing hundreds of decorations takes weeks leading up to the start of decorating. Like any good elves, Burger and Averill have a workshop of sorts in a meeting room on the third floor of the hotel.As the decorating was under way, the workshop was filled with Christmas wreaths, silver ornaments and a few elves that would end up dangling from the hotel's 10 chandeliers.

"Kids just love them," Averill says of the elves.Touches of whimsy add to the charm of the hotel's more than 1,000 decorations.Once November hit, Averill and Burger shifted into high gear, spending 13 to 14 hours overnight setting up the trimmings in the hotel's public spaces.Among the daunting tasks: hanging 35,000 Christmas lights. "Doing the lights is really challenging," Averill says.exterior home paint optionsThey also set up and decorate 31 Christmas trees throughout the hotel, including in the two ballrooms. living room decor no couchThe Grand Ballroom, which features original cocktail balconies, has a 15-foot tree that is fitting for such an opulent space. cheap diy christmas party decorations

The Mural Ballroom, named for the murals painted in 1936 by noted American artist George Gray, also features a 15-foot tree along with several wreaths spanning six feet in diameter.The showstopper is the hotel's lobby, and the designers leave this important space to the end. Those quirky elves will make their appearance here, dangling from the chandeliers that hang above two 16-foot trees.easy diy christmas yard decorationsBy Black Friday, the hotel is transformed.christmas desk decoration ideas for workIt's not just the hotel's guests who can admire the designers' hard work. pre decorated christmas treesThe public is invited to come to the hotel and do a free self-guided tour daily.

Burger says the hotel had about 1,000 people visit last year."People come in and take pictures," Burger says. "The people are so nice."HOLIDAYS AT THE HISTORIC HOTEL BETHLEHEM• What: Self-guided tours to see the holiday decor• When: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily• Where: Historic Hotel Bethlehem, 437 Main St.Musical Sunday Brunch 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sundays in December leading up to Christmas includes a visit from Santa Claus.Largest Small Office Party 6-10 p.m. Dec. 8 in the Grand Ballroom. Reserve a full table or a couple of seats to celebrate the holidays. $49 (plus tax and gratuity), includes a cocktail hour (cash bar) with passed hors d'oeuvres 6-7 p.m., a plated dinner, and a Christmas-themed dessert display. The Philadelphia Funk Brothers will perform. Reservations: 610-625-2234.Mary's Shelter fundraiser, a city shelter for homeless and pregnant women and their babies. On Mondays through Dec. 26, the hotel will donate 10 percent when you make a purchase in The Shoppe or if you dine in the Tap Room 4-7 p.m.

Every Monday the hotel is collecting donations, including items such as car seats, strollers, infant bedding and toiletries.Photo by Elizabeth D. Photography As Thanksgiving approaches, holiday spirit is in the air. Sacramento and its surrounding cities are opening their ice rinks and decorating their Christmas trees to the nines for St. Nick’s arrival. Read on for our list of 10 local tree lighting ceremonies. Nov. 23 On Thanksgiving Eve, Santa Claus himself will light the historic district’s 60-foot-tall Christmas tree decorated with ornaments like oversized stockings and gingerbread men. The event will kick off the Macy’s Theatre of Lights festival, which will continue each weekend through Christmas Eve. After checking out the sparkly evergreen, take in a live-action performance of Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” narrated by Bill Farmer (Disney’s Goofy), and accompanied by a sound and light show put on by Sacramento Theatrical Lighting, Associated Sound and Skywalker Sound.

Tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. 1014 2nd St. 970-5226. Nov. 26 If you’ve ever wanted to know what it’s like to ride in a parade, you’re free to bedeck your car, bicycle or pedestrian personage in as many LED lights as you can power and come join St. Nick, Mrs. Claus and California State Assembly member James “Jim” Cooper to wind your way through Elk Grove and Old Town for the Holiday Parade of Lights. Featuring floats, a Christmas sleigh and three bands, as well as homespun entries from community members of all stripes, the parade will start at the corner of Emerald Park Drive and Elk Grove Florin Road and end at the 29th annual Dickens Street Faire at Elk Grove Boulevard and Walnut Street, where Santa will light up a 60-foot-tall tree. 5:30-8 p.m. Tree lighting at 7:30 p.m. Emerald Park Dr. and Elk Grove Florin Rd. Elk Grove. Dec. 1 Sing along with the River City Concert Band at Carmichael’s annual tree lighting bash, where you can indulge in fare from food trucks like Cowtown Creamery, Frenchy’s Waffles and Squeeze Inn.

A 50-foot-tall tree will be lit while everyone partakes in a day of arts and crafts, with booths for cookie decorating and face painting, along with visits with Santa. A holiday canned food drive benefiting Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services aims to keep the Grinch away. 5-8 p.m. Tree lighting at 6:15 p.m. Carmichael Park. 5750 Grant Ave. Carmichael. Dec. 1 A children’s candlelight parade will light the way to this 35th annual event, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet the nice and the naughty (with the traditional photo op). Local music groups set to perform include the Davis High School Jazz Choir, the UC Davis Aggie Marching Band, the “Jazzamatazz” Jazz Band, as well as others. A free showing of Chuck Jones’ classic animated version of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas will screen at the Varsity Theatre, and free carriage rides will depart from Armadillo Music every 10 minutes. Standing between 20-25 feet tall, the live Christmas tree is sourced locally in Davis and decorated by volunteers of the Davis community and the Twinkle Light Crew, a local lighting organization.

6-8:30 p.m. Tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. E Street Plaza. 207 F St. Davis. Dec. 1 Partake of free Christmas cookies and hot chocolate while holiday music by a local DJ sets the jolly tone for this tree lighting celebration at Roseville Town Square. Bounce houses, a climbing wall, face painting, cookie decorating, craft stations and train rides are aimed to charm both children and adults, and snow in the form of bubbles will create the illusion of being at the North Pole. Mayor Carol Garcia will fire up the 10,000 lights on the tree in Vernon Town Square shortly after 6 p.m. Free. 6-8 p.m. Tree lighting at 6:10 p.m. Vernon Street Town Square. 311 Vernon St. Roseville. Dec. 2 West Sacramento is bringing a little bit of snow to the Sacramento region with its Winter Wonderland, featuring entertainment by local youth choirs, festive eats including red and green popcorn by Art of Popcorn, free cookie decorating, hot chocolate, crafts like jewelry-making and laser wood cutting, free keepsake photos with Santa, and plenty more.

St. Nick will arrive at City Hall by fire truck at 6:30 p.m., after which Mayor Christopher Cabaldon will light the 50-foot-tall Christmas tree. 6-8:30 p.m. Tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. West Sacramento City Hall. 1110 Capitol Ave. West Sacramento. Dec. 2 The Folsom Historic District is packed with fun activities any day of the week, from its ice-skating rink and Pioneer Village to its antique shops, galleries and boutiques. The 22nd annual tree lighting ceremony will feature live performances by the Bayside Dancers, actors from Sutter Street Theatre, the Woodsong String Quartet and many more local acts, as well as festive holiday fare, drinks and free train rides. Folsom’s dazzling Christmas tree, located next to a historic railroad turntable that's encircled by the ice rink, will be lit at 7:30 p.m. Free. 6-9 p.m. Tree lighting at 7:30 p.m. 915 Sutter St. Folsom. Dec. 5 Continuing a tradition that began 85 years ago, Downtown Sacramento’s 60-foot-tall Christmas tree arrived in front of the Capitol on Nov. 8 and has since been strung with 10,000 lights and decorated with hundreds of handcrafted ornaments made by children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Sourced from a forest in Shasta County, the tree weighs 6,600 pounds and will serve as a cheerful photo op at the State Capitol for the coming holiday season. Gov. Jerry Brown, first lady Anne Gust Brown and other local leaders will light the tree at 4:30 p.m. Free. 4:30-6 p.m. West Steps of the State Capitol. 10th St. and Capitol Mall. Dec. 5 For the 10th year in a row, El Dorado Hills will present a day filled with live bands and a merchant open house featuring cocktails, hot chocolate and cookies presented by the local chamber of commerce and Nugget Markets. Children can participate in the 4th annual “Stuff Your Stocking” game during which they run around to participating businesses in search of items on a holiday scavenger hunt list. Good ol’ Santa will light the 32-foot-tall tree to usher in the season’s cheer at 6:30 p.m. Free. 4-8 p.m. Tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Upper Theatre Plaza in Town Center. 4364 Town Center Blvd. El Dorado Hills. Dec. 10 Standing approximately 25 feet tall, the Rocklin Christmas tree will be adorned with plenty of traditional Christmas tree accents like angels and trumpeters, and of course, strands upon strands of lights.