The Holmstad retirement community will transform into a holiday storybook for its 7th annual Christmas Open House on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m. The Holmstad is located at 700 W. Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, Ill., 60510. The public is invited to attend this daylong holiday celebration, which will include a nativity scene with live animals; Mr. and Mrs. Claus with their favorite elf; ongoing trolley rides to view the life-sized holiday yard art; and lots of seasonal treats, holiday music and festivities for children. A great opportunity for holiday family photos! This year’s life-sized yard art includes a 14-piece nativity, a skating scene with an ice-skating duo, Santa’s sleigh with reindeer, angels and Dickens-themed carolers. Music venues throughout the community will host holiday musical performers and guests can enjoy beverages and holiday treats. There will be face painting, raffle prizes and lots of good cheer to go around. About the Holiday Yard Art Each year resident artists and members of the woodshop create new additions to the ever-growing holiday yard art collection. To create the figures, woodworkers start with a 4’ x 8’ x ¾” exterior grade plywood and then cut, sand and prep the pieces for the resident artists in the Creative Arts Center, where they sketch each character by hand and then paint the piece. Some figures, like Joseph and the three wise men, measure upwards of six-feet tall. The camel and the bull each required an entire 4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood. The holiday yard art will be displayed through January 8, 2016. The open house is free and reservations are not required. Call 877–226-7310 for more information. About The Holmstad The Holmstad, a faith-based, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, is located at 700 W. Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, Ill. It is administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior services providers. Covenant Retirement Communities serves 5,000 residents at 12 retirement communities nationwide and is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For more information on The Holmstad, call (630) 870-4100 or visit www.TheHolmstad.org.