‘Old Fashioned Holidays’ appeal to all tastes and ages.

The spirit of holidays past will fill the South Coast Botanic Garden this weekend as hot spiced cider, trees laden with Victorian decorations, hand-made crafts and traditional carols blend in an “Old Fashioned Holidays in the Garden” celebration at the Palos Verdes Peninsula arboretum.

“People will walk into a very festive event with the trees that are there and all the decor being provided. Spiced cider will permeate the air and give people an early Christmas feeling,” said Sharon Ryan, who is co-chairman of the Saturday and Sunday event. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Started as a craft show for garden volunteers, the observance has grown into a holiday party that fills the garden’s auditorium with entertainment, trees and table decorations, fashions, refreshments and baked goods, children’s crafts, and other seasonal attractions.

Ryan said this year’s holidays in the garden, expected to attract 750 people each day, “has the most activities ever.”

It offers a chance to get into the spirit of the season, do some early shopping and take home ideas for home decorations and gifts.

“There are things appealing to all tastes and ages,” Ryan said.

Lending an old-fashioned tone to the festivities will be displays of vintage teddy bears and antique dolls. The oldest doll, dating from the mid-1800s, has a wax head and real hair that falls to the middle of her back. Another is an infant doll from the 1920s whose sculpted head was copied from a living child.

There also will be a host of Santa Clauses created between the 1920s and 1950s. Among them are a rag-doll Santa, a black Santa, Santa drinking a Coca-Cola, Santa on a motorcycle and a candy container Santa. The candy goes--you guessed it--into his belly. There’s even an upright Santa that can be struck like a punching bag, just in case he’s stingy on Dec. 25.

Another display will focus on a collection of Christmas stockings that were hand-made for a Palos Verdes Estates family starting in the 1950s. The stockings--for parents, children, grandchildren and even the family dog--are decorated with a snow scene, gingerbread house, and other holiday themes in needlepoint and embroidery.

Several stores will create displays of room decors and holiday decorations. One will be an old-fashioned room with a rocking horse, and others will spotlight table settings, Christmas trees, an antique horse and a life-size Santa.

Children will have their own activities, including face painting, decorating cookies, making holiday cards and visiting with a Santa Claus.

A number of crafts demonstrations will be given at various times both days. Visitors will be able to see Japanese origami experts cut paper into ornaments, watch quilting and learn how to make wreaths and holiday baskets and bows.

The weekend also promises a variety of entertainers, ranging from a pianist to a flute choir. The season will be literally rung in by the handbell choir from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in San Pedro. The 11-member group will perform carols, sacred music and patriotic songs to mark Thanksgiving.

The Southwest Youth Orchestra, made up of South Bay youths between the ages of 12 and 23, will perform carols plus symphonies by Mozart and Tchaikovsky. Tap-dancing is the specialty of the Showstoppers, a group of teen-age girls who will wear red satin and white fur as they tap and sing Christmas songs. They’ll also perform some novelty numbers, including Elvis Presley’s “Teddy Bear.” For that, they’ll wear poodle skirts and carry--what else?--teddy bears.

Norma Cantafio, executive director of the garden’s support foundation, said there will be enough variety over the weekend to get everybody in a holiday mood.

“If people come for only one segment, they’ll be delighted,” she said. “The goodies will be yummy and when you hear and see youngsters dancing to the tunes of the holidays, you can’t help but look forward to them.”

What: Old Fashioned Holidays in the Garden.

When: Saturday, Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Admission: $3, adults; $1.50, seniors and students; 75-cents, children 5 to 12.

Information: 544-1948.