CAMBRIDGE — In order to get a jump on the holiday season and to help get visitors in the spirit, the Heritage Museums and Gardens of Dorchester will offer special programming from now through Nov. 13. The public is invited to attend any and all of the offerings and to visit the Museums through Nov. 30.

The Neild Museum and the Robbins Heritage Center will be displaying all sorts of vintage and antique toys, both from its own collection and from items temporarily loaned for the exhibit. Antique dolls, doll houses, tin and metal toys, board games, trains, erector sets and much more will be on display through the holiday season, harkening back to a simpler time.

Programming for the two weeks in November includes several talks and craft sessions, inspired by nostalgia and holidays past. On Nov. 5 at noon, Bill Wise discussed his collecting - first with advertising toys and later with Hess and Texaco trucks. It is surprising the wonderful “toys” that were given to customers in Dorchester. This offering was free and open to the public.

On Nov. 9 from 10 am – noon, Do You Remember ... Crafts? will be held in the Country Store and will include old favorites — paper chains, gingerbread men, angels and more. This informal get together will allow crafters to make and take their own and encourage them to help decorate the museums. While this is free and open to the public, attendees must register so that ample supplies will be on hand.

At 7 pm, on Nov. 10, Robert Wright will have a very special interactive display set up and will speak about it. His collection of working vintage erector sets has been a labor of love and was originally a hobby that was picked up to avoid watching television. Everything from a ferris wheel to an airplane are represented, some up to 6 feet tall.

Finally on Nov. 13 from 11 am – 1 pm, artist Laura Rankin will be leading crafters in needle felting ornaments. In addition crafters will be making other ornaments from wet felted wool. There is no cost for this workshop, but space is limited so preregistration is required.

As further enticement for visions of sugar plums, there will be a raffle held from Nov. 2, through Dec. 18. Everyone is encouraged to purchase a chance or two to win a Dept. 56, Elvis Presley’s Graceland, valued at more than $200.

For more information about these offerings, please call 410-228-7953 or e-mail dchs@verizon.net. The Heritage Museums and Gardens of Dorchester are located at 1003 Greenway Drive in Cambridge and operated and maintained by the Dorchester County Historical Society.