’Tis the season
Oldham
County
holiday events abound
Area ‘light-ups’ begin in La Grange
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
(December 2010) – Giving holiday festivities
a flair of old fashioned extravaganza, Santa Claus and the Mayor of
La Grange will arrive by carriage on Friday, Dec. 3, to spread the joy
of the season for Light Up La Grange. This is one of many area activities
planned to keep the spirit of the season alive.
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Santa will light the community tree at 6:30 p.m. and other
activities include horse drawn carriage rides, strolling carolers, musical
entertainment, shopping and dining. Entertainment will incorporate local
school and church groups, jazz ensembles, violinists and much more.
Children’s activities and games will be held at the Community Center
on Jefferson Street. A Scavenger Hunt has been organized with the prize
being a basketful of special items from local merchants.
The Oldham County History Center has many activities planned as well
from 5-9 p.m. on Dec. 3 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec.4. Activities
for Light Up La Grange include “Meet the Grinch,” take your
picture with The Grinch, a special drawing for a Max, Grinch and “How
the Grinch Stole Christmas” book and stuffed toy set, and an annual
Amish Bake Sale.
The following day activities will continue from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
beginning with a “Looking for Max: A Grinch’s Max Look Alike
Dog Contest” held at noon. An entry fee of $5 is charged. There
will be hands-on activities and treats for children and a special reading
of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” by the Grinch. A Make
Your Own Christmas Wreath Station will be provided and for a fee of
$10, participants can choose from fresh cut greens, florist wire and
ribbon to craft a holiday wreath or bough.
The Oldham County Public Library with be hosting its annual holiday
Open House from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9. Barefoot Best Friends
and Guilderoy Byrne, two local Celtic musical groups, will be performing,
said Library Director Susan Eubank. Refresh-ments will be available
as well as a special area for children to make crafts.
The library’s Open House is “our way of providing a small
party for the community that the library is in,” said Eubank.
From noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, “The Nature of Christmas
in Goshen” will be held at the Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve. Co-hosted
by the City of Goshen, this event provides free hot dogs, chili, hot
chocolate, coffee and cinna-sticks from Papa John’s for the community,
plus a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
“We feed the community as a thank you for their support all year
long,” said Executive Director Tavia Cathcart. “There will
be gifts for the first 250 kids and we are opening the historic Mahan
Manor and will have gift booths inside this year, which is new.”
Also for sale will be “our own homemade holiday wreaths made out
of grapevines and decorated with spruce and cedar and berries. There
will be lots of fun things to enjoy!”
Attendees will be able to listen to St. John’s Bell Choir and Christmas
carolers, while enjoying marshmallows over a bonfire and wagon rides.
This is the eighth year for this event which provides a way to see neighbors,
friends and family, while “getting in the true spirit of the holiday
with other,” said Cathcart.
For anyone who would like to celebrate the season with a concert, two
will be offered through the Oldham County Schools Arts Center in Crestwood.
The Harry Pickens holiday concert will be performed from 7:30-9 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 9. Pickens is “a jazz pianist who performs a lot
around the area,” said Donna Garrett, Resource Center Coordinator
for the arts center.
A second holiday performance will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec.
17. “Christmas Is…” is a series of “short skits
based on St. Nicholas,” with dancing and acting by the Oldham County
Performance Troupe, said Garrett.
The center’s choreographer, Trina Jackson, and the Youth Theater
director, Kathy Davis, are in charge of this production, which lasts
a little over an hour in length. “It is fun and entertaining,”
said Garrett.
Tickets for both Oldham County Schools Arts Center performances are
$8. They can be purchased in advance by phone or at the door.
Yew Dell Gardens will once again play host to its popular wreath and
topiary workshops on Saturday, Dec. 4. Two sessions will be held for
the wreath workshop: from 10 a.m. to noon, and from 2-4 p.m.
A topiary workshop will be offered from noon to 2 p.m. The workshops
are led by Yew Dell’s Garden Manager JoAnne Fischer and fill up
fast. Cost is $30 for members of Yew Dell Gardens and $35 for non-members.