Holiday Best Bets
Many
options available for
holiday fun throughout the region
You
don’t have to travel far to get
into the holiday spirit this season
By
Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer
 |
|
December 2010 Edition |
(December 2010) – There’s no time to get
bored over the Christmas vacation with so many holiday activities to
take in. No matter what your preference is, some event will be taking
place that will entertain every member of the family.
Vevay (Ind.) Main Street kicks off the Christmas season with “Over
the River” held in conjunction with the First Friday event. Held
from 6-9 p.m. downtown around the Switzerland County Courthouse on Dec.
3, the evening will be full of free festivities.
“We do a First Friday every month, but wanted something special
with a lot more going on,” said Kasey Seal, Administrative Assistant
for the Switzerland County Welcome Center.
A community Christmas tree will be lit at 7 p.m. with a multitude of
free events that include pictures with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides,
art demonstrations and shopping specials, said Seal.
Winners of the first annual Wreath Decorating Contest will be announced
that evening as well. Sponsored by Vevay Main Street, participants are
asked to decorate “any size wreath up to 24 inches in diameter.
It has to be a handmade original,” said Main Street Program Manager
Michele Thompson.
Wreaths must be dropped off at 314 Ferry St. between noon and 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 1. Three winners will be announced on Friday, Dec. 3.
First Place receives $100, Second Place receives $50, and Third Place
receives $25. “From 6 to 8 p.m. people can vote for a People’s
Choice award recipient,” said Thompson. The winner of this award
receives $25.
The Historic Hoosier Theater will be presenting “The Nutcracker
Ballet” at 11:10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18. The Anneliese von Oettingen
School of Ballet will present the ballet, and a special feature will
be audience participation for children desiring to be part of the “mouse
scene.” To do so, children must be at the theater by 10:45 a.m.
The theater will be giving away 100 free tickets to the first 100 children
and adults who reside in Switzerland County.
Bedford,
Ky.
Carrollton,
Ky.
Crestwood,
Ky.
La Grange,
Ky.
Madison,
Ind.
Vevay,
Ind. |
Across the river, the Louisville Chorus will be performing
“Christmas at Immaculate Conception (In the Presence of the Nativity)”
at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. This is the fifth anniversary Christmas concert
the chorus will perform at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in
La Grange, said Therese Davis, Executive Director and pianist for the
Louisville Chorus.
The choral performance is composed of all Nativity carols, said Davis,
and will last approximately one hour and 45 minutes. It is “an
outreach concert to Oldham County,” she said.
“We do a trio of Christmas concerts every year,” said Davis.
The second performance will be “Christmas at the Cathedral (In
the Presence of the Nativity)” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11,
at the Cathedral of the Assumption located at 433 S. Fifth St. in Louisville.
The Louisville Chorus concludes its holiday concerts with “A Family
Concert at St. Mary’s (Holiday Music from the Heart)” at 7:30
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, in New Albany, Ind. “This one is different;
it is lighter, more family-oriented,” said Davis. “Secular
holiday music is blended in as well.” Admission charged for these
performances is $6 for students, $15 for seniors and $18 for general
tickets.
The Louisville Chorus will also be making an appearance this year at
Light Up La Grange. Linda Goin, Discover Downtown La Grange Main Street
Executive Director, said “there will be more entertainment this
year overall.” Performers will either be strolling the streets
of La Grange or stationed on the Oldham County Courthouse Square.
Santa will make his arrival with a parade, joined by the mayor, and
will light the tree at 6:30 p.m., said Goin. Children’s activities
and games will be held at the Community Center on Jefferson Street.
The Oldham County History Center has a lot of 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 a “Looking for Max: A Grinch’s Max Look
Alike Dog Contest” will be held at noon. An entry fee of $5 is
charged. 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 same night, Dec. 3, Light Up Bedford will be taking place on the
Trimble County Courthouse Square and at the Morgan Community Center
in Bedford, Ky. Arts and crafts booths will be set up at the center
beginning at noon. This year’s theme is “Community Celebration,”
said event organizer Rita Davis.
A chili supper, sponsored by the Bedford Rotary, will be available at
6 p.m. at the center. For $6 attendees can get chili, a sandwich, drink
and a dessert. Proceeds go to different organizations and projects,
such as last year’s donation to Dare to Care, Davis said. Also
at 6 p.m. will be a concert by local singer Dustin Temple.
At 6:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. the Trimble County Middle School Choir will
perform at the Trimble County Courthouse. Also scheduled is a reading
of the Christmas Story, local parade and the lighting of the Courthouse
Square. Free refreshments will be available by the City of Bedford and
free horse and carriage rides from event sponsor Ransdell Funeral Home.
After the tree lighting ceremony, Santa will journey to the Morgan Community
Center for pictures. The Trimble County Middle School Band will perform
at 7:35 p.m. Organizers are asking individuals to please “bring
a canned food item for the Dare to Care food bank,” said Davis.
In Carrollton, Ky., “A Christmas Carroll” holiday celebration
is planned at the Courthouse Square on Dec. 4. This features horse-drawn
carriage rides, visits with Santa, a parade, music and crafts. The Festival
of Trees will be on display at Gen. Butler State Resort Park from Dec.
5-31.
Madison, Ind., will celebrate with its annual Christmas Parade down
Main Street at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. The parade will start at Jefferson
Street and end at Mill Street.
The Nights Before Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes will take place
over the weekends of Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 3-4. Madison held its Light
Up event and merchant Open House on Nov. 12. A Santa’s Express
Train Excursion is planned on Dec. 4, leaving from Venture Out Business
Center. It is sponsored by the Madison Area Chamber of Commerce and
the Madison Railroad.
Throughout December, a trio of all-time Christmas movie favorites will
be shown at the Ohio Theatre. The series kicks off on Nov. 26 to Dec.
2 with “Miracle on 34th Street,” followed on Dec. 3-6 by “It’s
a Wonderful Life.” The series concludes on Dec. 10-16 with “White
Christmas.” These showings are free due to the generosity of local
sponsors.
“Handel’s Messiah” is scheduled for Dec. 5 at Hanover
College’s Fitzgibbon Recital Hall. The town’s Art & Shop
Hop night is set for Dec. 10. And Spectrum Production will produce “On
the Air on Broadway” on Dec. 10-11 at The Livery Stable.
In Hanover, Ind., Hanover College will hold its annual Christmas Craft
Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lynn Hall on the campus.
• See RoundAbout’s Calendar of Events for more details on these events, including prices and contact numbers. The calendar is also available online at: www.RoundAbout.bz.