SANTA’S COMING TO TOWN

0

Santa Claus is set to make his rounds at upcoming events in the Jackson County communities of Medora, Crothersville and Brownstown.

His first stop will be Saturday at the 43rd annual Medora Christmas Festival, which runs from 9 a.m. to midnight.

Food, craft and flea market vendors open at 9 a.m. The first event will be breakfast with Santa from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Medora Senior Citizens Center. An offering will be accepted, and people are welcome to take pictures with Santa.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hague Funeral Home will serve refreshments and conduct gift card drawings.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

The prince and princess will be crowned at 12:30 p.m. before the  parade at 1 p.m. The prince and princess candidates were chosen from classes at Medora Community School Corp., and the nominees placed collection cans around town. Proceeds will benefit the festival.

“I like to see the crowning of the prince and princess. That’s always a big thing for me,” said Nick Walden, a Medora native who serves on the festival committee. “It keeps the school involved.”

The grand marshals of this year’s parade are James Reynolds and Mary Shelton Purvis, the two oldest living residents of the small community.

“We asked them, and they were both very grateful to be a part of it,” Walden said of the grand marshals. “The firetrucks and Santa rolling in at the end of the parade, I think that’s always the biggest attraction.”

Following the parade, “Selfies with Santa” and cookies with Mrs. Claus will be at the Medora library.

Entertainment on the stage throughout the day includes Medora students under the direction of Charlotte Brewer, Past Tense, Emily Bridges, Driven and The Lane Brothers.

The Christmas tree lighting will be in front of the library at 4 p.m., and the festival will close with the Carr Township Volunteer Fire Department’s Christmas ball with disc jockey Josh Clark from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Medora Conservation Club.

Sweatshirts and Medora greeting cards will be sold as fundraisers for the festival. The cards consist of a comic based on the Medora Brick Plant drawn by Walden; a photo of a Nativity scene at a church in Clearspring by Betty Hume; a photo of the Medora Covered Bridge by Jerry Henson; and a photo of an iron bridge in Sparksville by Randy Branaman. All four artists are from Medora.

Crothersville

On Sunday, Christmas in the ’Ville will run from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hamacher Hall in Crothersville.

The event, presented by the Crothersville Historical and Cultural Arts Association and Crothersville Lions Club, begins with cookies and carols. Cookies and punch will be served. After carols are sung with Carla Carey on piano, Santa will read “The Night Before Christmas” and speak with children. For $1, children can have their photo taken with Santa.

The Lions Club will have drawings for gift certificates and help turn on the Christmas lights that evening at the stoplight corner.

“It’s free, and everybody who has ever been seems to enjoy it,” said Brenda Holzworth, who serves with both sponsoring organizations. “It’s especially nice because we get to do a lot of different things and light the Christmas tree. I like everything about Christmas. I love Christmas.”

Brownstown

The local events will continue from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday with Brownstown’s annual Hometown Christmas at the Jackson County Courthouse, sponsored by the Brownstown Chamber of Commerce.

The WJAA Yule Bus will bring Santa to town, and parents can bring cameras to take pictures of their children with Santa. He will hand out candy canes, which were donated by Psi Iota Xi sorority.

“It’s a chance for parents to take their children to see Santa,” said Maria Powell, the chamber’s office manager. “For some of the kids, it might be the only shot they get. I just like the happiness that it brings to the kids. Just the look on their face is worth it all.”

The event also features Christmas carols by the Brownstown Central middle and high school choirs under the direction of Stephanie Brock; Grimace from McDonald’s greeting children; and Brownstown McDonald’s providing coffee, muffins, cookies, pies and drinks.

Powell said last year’s event drew more than 200 people, and the line to see Santa stretched down the sidewalk.

“I really encourage people to come out and take advantage of this,” she said. “There are no fees involved. It’s just a way for the chamber to give back to the community.”

Also that night in Brownstown, the Jackson County History Center will conduct its annual Christmas in the Village, starting at 6 p.m. The Heller Museum will be open; Christmas carols will be sung in the church meeting house; and tours of the new pioneer cabin will go from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Christmas events around Jackson County

Medora Christmas Festival, 9 a.m. to midnight Saturday in Medora

9 a.m.: Food, craft and flea market vendors open

9 to 11:30 a.m.: Breakfast with Santa at the Medora Senior Citizens Center

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Refreshments and gift card drawings at Hague Funeral Home

11:15 to 12:15 a.m.: Medora students perform under the direction of Charlotte Brewer

12:30 p.m.: Prince and princess crowning

1 p.m.: Parade, followed by “Selfies with Santa” and cookies with Mrs. Claus at the Medora Library

1:45 to 2:45 p.m.: Past Tense

3 to 3:30 p.m.: Emily Bridges

3:30 to 4 p.m.: The Lane Brothers

4 p.m.: Christmas tree lighting in front of the Medora Library

8 p.m. to midnight: Carr Township Volunteer Fire Department’s Christmas ball with disc jockey Josh Clark at the Medora Conservation Club ($5 per person)

Christmas in the ’Ville, 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Hamacher Hall in Crothersville

Cookies and punch will be served. After carols are sung, Santa Claus will read “The Night Before Christmas” and speak to children. Children can have their picture taken with Santa for $1. There also will be drawings for gift certificates, and Christmas lights will be turned on at the stoplight corner.

Hometown Christmas, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown

Santa Claus will take pictures with children and hand out candy canes. Grimace from McDonald’s will make an appearance, and Brownstown McDonald’s will provide coffee, muffins, cookies, pies and drinks. There also will be a performance by the choirs from Brownstown Central middle and high schools. 

Christmas in the Village, starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Jackson County History Center in Brownstown

The Heller Museum will be open, and Christmas carols will be sung in the church meeting house. Tours of the pioneer cabin will go from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

[sc:pullout-text-end]

No posts to display