Walking into the Jackson County Courthouse, families are greeted by Santa Claus sitting near a Christmas tree. They receive candy canes, enjoy refreshments and listen to school choirs sing.
Exiting the courthouse, they can walk over to the Jackson County History Center to check out a Christmas tree with handmade ornaments.
They also can pick up a cookie and a cup of cider and sit by the fireplace while carolers sing festive songs.
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On Tuesday night, Brownstown is the place to be to get in the Christmas spirit.
From 6 to 7:30 p.m., the Brownstown Chamber of Commerce’s annual Hometown Christmas will be in the courthouse, and the history center again will host Christmas in the Village. Both events are free and open to the public.
Maria Powell, the chamber’s office manager, said several organizations used to be involved in the town’s Christmas celebration, and it included a parade and several vendors.
Since the chamber took over the event, all of the activities have centered around the courthouse. Last year, more than 250 people attended.
Radio 96.3 WJAA’s Cool Bus is transformed into the Yule Bus this time of year. It will escort Santa Claus around Brownstown on Tuesday night before arriving at the courthouse.
“It is just a really great joy,” Powell said. “We always have a line of kids down the courthouse steps and out.”
Children’s first order of business is to tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas.
Powell stands nearby handing out candy canes. She said she likes seeing the interaction between Santa and the kids.
“I get a kick out of it because my kids are all grown now, so I don’t know what the current things are. This keeps me up-to-date on what the kids are asking for,” Powell said.
The children’s excitement to see Santa is the best part of the event for Powell.
“You can’t describe it almost. Joy doesn’t really give it a good word for it. It’s more than that,” she said. “It’s just a feeling of Christmas and what Christmas is all about. You get that feeling in a child’s perspective.”
Brownstown McDonald’s will offer refreshments on the left side of the courthouse lobby, and the Brownstown Central middle and high school choirs will fill the staircase on the right side singing holiday tunes.
“It takes everybody to make it a success,” Powell said. “Our crowd just keeps growing year after year. We just keep getting more and more kids each year.”
The history center has conducted Christmas in the Village on the same night as Hometown Christmas for about seven years, center volunteer Margo Brewer said.
A couple of the buildings in the pioneer village will be open.
Inside the log cabin will be children’s activities and a pioneer mother talking about life in the 1800s.
In the school/church/meetinghouse, a cedar Christmas tree will be decorated with old-fashioned ornaments that have been donated over the years with old homemade toys underneath. People can sit nearby and enjoy refreshments and listen to carolers.
“It’s family-oriented,” Brewer said. “We welcome children as well as adults and have everybody huddled up to the fireplace. It’s really fun. It’s just a good time.”
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What: Hometown Christmas and Christmas in the Village
When: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Hometown Christmas is at the Jackson County Courthouse, 111 S. Main St., Brownstown, and Christmas in the Village is at the Jackson County History Center, 105 N. Sugar St., Brownstown
Cost: Both events are free and open to the public
Features: Santa Claus, refreshments and caroling
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