For a fun night of Christmas festivities, head to downtown Brownstown on Monday.
The county seat’s Hometown Christmas event has been expanded to give people of all ages plenty of activities to usher in the holidays.
It opens at 5 p.m. with shopping at local stores and restaurants. At Heritage Park, there will be Christmas caroling, food trucks and Brownstown Central High School club fundraisers.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
At 5:45 p.m., Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by parade on Main Street.
Then from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Courthouse, they will be available for pictures. Free candy canes and refreshments will be available, and a limited supply of surprise bags will be given from Santa. The high school choir also will be there caroling.
The official Christmas tree lighting is set for 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Park, followed by more caroling by the high school choir. The tree lighting is a new feature to the annual event.
“When we got together with the chamber and some community members who had been involved in Christmas in years past, we just wanted to bring back Hometown Christmas, bring back kind of a small-town Christmas event,” said Luke Nolting, president of Brownstown/Ewing Main Street.
That organization is an event sponsor along with the Brownstown Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County History Center, Hillbilly Outlaws of Jackson County, McDonald’s of Brownstown, Psi Iota Xi sorority, Schneider Nursery and Radio 96.3 Yule Bus.
Two other events are happening that night in the downtown.
The Brownstown Senior Center will serve meals for $4, either a bowl of beans or chili with cornbread and crackers. Peanut butter fudge and chocolate fudge also will be available for purchase, and there will be water and coffee.
Center volunteer Verna Lewis said serving will begin around the time Hometown Christmas starts and continue as long as the food lasts. All proceeds will benefit the senior center.
From 5 to 7 p.m. at the center, 124 S. Main St., Lonny and Wilma Goen of Taylorsville will provide music.
Activities also will be at the Jackson County History Center, 105 N. Sugar St. People can see Driftwood Christian Church’s live Nativity along Sugar Street and listen to carolers inside the livery barn.
Attendees also can view the Christmas tree display inside the livery barn and vote for their favorite. More than a dozen trees decorated with ornaments and lights based on the theme “A Few of My Favorite Things” are expected to be a part of the display.
People have until Saturday to call 812-358-4697 or 812-358-2924 to make an appointment to set up an artificial or real tree. Individuals, families, students, church groups, organizations and businesses can participate.
A prize will be awarded to the top vote-getter.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Hometown Christmas schedule
Monday
5 p.m.: Shopping at local stores and restaurants in downtown Brownstown; Christmas caroling, food trucks and Brownstown Central High School club fundraisers at Heritage Park
5 to 8 p.m.: Christmas tree display, caroling and Driftwood Christian Church’s live Nativity at the Jackson County History Center
5 to 7 p.m.: Beans and cornbread and chili served at the Brownstown Senior Center for $4; fudge also will be available for purchase; music by Lonny and Wilma Goen
5:45 p.m.: Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by parade on Main Street
6 to 7:30 p.m.: Santa and Mrs. Claus available for pictures inside the Jackson County Courthouse; free candy canes and refreshments will be available; limited supply of surprise bags will be given from Santa; high school choir will be caroling
7:30 to 8 p.m.: Christmas tree lighting at Heritage Park, followed by caroling by the high school choir
[sc:pullout-text-end]