The “Candy Cane Christmas Shop,” a store where kids may shop FREE for their family, is a new feature of Gallatin’s popular community event, “Christmas Around the Square.” The event is set for Saturday, Nov. 18, sponsored by the Friends of Gallatin.
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Kids ages 4-12 will be given play money and may “purchase” gifts for their family at affordable prices in the basement level of the Daviess County Library from 10 a.m. to noon. After the kids make their selections, the gifts will then be wrapped for them. Monetary donations are needed to stock this Christmas store for kids and can be dropped off at Elbert’s Department Store.
Also while at the Candy Cane Christmas Shop, kids will be encouraged to make Christmas cards to send to deployed military personnel, assisted by Santa’s helpers.
Christmas Around the Square will also feature crafts, food items and holiday gifts from over 40 vendors, plus more…
Drawing for Prizes!
This year’s prizes will again be focused on kids, with categories for ages 1-3, 4-7, 8-11, 12-15, and 16 and over. Winners’ names will be announced after the 6 p.m. tree lighting ceremony.
Tickets are now available at local participating retail businesses. Those businesses will be offering one ticket per customer purchase. If you are not offered a ticket, please ask for one. On the back of the ticket, write your child’s name and age. A phone number is unnecessary, as you must be present to win.
Another way to obtain tickets for the drawing is by donating a toy to Toys for Tots. Receptacles are located at Shopko and Dollar General. Toys must be presented to the cashier and placed in the Toys for Tots barrel in order to receive a ticket for the prize drawing.
Until 4 p.m. on Nov. 17, you can enter the prize drawing by placing all of your ticket(s) in receptacles located at any of three locations: Dungy’s Market, Elbert’s Department Store, and Frost Automotive.
Kid’s Games!
There will be kids’ games from noon to 4 p.m. on Market Street and a Jacob’s Ladder for kids to climb. A balloon artist and face painting will be in the Seasons building from noon to 2 p.m.
An Old Time Photo Booth with free 4×6 photos will be open from noon to 2 p.m., sponsored by Shelter Insurance, American Family Insurance, Farmers Insurance, and State Farm Insurance.
Vendors & Craft Fair!
There will be over 40 vendors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at selected locations around town. The craft fair will unfold at the Active Aging Resource Center, the Methodist Church, the former Frazier’s West Side Café, the former Frost Insurance building, and the Automated Artesan building (old 3B Silversmiths) across from Shopko.
Christmas music will be played throughout the day on the square and in the buildings; strolling carolers will sing from 10 a.m. to noon. Servants of the Most High will perform gospel music from the stage on the north side of the square from 1-2 p.m.
Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served on the courthouse lawn by the First Baptist Church.
Bright Futures and FBLA are teaming up to facilitate Christmas adoptions for anyone wishing to help families who are in need. They will be located on the south courthouse lawn from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
There will be a cookie/candy/cake/pie contest in the Times and Seasons Restaurant from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Judging will be at 2:30. Your entries will need to be inside the building by noon. Winners will be announced after the parade and tree lighting. There will also be a fundraiser for the Patrick McBroom Scholarship fund.
Winning entries in the coloring contest will be displayed at Frost Automotive. First and second place contest winners will ride on a float in the parade.
Food Court!
There will be a food court on East Grand Street featuring the following: Toeneboehn’s Made From Scratch; Penny Webb’s Homemade Tenderloins; It’s a Wrap; and Janny’s Java. Nearby are Subway and Corner Café. Times and Seasons will be open from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. selling homemade cinnamon rolls, soup, sandwiches and hot drinks. A few blocks north of the square are Casey’s and Mi Mexico Restaurant.
Ladies of the United Methodist Church will be selling walking tacos and loaded baked potatoes in the church basement; caramel apples will be sold as a fundraiser for Gallatin’s prom lock-in at the Automated Artesan building (old 3B Silversmiths) across from Shopko.
Here comes Santa Claus!
Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elf will arrive by sleigh at 2 p.m. at the courthouse. Train rides will be available from 1 to 3 p.m., and sleigh rides from 2 to 4 p.m.
Festival of Lights Parade!
The Festival of Lights Parade unfolds at 5 p.m. After the parade, Linda Arnold will lead the crowd in a couple of Christmas carols, and the Gallatin High School Band will perform. At 6 p.m., the mayor will do the countdown for the tree lighting. Contest winners will be announced, and Santa will draw the winners for the bicycles and other prizes. At 6:30 p.m. Pastor Mike Tipton will offer a blessing of the season for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. The drawing for grand prizes will follow.
Nana’s Naughty Knickers
At 7 p.m., festivities climax with the Gallatin Theater League’s production of Nana’s Naughty Knickers. Be sure to get your tickets which are on sale now at Eileine’s Beauty Shop in Gallatin.
More details about this community wide celebration will follow. You are invited to this family oriented festival, aimed at presenting entertainment and activities suitable for the entire family.
For more information, call organizers Sally Black at 660-605-3625, Judy Elbert at 660-605-3921, or Cyd Terry at 660-605-1988.