The “Candy Cane Christmas Shop,” a store where kids may shop FREE for their family, is back again this year, featured in Gallatin’s popular community event, “Christmas Around the Square.” The event is set for Saturday, Nov. 17, from 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., 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 9:30-11:30 a.m. 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.
While waiting to shop, kids will be able to make slime, assisted by Santa’s helpers.
Christmas Around the Square will also feature crafts, food items and holiday gifts from over 45 vendors, plus more…
Drawing for Prizes!
This year’s prizes will be in the following categories: ages 1-3, 4-7, 8-11, 12-15, and 16-adult. 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. 16, you can enter the prize drawing by placing all of your ticket(s) in receptacles located at Dungy’s Market or Frost Automotive.
Kids’ Games!
There will be kids’ games and train rides from noon to 4 p.m. on Market Street and on the west side of the courthouse. A balloon artist 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, State Farm Insurance, Lockridge Insurance Agency and Farmers Mutual Insurance of Daviess County.
Vendors & Craft Fair!
There will be over 45 vendors from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 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 noon to 2 p.m. A short performance by Midwest Dance Synergy mini dancers will be at 11:30 a.m. 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, with hot chocolate provided by First Baptist Church and cookies provided by the LDS 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 in the Times and Seasons building from 9:30 a.m. to 2 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; Uncle Dave’s BBQ; Janny’s Java; and kettle corn. Nearby are Subway, Corner Café, and Grand & Market. Times and Seasons will be open from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. selling homemade cinnamon rolls, soup, sandwiches and hot drinks. Casey’s and Mi Mexico Restaurant are just a couple of blocks north of the square.
Ladies of the United Methodist Church will be selling walking tacos and loaded baked potatoes in the church basement.
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, 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 Robert Nelson will offer a blessing of the season for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. The drawing for grand prizes will follow.
A Doublewide, Texas Christmas
At 7 p.m., festivities climax with the Gallatin Theater League’s production of A Doublewide, Texas Christmas. Be sure to get your tickets which are on sale now at Eileine’s Beauty Shop in Gallatin.
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.