Christmas around the Square will be magical!

Christmas around the Square will be magical this year — in more ways than one. New this year will be a magic show by David Sandy. Sandy will be performing at the Courter Theater from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, during the seventh annual Christmas around the Square event, which is sponsored by the Friends of Gallatin/Christmas Around the Square Committee.

David Sandy has been entertaining professionally throughout the heart of America and along both coasts since the 1970s, including regular appearances in Las Vegas and at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA. He is considered to be one of the leading entertainers of the new generation and has received numerous awards for excellence in entertainment from his peers. David has been awarded the titles of “Stage Magician of the Year” (both in 1993 and 1998) and “Close-Up Magician of the Year” (both in 1996 and 1998) from Ring 129 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Candy Cane Christmas Shop

The “Candy Cane Christmas Shop,” a store where kids may shop free for their immediate family, is back again this year.” Kids ages 4 through 12 can shop free for their immediate family in the basement level of the Daviess County Library from 9:30 to 11 a.m. After the kids make their selections, the gifts will be wrapped and tagged for them.

If you’d like to make a monetary donation for Candy Cane Christmas Shop, to help purchase prizes for the drawing, or to purchase items for the Christmas store, you can drop your donation off at Elbert’s Department Store. Just be sure and write on your check if you want your donation to go specifically for the Christmas store.

Kids will also be able to do an activity at the library, while they wait their turn to Christmas shop.

Featured Activities

Christmas Around the Square will also feature crafts, food items and holiday gifts from 40 vendors.

Paint and Pour Chalk Painting will be on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. at the Mary Immaculate Catholic Church Parish Center. For more details on this see the Friends of Gallatin website. The cost is $35.

There will be kids’ games from noon to 4 p.m. located on the southwest lawn of the courthouse, including two bounce houses. Mickie and Minnie Mouse, Elmo and Ninja Turtle will be strolling the square during the day.

A balloon artist will be in the Corner Cafe building from noon to 2 p.m.

An Old Time Photo Booth will be open from noon to 4 p.m., sponsored by American Family Insurance, State Farm Insurance, Lockridge Insurance Agency, Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Daviess County, Terry Implement, and an anonymous donor, with free 4×6 photos.

Raffle tickets available soon!

Tickets for prizes will be available from Monday, Nov. 4 through Nov. 22 at local retail businesses. You can enter to win prizes that will be drawn throughout the day on Nov. 23 and then for the grand prizes that night.

Place your ticket(s) in the receptacles located at Dungy’s Market or Frost Automotive (cans are on the window ledge inside the store) before the cans are picked up on Friday evening at 6 p.m.

If you are not offered a ticket by a Gallatin business, please ask for one. Be sure and put your name, age and phone number on the back of the ticket. Businesses will be giving only one ticket per purchase. Save your tickets and deposit them into a receptacle at one of the designated locations. Cans and tickets will be picked up on Nov. 22 by 6 p.m.

This year’s prizes are by categories (same as last year) for ages 1-3, 4-7, 8-11, 12-15, and for adults ages 16 and over. Winners’ names will be drawn throughout the day starting at 11 a.m. and will be drawn until 3 p.m. You will have an hour to claim the prize, and if not claimed then another name will be drawn. This drawing is for kids and adults. Winners’ names for the grand prizes will be drawn after the tree lighting ceremony. You must be present to win the grand prizes.

Vendors & Craft Fair

There will be 40 vendors from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 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 Cafe, the former Frost Insurance building and the McBee Building (north of State Farm Insurance).

Christmas music will be played throughout the day on the square and in the buildings; carolers will be strolling around the square, singing from 12 to 1 p.m.

Bright Futures/FBLA of Gallatin are joining forces for Christmas adoptions to help families in need and will be located in the Corner Cafe from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

There will be a sweet shop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the west side of the square in the old Missouri Land Title building. Items baked by Laura Hoyle will be sold by the piece, by the pound for candy, or you can purchase a whole pie. Proceeds from sales will go to the Patrick McBroom Scholarship Fund.

First and second place coloring contest winners will ride on a float in the parade with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elf.

Food Court

Toeneboehn’s Made from Scratch, MGM Kettle Corn, Janny’s Java and Penny Webb’s Tenderloins will be in the food court on East Grand Street. Local eateries are Subway, Corner Cafe, Mi Mexico, Casey’s, Joe Jump’s, and the Southside Bar & Grill.

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 12-4 p.m., sleigh rides from 2-4 p.m., and the Old Time Photo Booth from 12-4 p.m.

Festival of Lights Parade

The Festival of Lights Parade unfolds around 5:30 p.m. After the parade the Mayor will count down for the Tree Lighting. Santa and a child, chosen earlier, will flip the switch. Pastor Robert Nelson will offer a blessing of the season for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

After the blessing, Mayor Barb Ballew will draw for the grand prizes. You must be present to win and you can only win once.

Gilligan’s Island by GTL

At 7 p.m. festivities climax with the Gallatin Theater League’s production of “Gilligan’s Island.”

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 Judy Elbert at 660-605-3921, Sally Black at 660-605-3625, or Cyd Terry at 660-605-1988.