April 4, 2018 at 5:30 p.m.
Christmas of Yesteryear festivities planned again on Town Square
By From Barb Johnson-
That evening from about 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., shops around the square will be open and will offer visitors the opportunity to win gift certificates for purchases at the shop of their choice.
That evening, guests can pick up a "ticket" at most businesses. Each time that guest makes a purchase at one of the stores or restaurants, he should have his ticket marked and the amount of purchase recorded. Any guest who spends a total of $25 or more that evening can turn in his ticket at the end of the evening for a chance to be drawn for a $75 gift certificate to the shop of his choice. Three gift certificates will be awarded after that evening is over, and winners will be notified. The museum hopes everyone will participate in this contest, but all participants must be at least 18 years of age.
The Yellow Trail Museum will open and begin their annual huge bake sale at about 5:30 p.m. There will be cookie decorating at the museum for $1. The museum will also offer free crafts for kids. And there will be free hot drinks for all.
The museum also will host carriage rides into Hope's past. Visitors will ride on horse-drawn vehicles and visit with actors portraying people from our community's past who will share what would have been happening on Christmas Eve in their era beginning with Susannah Hauser in 1830. Rides will be $3 per person or $10 for a family of 4. All rides begin at Norman's Cabin on the southwest corner of the square from 6 to 8 p.m. The rides will last about 20-25 minutes.
At 6 p.m., Santa will arrive at the library annex building on the east side of the square to greet young visitors, listen to their Christmas wishes, and to have pictures taken with the children.
At 6:30 and 7:30 p.m., the Hope Baptist Church will offer Live Nativities in the square, and at 7 p.m. the Baptist youth known as Hands of Hope will offer one of their popular dowel rod ministries in the shelterhouse.
Throughout the evening strolling carolers will entertain everyone with Christmas carols. The Visitors' Center in the Simpson Building will be open all evening as Heritage of Hope greets guests, and the Art Guild will hold an open house for local artists of the month, Renny Davis and Mark Miller.
You can find free refreshments that evening at the Simpson Building, at the museum, at the shelterhouse, and at the booth set up by the Hawcreek-Flat Rock Area Endowment beside Norman's Cabin.
And if you really want to get into the real Christmas Spirit, you should travel south a couple of blocks to the Moravian Church on Main Street to watch the presentation of their putz. A putz is an expanded nativity scene used to help tell the story of Christ's birth. This room-sized scene is accompanied by a recorded narration as various parts of the scene are lit and explained. To view this free presentation, you should enter the church by the door on the north side of the church that will be lighted by luminaries that evening. Depending on the weather, you may wish to drive there before or after you visit the square to avoid walking a few blocks in the cold.
The putz will be shown from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening.
You are invited to join us for all the fun that evening. Dress warmly since many of the activities are outside. And let's all get into the Christmas Spirit as the lights in the square come on for the first time this season.
Information or questions: 812-371-7969 or 812-546-4831.[[In-content Ad]]
