Where to go and where to give this holiday season in Henderson and Union County
The holidays are here! ‘Tis the season of giving and celebrating with loved ones, and Henderson and Union County want to help you do just that.
Here’s a list of events and fundraisers to help you get in the holiday spirit:
Henderson
Christmas in the Park tree lighting ceremony
Christmas in the Park will kick off its 36th year Friday with a tree-lighting ceremony backed by holiday music from the Henderson County High School band and choir. Music will start at 5:30 p.m. and the 67-foot Christmas tree with more than 15,000 lights will be lit at 6 p.m.
Many of the event’s popular wooden cutouts and interactive displays have been refurbished for Christmas in the Park this year, thanks to help from locals and students from the Henderson County School of Fine Arts.
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There will also be a mailbox for children to send their letters and wish lists to Santa. Letters sent before Dec. 15 with a return address will receive a reply from Santa’s elves.
Christmas Parade
After a pandemic-related absence in 2020, the Christmas parade has returned. Organized by the Henderson Shrine Club, the parade is expected to be a little more “normal” this year.
It will start at 10 a.m. on Saturday in Downtown Henderson and features marching bands, beauty queens, floats, horses and Santa Clause. Santa will stick around after the parade to talk to children about what’s on their wish lists.
'Tis the Season
On Saturday, Henderson First United Methodist Church is hosting its “’Tis the Season” event following the Christmas Parade.
Located under the portico off Green Street, the event will feature a hot dog lunch and giveaways, including gently used holiday decorations and personal care items.
In the Window Experience
Started on a whim a year ago to give children a chance to visit Santa amid the pandemic, the In the Window Experience is a socially distanced way to chat with St. Nick. For the event’s sophomore year, guests can expect to see and do much more.
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Organized by Tristate Simply Santa, the experience will be held every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 18 from 5-9 p.m. at Butler’s Apothecary on North Main Street.
According to Donna Shamer, co-owner of Tristate Simply Santa, this year’s event will include crafts, hot chocolate, ice cream, a soda fountain and pony and carriage rides. Guests can also get their picture taken with the Grinch.
Pictures with Santa and the Grinch will cost a small fee and can be printed at the photo kiosk inside Butler’s Apothecary.
Another addition to this year’s Santa experience is the addition of a community fundraiser.
“We are asking people to bring donations for diapers and toiletries and stuff like that,” said Shamer.
For more information or to schedule a session at the window, call 270-860-5305 or 573-579-1359.
Alice P. Taylor Candlelight Service
One of the community’s oldest events, the Alice P. Taylor Candlelight Service will be held via livestream this year on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m.
The ecumenical service focuses on sacred music and will include performances by soloists and choirs from local schools. Rev. David Clifford of First Christian Church and Rev. Charles Johnson will also participate.
The livestream can be watched from the First Christian Church Facebook page. The event will also be rebroadcasted at 8 a.m. on Christmas day on WSON Radio (860 AM and 96.5 FM).
Children's Nutcracker
The Children’s Center for Dance Education will present “The Children’s Nutcracker” on Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.
The hour-long adaptation of the famed holiday ballet will be performed at the Preston Arts Center and is suitable for younger audiences and shorter attention spans.
Tickets are $16 and can be purchased at childdance.org.
Christmas Charcuterie Workshop
For lovers of seasonal parties and entertaining guests, Lofty Creations is partnering with Evansville-based charcuterie shop Agape Graze for a Christmas charcuterie workshop.
For $50, you can create a custom take-home board with meats, cheese, fruits, vegetables and chocolate. Agape Graze will also be teaching guests how to make festive chocolate covered strawberries.
This is the first time for a Christmas-themed charcuterie event, but The Elm owner Lisa Glick says she hosted a similar event for Halloween.
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“The class is lot of fun. They explain when you build a charcuterie tray (that you) don’t put this next to this, and how to make a center piece, and just fun ways to do it,” said Glick.
The workshop will be held on Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at The Elm, 120 N Elm St. Spaces are limited. To register, text Lisa Glick at 270-869-5176.
Miracle on 34th Street
The Henderson County High School Theater Department will perform “Miracle on 34th Street” at 7 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 18 at the Preston Arts Center in McCormick Hall.
For ticket information, contact the Preston Arts Center box office.
Union County
Cookies and Cocoa with Santa
In Morganfield on Dec. 3, John Paul II Catholic School is hosting “Cookies and Cocoa with Santa.”
The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium and will include crafts, music, dancing, cookies and pictures with Santa. There is a fee of $10 per child, adults get in free.
Three Wise Men and a Baby
Students from John Paul II Catholic School in Morganfield will be performing the Christmas musical “Three Wise Men and a Baby” at the Preston Arts Center on Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.
The show will be performed by the school’s eighth-grade students and accompanied by the second to seventh-grade choir. The event is free to the public, and principal Beth Hendrickson says everyone is invited, not just family members and residents of Morganfield.
“It’s a really good experience for the kids to be up on that stage and have good lighting and sound,” said Hendrickson.
Small Town Christmas
At 2 p.m. on Dec. 18, Sturgis will begin its festivities with a Christmas tree lighting at the Sturgis Amphitheater.
The free event will also include arts and crafts, face painting, hot chocolate and cookies, Santa Clause and even an appearance from the Grinch.
Kentucky holiday fundraisers
Sturgis Christmas Fundraiser
On Dec. 11, the city of Sturgis will host a fundraiser to raise money for the parks and recreation department.
For $10, locals can hang a personalized cardinal on the city Christmas tree in honor of a loved one who has passed away.
“It’s something new that councilwoman Dawna Brewer came up with. … She just thought it was something nice to do and hopefully it will become a tradition,” said city clerk Holly Trevino.
The event will take place from 2-4 p.m. at the Sturgis Amphitheater.
Taste of Christmas
At least 15 local restaurants will be featured in this year’s Taste of Christmas fundraiser organized by Henderson’s Volunteer and Information Center (VIC).
Established more than 20 years ago, the fundraiser helps fund the VIC’s activities such as their Adopt-a-Family for Christmas and Tax Preparation Assistance programs.
From 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Lumberyard Event Center on Barret Boulevard, Taste of Christmas will feature bite-size tastings from local restaurants.
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“The restaurants will be bringing samples of some of the items they feature at their restaurant,” said Susan Sauls, executive director of VIC.
According to Sauls, Tacoholics will debut new menu items at the event this year. She says it’s a great event for socializing and taking advantage of the local food offerings.
Tickets are $30. You can reserve your spot by calling 270-831-2273 or visiting VIC’s website at volunteerhenderson.org/Christmas.
Giving Tree Village
The Henderson Public Library has partnered with local non-profits for the city’s first “Giving Tree Village.”
Participating non-profit organizations will decorate a tree that showcases their mission and the services they provide, and it will be displayed in the library’s Preston Annex. Each group will include a wish list of items they need purchased and left under the tree.
The public is invited to visit the Annex to pick up a wish list or drop off a gift during normal library hours through Dec. 16.
Goodfellows
The time-honored Goodfellows Christmas charity has started accepting donations this year in hopes of reaching their annual goal of serving 600 children and raising $35,000.
The Christmas party has been canceled for the second year due to COVID-19, but the charity will be distributing gifts on Dec. 19 at 12:30 p.m. at South Middle School. Volunteers are needed for Sack Day on Dec. 18.
Those interested in volunteering should call Richard Pendergraft at 270-860-7780.
Donations can be mailed to the Henderson Municipal Building at P.O. Box 716, Henderson, KY 42419 or to Goodfellows at P.O. Box 1711, Henderson, KY 42419.
Christmas Baskets
Henderson Christmas Community Outreach is looking for volunteers to sponsor Christmas baskets for 100 families. A basket sponsorship is $50.
For more information, email infohendersoncco.org or call 270-826-5592.
Salvation Army Angel Trees
The Salvation Army has launched its Angel Tree program and invites volunteers to adopt an “angel” to shop for.
Angel Trees can be found at Walmart Henderson, Walmart Morganfield, Henderson County Public Library and the Columbia Sportswear Employee Store in Henderson. For more information, call 270-826-4472 ext. 2.
This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Holiday fundraisers in Henderson and Union County, Kentucky
