THE MARSHALL NEWS MESSENGER • NOVEMBER 2019 marshallnewsmessenger.com
10
Special
EVENTS
OPENING LIGHTING CEREMONY The Wonderland of Lights Opening Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27 in front of the historic Harrison County Courthouse. A brief ceremony will take place and feature performances from both a children’s choir and your hometown sweethearts the Mavettes – Marshall’s rendition of the New York Rockettes. Wonderland of Lights begins when Santa Claus himself flips the switch on millions of white lights on the historic 1901 Harrison County Courthouse and along North Washington Avenue! The fun continues with outdoor ice skating, carousel, train, trolley and horse drawn carriage rides through downtown’s dazzling light displays, Santa’s Village, and live entertainment nightly. See you at countdown!
WASSAIL WALK; A SAMPLING OF THE SEASON ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Downtown merchants will be competing for bragging rights for the best holiday brew during the Fourth Annual Wassail Walk, an event in conjunction with National Small Business Saturday. The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. Wassail is a hot drink that is made with wine, beer or cider, spices, sugar and usually baked apples. It is traditionally served from a large bowl, especially at Christmastime. Wassail Walk participants put their own twists on the recipes, which are heavily guarded secrets among the cooks. Wassail will be served at various shops, stores and restaurants in historic downtown Marshall. Shoppers and other downtown visitors are invited to warm their bodies and spirits by sampling the various recipes, which will be judged on both taste and presentation. Participating merchants are also battling for the coveted People’s Choice award in which shoppers and visitors will be able to cast their vote for the best wassail. The
competition is fierce, but the wassail is a warm and welcome respite for holiday shoppers. Wassail Walk is a great day to come downtown, do a little Christmas shopping, have lunch, drink some delicious warm wassail and enjoy the season. This event is held in conjunction with American Express Small Business Saturday, a national campaign, and is a great way to show your support for local business owners. Wassail will be served at various shops and restaurants in historic downtown Marshall. Souvenir tasting cups and a list of participating merchants can be picked up at the Visitor Center, located at 211 N. Washington the morning of the event. CHUG A CHOO CHOO, ALL THE WAY FROM LONGVIEW New this year, is an exciting way to arrive in holiday style at Wonderland of Lights. A partnership between Visit Longview and Visit Marshall brings you the Wonderland Train, sponsored by CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System. Starting at the Longview Depot, board a decked out train car on the Amtrak Texas Eagle and enjoy holiday music, characters, refreshments, and photo opportunities on your festive ride to the historic Marshall Texas and Pacific Railway Depot. A bus will be waiting to take passengers to downtown Marshall to experience all the joys of Wonderland of Lights! Guests will receive 2 complimentary carousel rides. Following a fun evening of ice skating, carriage rides, and a visit with the big guy himself, transportation will be provided back to Longview. Availability is limited to 50 passengers each night. The train is scheduled to leave at 6:15 p.m., but you’ll want to arrive early to enjoy pre-boarding activities. It is approximately a 45 minute train ride to Marshall, and arrival is expected at 7 p.m. You will be greeted with friendly Depot staff and whisked away on your
