November 23, 2011
The popular festival returns to historic St. Charles on Friday, November 25.
Vol 13
No 47
July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
Holiday Memories
Christmas Traditions By Shelly Schneider
IN this Issue
Start the Christmas season by making memories with family and friends at St. Charles Christmas Traditions. Opening Day ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. in historic St. Charles. Carol Felzien, director of communication for the city of St. Charles, said everything begins at the gazebo in Kisker Park (in the 400 block of South Main Street). “All of the Christmas Traditions characters will be there, talking about the Christmas season and waiting for Santa and Mrs. Claus to arrive via a horsedrawn carriage,” Felzien said. There are 33 characters portrayed by 34 actors (two young boys portray Tiny Tim). Characters include: Pere Noel, a Victorian Santa, a Civil War Santa, a Frontier Santa, Father Christmas, and more. “These are wonderful actors, and they spend so much time learning the history of their characters and their story,” Felzien said. “They are in character the entire time they are in costume. If you’re down here and you run into Pere Noel, he’ll tell you about Christmas in France. It’s just so much fun to watch them.” The Santa Parade will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Boone’s Lick and South Main. The parade features more than 40 costumed Victorian Carolers and the Legends of Christmas. The tree lighting ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. in Berthold Square in the 200 block of South Main, right across from the Lewis & Clark restaurant. The mayor will say a few words before lighting the Christmas tree. “This is different than the tree lighting we’ve done in past years,” Felzien said. “We’re going green this year! In the past, someone has always donated a tree from their yard. This year the city of St. Charles Parks Department staff planted a tree in Berthold Square. They decorated the tree on Monday.” The tree-lighting ceremony includes the Around Town . . . . . . . . . . 2-6 Lincoln County Life . . . . . . . 7 School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9
first toast of the Christmas season with AT&T Missouri President John Sondag and St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith. “We’ll have wassail and cookies, and that evening the stage will be set up in Berthold Square for the characters and carolers (the Cobblestone Wassailiers). Opening weekend continues on Saturday and Sunday with the Santa Parade at 1:30 p.m. Would you like your child to participate in the Santa Parade? Visit www.historicstcharles.com and click on the link on the right side of the page. Children between the ages of 5 and 11 are eligible to win a ride with Santa and Mrs. Claus during one of the weekend Santa parades between Thanksgiving and Christmas. While a team of Clydesdales has participated in Christmas Traditions in years past, Felzien said visitors on Saturday, November 26 will have the opportunity to take photos with one Clydesdale from 2 to 4 p.m. in the 200 block of North Main, weather permitting. Bring your camera for this special event! Would you like a photo with Santa? Come to the lower level
of the Tourism Office at 230 South Main during festival hours. St. Charles Christmas Traditions is the perfect way to begin the Christmas season. Enjoy the beautiful ambiance of historic St. Charles while you take a carriage
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Christmas Traditions . . . . . . . . 11-13 Learn & Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Editorials/Recipe . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
MOVIE PEEK
Photo by Karen Godfrey
ride, get a bite to eat, or do a little shopping in the unique stores that line Main Street. The shops are open late on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information about Christmas Traditions, please visit www.stcharleschristmas.com. See MOVIE page 15
“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1” - Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment
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Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 What’s Happening . . . . . . . 20-21 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-23
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