July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
December 3, 2014
A ‘Tradition’ like no other Recipes
A complete holiday table
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Around Town
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Special Section
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School
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Enjoy sounds of the season
Photo courtesy Saint Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau Cast members gather at the train depot in downtown St. Charles during a previous Christmas Traditions.
Christmas Traditions celebrates its 40th year in downtown St. Charles By Brett Auten There really is nothing like it in the region. Christmas Traditions turns 40 this year and once again downtown St. Charles will turn into a place where the past and present become one. “The ambiance is like no other in the metropolitan area,” Scott Tate, president of the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce said. “It has really helped bring a lot of people down. You’re not going to see this at a strip mall.” The hustle and bustle and general craziness of the holiday season melts like snow in May as storybook characters come to life and yuletide sights and sounds engulf visitors downtown. Whether it’s bathing in the music provided by the Victorian Carolers and the fife-and-drum corps or letting yourself soak in the smell of roasting chestnuts and the sound of horses’ hooves on the brick street, it is like “A Christmas Carol” come to life. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and no one celebrates the holidays like the cast of characters that make up the Legends of Christmas who walk amongst the visitors. The St. Charles Christmas Traditions run from Nov. 28 through Christmas Eve. The festivities occur every Sunday,
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Times are Wednesday 6:30 – 9 p.m., Friday 6:30 – 9 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday noon – 5 p.m. There are several new activities for year 40 that visitors of all ages will get a kick out of: Yuletide Dinner with the Legends of Christmas happens on Dec. 4, 11, and 18 at 7 p.m. at the Old Stone Chapel located at 1106 S. Main Street. Meet the Reindeer Flight Instructor and her Live Reindeer Pals; Dec 13, 14, 20, and 21 - 3 - 5 p.m. at North Main Colonnade located at 200 N. Main Street. Here you get the chance to meet some of the antlered brethren up close and the instructor will share stories about her reindeer pals. Santa Lucia Day Celebration on Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. at North Main Colonnade located at 200 N. Main Street. Christmas Traditions observes the centuries-old Scandinavian celebration of “St. Lucy’s Day.” The highlight of the celebration will be a special evening children’s parade lead by the Saint of Light herself. Children of all ages are encouraged to meet at 6 p.m. at the Colonnade on the 200 block of North Main Street, where under the soft glow of lantern light, the procession will travel to Berthold Square and end with interactive story-telling by Santa Lucia. Saint Nicholas Day Celebration
takes place on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. at Berthold Square. The festivities begin with a meet-and-greet opportunity with St. Nick himself. He will share his story as well as insights about the history and customs of St. Nicholas Day. Children of all ages are then encouraged to join St. Nicholas in the festival’s first ever St. Nicholas Day Children’s Parade, where the procession will travel the short distance from Berthold Square to the Colonnade on the 200 block of North Main See TRADITIONS on page 2
Holiday Shopping Guide
School district honored
“The Theory of Everything” photos courtesy of Working Title Films
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