Most people will claim this is their favorite time of year. My mother used to use the subject of Christmas as a scapegoat from anything wrong, whatever the time of year it was. When we were feeling sad, she would exclaim, “Let’s talk about Christmas.” If lemonaide on a hot summer day didn’t cool us off enough, she would say, “Let’s talk about Christmas.” If someone was too sick to participate in the daily activities, she would sit on the side of the bed and whisper, “let’s talk about Christmas.” Mother loved Christmas. It got to the point in her later yzqears, she never took the Christmas tree down. It looked pretty wierd when she used the feather duster on the limbs to keep them from looking dingy. She even bought Santa’s sleigh and parked it in her living room. Let me explain... My sister had a best friend whose father, a prominent businessman in town, played Santa every year for the city parade. He bought a real sleigh to mount on the float and we looked forward to his grand finale entrance to the holiday season. As we grew up and moved away from our home
town, “Santa” retired from his position and parked the sleigh in his front yard. He eventually sold it at an auction. You guessed it! My mother was there and bought it. Once it had been delivered to her home, however, she decided someone might steal it. They lived on one of the main streets of town. So Daddy took it apart and brought it into the house and reasembled it. Mother decorated it with real sleigh bells, a four-foot Santa, wrapped gifts in a bag and holly. Sat there for several years before downsizing and reselling it. My point is this: We can talk about Christmas any day of the year. In remembering the true reason for the season, I believe we should celebrate God’s wonderful gift of His son every day, not just on Christmas. This issue is dedicated to the traditions, memories, hopes and dreams of all readers as you celebrate in your own way with all the wonderful places to go, things to do and people to see. May you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Until next year...
The Osmond Brothers TIFFIN - Christmas with the Osmond Brothers will be featured at the Ritz Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Merrill, Jay and Jimmy come together to create Osmond Brother memories as they spread Holiday cheer with the classic songs you all know and love. The Osmond Brothers have been performing in front of world-wide audiences for almost 50 years, breaking records for sell-out performances once held by the Beatles and Elvis. Their close harmonies cannot be matched by any other group. Their smooth voices will have you entertained and surely singing right along with them. Don't miss this fantastic way to be filled with the Christmas spirit! Ticket prices are $65, $50, $35, $20. For more information or tickets visit online at www. ritztheatre.org or call 419-448-7410.
138 Park Ave. W. Mansfield, Ohio 419-522-2726 www.mansfieldtickets.com
Season Partners:
To See the Lights! WINTER WONDERLAND 3D SANDUSKY - Your every Christmas dream is coming to life at Ghostly Manors Thrill Center’s magical 3D Christmas Winter Wonderland WalkThru! Fun for the entire family. Open daily, SunThurs Noon-8pm and Fri-Sat noon-10pm through Dec. 31. Grab your FREE pair of magical glasses for an adventure to meet Santa and his elves. Your enchanting walk will lead to the stunning Christmas nativity. That’s not all – every evening throughout December enjoy Ghostly Manors FREE Christmas light show from 6p-midnight, simply drive up and tune your car to 99.7FM. Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is located indoors and has hours of fun including: XD-4D Motion Ride
“Sleigh Ride”, Roller Skating, Mini Golf, arcade and food! For more information call Billy at 419-6560862 or go to ghostlymanor.com
CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT MARION - Drive through the thousands of Christmas lights that adorn the many drives throughout the Marion County Fairgrounds while listening to the sounds of Christmas music. This event brings to life the spirit of the season with a dozen scenes that tell the story of Christmas through many different points of view, including a live Nativity. The lights will warm your heart and leave you with a spirit that will last through the Christmas season. Featuring animated characters. For more information, call 740-382-2558.
22nd FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS ASHLAND - Ashland University kicks off the season Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. with a candlelight service, which is free and open to the public, symbolizes Christ coming into the world. Featuring seasonal choral music by the Ashland University Choir and Women’s Chorus, and the Ashland Area Chorus. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Canned food for needy families will be collected at the event.
WUNDERLAND MANSFIELD - With the reputation of featuring Ohio's finest drive-through light display, this event is presented by: "The Richland County Agrictultural Society." Oen Nightly in December thru December 26, 5:30 to 9:00 pm. Admission per vehicle (cars, mini vans) is $6.00. Small Bus (15-35) is $17.00. Santa and his elves will be present on the weekends Dec. 7-8 and 14-15. Horse-drawn wagon rides through the display will be available those two weekends as well. For more information, visit www.richlandcountyfair.com. For a discount admission coupon, see page 15. September, 2012
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Almeda Trio CLEVELAND - Almeda Trio is partnering with Museum's Planetarium for Unique Winter Solstice Concerts. One of the most distinctive concerts to be held anywhere in Cleveland this season will take place inside the Shafran Planetarium at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Featuring the acclaimed Almeda Trio in celebration of the 2012 winter solstice, these distinctive concerts will be held at the Museum Friday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 22, at 4 p.m. A brief talk by Jason Davis, the Museum’s astronomy manager, focusing on the science of the solstice will precede the concert, which will take place under the stars and stunning imagery of the Shafran Planetarium’s Leonard Krieger Visual Effects System. Offering a broad range of styles, the program will include classical (Vivaldi, Bach and Debussy), jazz (Dave Brubeck and Claude Bolling), and contemporary new works by Alan Jay Kernis and Cleveland composer W.F. Rayer. The eclectic musical mix will be performed by the Almeda Trio, ensemble-in-residence at The Music Settlement, along with guest artists Nick Diodore (cello) and Bill Ransom (percussion). The trio musicians are Cara Tweed, violin; Ida Mercer, cello; and Robert Cassidy, piano. Tickets are $20 for Museum members and $25 for nonmembers. Seating is very limited. To reserve tickets, call (216) 231-1177 or visit www.cmnh.org/site/Almeda.aspx. More information about the Almeda Trio is available at www.almedatrio.com. The 87-seat Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium features the state-of-the-art Leonard Krieger Visual Effects System: Definiti by Sky-Skan. This digital projection system offers enhanced special effects, full-dome coverage and high-definition imagery that allows Museum astronomers to take visitors on virtual trips throughout the Universe and beyond. The Museum is located at 1 Wade Oval Drive in University Circle, 15 minutes east of downtown Cleveland. www.cmnh.org.
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