Old Time Christmas on Main a chance to capture holiday magic

In lieu of annual parade, Ash Grove to get Main Street Christmas event set for this Saturday
 
Ash Grove will have their first ever Old Time Christmas on Main, Saturday, Dec. 12. The event will feature a number of activities, including Christmas ornament making, the reading of Christmas books, a gingerbread house making competition, carriage rides and more.
Ronessa Williams, one of the event organizers, said the purpose of the event is to help people recapture the spirit of Christmas that past generations once experienced.
“I think the inspiration for the event this year is to just enjoy and appreciate the magic of the holidays through the lights, music, and just the overall Christmas feel that was displayed in simpler times,” she said.
Throughout the day, there will be a reading of a Christmas book every hour, on the hour. Christmas-themed movies, including “Elf,” “The Polar Express,” and “The Grinch” will be shown on a large projector screen.
 There will also be pictures and cocoa with Santa Claus, a make-your-own-ornament event and Holiday Open House at the Tin Ceiling Event Venue, carriage rides provided by Jade Hills Farm’s Descansa Percheron Draft Horses, and a special performance by the Ash Grove High School Marching Band at 3 p.m.
There will be competitions as well. A speed gingerbread-house-making event will take place at 2:30 p.m. Williams said the winners will receive gift cards to a local restaurant.
The winners of the city’s 1st Annual Holiday Decorating Contest will be announced, and for little ones, the Miss JingleBella and Mr. JingleBells Christmas Pageant will be held at 4 p.m.
One final event at the venue will be a performance by the Shamrock Irish Celtic Dancers at 7 p.m. on the Main Stage.
While anyone can attend Old Time Christmas on Main Street, Williams said the event was created specially to instill a sense of pride in the residents of Ash Grove.
“I want this event to feel like it’s solely and purely organized for the citizens of our town,” she said, “even though it’s obviously open to all surrounding areas, but almost as a way for our townspeople to feel pride in their small town. I want people to get excited about Ash Grove again.”