On the first day of Christmas….
The first “day of Christmas” arrives Saturday, Nov. 7 in Carmi with the inaugural event of this year’s “It’s a White County Christmas” event.
Holly Healy, executive director of the Carmi Chamber of Commerce, detailed the annual celebration’s schedule of events to her fellow members of the Kiwanis Club of Carmi during the weekly club meeting Thursday afternoon at the Farm Bureau Building.
Young ladies from toddlers to teens will take part Saturday in the Miss White County Christmas Pageant at Carmi-White County High School.
That event begins at 1 p.m. on the stage of the auditorium, with the baby and “Tiny Miss Merry Christmas” contests taking part.
The Little Miss Merry Christmas, Junior Miss Merry Christmas and Miss Merry Christmas competition starts at 6:30 p.m.
Also coming up during this first weekend of the celebration is a gospel sing starting at 3 p.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church. The sing benefits the Southeastern Illinois Center for Pastoral Counseling.
Additional events are spread out from Nov. 20 through Dec. 22 and include entertainment, religious celebrations, food, music, shopping and cultural opportunities, and much more. The full schedule may be found online:
www.whitecountychristmas.com
Healy noted that one focus of the annual celebration is to encourage local people to shop their local stores first, before driving to Evansville, Ind. or another location to shop. Money spent here tends to stay here, she said, adding, “If you can buy it here in Carmi, please do.”
This year’s theme is “Memories of Christmas Past.” The George N. Mitchell Drilling Co. is the “Gold Star” sponsor. Silver Bell sponsors include James Cook State Farm Insurance, Banterra Bank, Hale Body Shop, CRHCP Carmi Health Center and the official media partner, WRUL/WROY. Many other businesses and organizations are also participating at various levels of sponsorship.
Two other local women added details about one of the events coming up, the annual Reindeer Relay & 5K, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21. Kiwanian Katelyn Wolff of First Bank, and Lacey Moore, dean of students at Jefferson Attendance Center, noted that this year’s run will feature not only the traditional 5K element but a 5K relay, as well. Teams of three people (at $20 each) are invited to take part, each team member running about a mile. Participants will get a shirt, and prizes will be handed out, including one for the best apparel. All proceeds will go to Jefferson students.
The women invited the Kiwanians and others to take part by running, sponsoring the event or sponsoring a Jefferson student who chooses to take part.
The event will take place near the downtown area and will start at 10 a.m. Entry forms are now being circulated.
Thursday’s program followed a meal prepared and served by The Green Onion of Crossville.
In club business, President Alan Saunders thanked his father, Art Saunders, and Thys Bax for their work on a recent canned food drive. He announced that participating Carmi Kiwanians plan to travel together March 4 to Evansville, Ind. to see the professional hockey team, the Icemen, play. And he reminded members that the club will not meet Thanksgiving week.
Adam Winkleman won the weekly 50-50 drawing, splitting a jackpot of $20 with the club.
The speaker at next week’s Kiwanis meeting will be David Templeton of the Carmi Lions Club.
Story & Photo courtesy of Barry Cleveland
