CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CARTHAGE CONVENTION/VISITORS BUREAU
POCKET GUIDE
HOLIDAY 2024
AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON ap proaches, I would like to take a moment to extend my warmest wishes to each and every one of you. This time of year gives us a special opportunity to reflect on the blessings we’ve shared as a community, and to look ahead with hope and optimism for what’s to come.
In Carthage, we are fortunate to live in a place filled with kindness, generosity, and a strong sense of togetherness. Whether you’re celebrating with family, friends, or lending a hand to those in need, this is a season to embrace the spirit of giving, love, and unity. Let’s take the time to connect with our neighbors, strengthen our bonds, and spread joy to all corners of our city.
As Mayor, I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished this year, from enhancing our public spaces to supporting local businesses and ensuring that Carthage remains a vibrant and welcoming place for everyone. Your dedication and contributions make this city the special place it is.
As we look forward to the new year, I am filled with excitement for the opportunities
ahead. Together, we will continue to build a brighter, more prosperous future for all. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season filled with peace, happiness, and good health.
Warm regards,
OLIN JOFFRION
Mayor, City of Carthage
Triple Js Treats Sweet Success from Simple Beginnings
CHANTILLA “CRICKET” JOHNSON, the heart behind Triple Js Treats LLC, started her journey in March 2021, blending business with her passion for family and community. She wanted a flexible way to support her family after her daughter was born, and she dreamed of creating something that would inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Starting with hand-squeezed lemonade and cotton candy served from a tent and table at farmers’ markets across East Texas, Cricket’s dedication quickly turned her business into a local favorite.
Thanks to hard work, saving, and a loyal customer base, Chantilla took Triple Js Treats to the next level by investing in a customized trailer. This mobile setup expanded her offerings and allowed Triple Js Treats to serve customers with even more treats and sincere, friendly service. Now a family
team of four, they continue to bring smiles to faces all over East Texas, adapting their menu with the seasons.
As the weather cools, Triple Js Treats now offers an irresistible Hot Chocolate Bar. This “fancy hot chocolate” experience lets customers dress up their drinks with frosting, marshmallows, sprinkles, candies, and more, adding a cozy flair to any winter day.
Beyond markets and weekly setups at HEB, Chantilla and her team bring joy directly to customers by offering delivery to local schools and businesses and are available for private events.
Chantilla is also a licensed and insured mobile bartender, adding an extra layer of
fun and convenience for holiday parties and company events. From her early days at the farmers’ markets to her thriving family business, Cricket Johnson’s Triple Js Treats is a sweet success story that continues to warm hearts and inspire.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December
TOUR OF HOMES
December 8 | 1:30 - 4 P.M.
Ends at First Methodist Church, Drawing at 4 p.m. Hosted by Carthage Book Club
JINGLE & MINGLE THROUGH CARTHAGE
December 10 | 9 A.M. - 7 P.M.
A Christmas Shopping Event
Starts @ The Popcorn Place, 1116 W. Panola St. Ends @ Lazy K, 109 E. Panola St.
CARTHAGE PRIMARY CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA
December 10 | 6 P.M.
CHS Performing Arts Center 1600 W Panola St.
DEHART VET SERVICES
December 11 | 10 A.M.
December 25 | 10 A.M. - 3 P.M. Carthage Civic Center, 1702 S. Adams St.
HOLIDAY RECIPE SWAP
December 11 | 10A.M.
Meeting at Sammy Brown Library Hosted by AgriLife Extension Service in conjuction with Diabetes Community Support Group
GINGERBREAD VILLAGE
December 11 | 6 - 8 P.M.
Free Family Fun Night
Central Baptist Church, 220 W. Sabine St.
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
December 11 | 9 A.M. - 3 P.M.
Pictures with Santa & Mrs. Clause, 10 A.M. - 1 P.M.
Farmers State Bank, 114 W. Wellington St.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
APPRECIATION & OPEN HOUSE
December 11 | 11 A.M. - 1 P.M.
Panola County Chamber of Commerce 300 W. Panola
3RD ANNUAL LADIES NIGHT OUT
December 12 | 6 - 8 P.M.
Wings & Whitetails, 320 W. Panola St.
CHS KEY CLUB BREAKFAST WITH SANTA COMMUNITY EVENT
December 14 | 8 A.M. - 12 P.M.
Carthage High School, #1 Bull Dog Dr.
A HEE HAW CHRISTMAS SHOW
December 14 | 2 P.M. & 7 P.M.
Good Old Fashioned Family Fun
The Esquire Theater ,114 W. Sabine St.
4TH ANNUAL PANOLA
CHRISTMAS CLASSIC
December 14-15 | 6 A.M. - 6 P.M.
Panola County Exposition Center, 102 Ball Park Rd. Hosted by Stock Show Supporters of Panola, Inc.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL EARLY SERVICE
December 15 | 8:30 A.M.
Cedar Grove Baptist Church, 1050 CR 108
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PICTURES WITH SANTA AND THE GRINCH
December 16 | 4 - 6 P.M.
Wings & Whitetails, 320 W. Panola St.
SENIOR ADULT BINGO
December 17 | 2-4 P.M.
Central Baptist Church, 220 W. Sabine St.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE” A 1940’S STYLE RADIO SHOW
December 19 | 7 P.M.
The Esquire Theater , 114 W. Sabine St. (Tune in to KGAS Radio 104.3 FM or watch LIVE broadcasting)
CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
December 22 | 6:30 - 7:30 P.M. Still Waters Cowboy Church, 1699 TX 315
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
December 24 | 6 P.M. & 11 P.M. First Methodist Church Carthage 201 S. Shelby
THE ESQUIRE THEATER PRESENTS
9 0 B U C K L E S 1 5 6 B A N N E R S 4 t h A n n u a l
P A N O L A r i s t m a s C l a s s i c r i s t m a s C l a s s i c
$30/Head Pre-Paid OR $40/Head Day Of
T h e f i r s t 2 0 a t e a c h c h e c k - i n t i m e w i l l r e c e i v e a F R E E T - s h i r t
December 14, 2024
Steers and Heifers
J u d g e : B r a d e n H o u s e
6 : 0 0 - 8 : 0 0 A M : R e g i s t r a t i o n / C h e c k - I n
9 : 0 0 A M : S h o w S t a r t s
S h o w O r d e r : S t e e r s , S t e e r S h o w m a n s h i p
H e i f e r s , H e i f e r S h o w m a n s h i p
S t e e r s S h o w n b y B r e e d / W e i g h t
8 l a r g e s t b r e e d s ( s e l f c l a s s i f y ) - s h o w n b y w e i g h t
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d G r a n d
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d R e s e r v e
O v e r a l l G r a n d , O v e r a l l R e s e r v e , T o p 5 A w a r d s
H e i f e r s s h o w n i n B r e e d s / D i v i s i o n s
1 2 l a r g e s t b r e e d s - s h o w n b y a g e
* 3 h e a d c o n s t i t u t e s a b r e e d *
A m e r i c a n / B r i t i s h / E x o t i c / C o m m e r i c a l / L o n g h o r n
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d G r a n d
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d R e s e r v e
B u c k l e H o l d e r s & B a n n e r s t o D i v i s i o n G r a n d & R e s e r v e
O v e r a l l G r a n d a n d R e s e r v e A w a r d s
Lambs and Goats
J u d g e : B r a d B r a n c h
4 : 0 0 - 6 : 0 0 P M : R e g i s t r a t i o n / C h e c k - I n
6 : 3 0 P M : S h o w S t a r t s
S h o w O r d e r : L a m b s , L a m b S h o w m a n s h i p ,
G o a t s , G o a t S h o w m a n s h i p
L a m b s s h o w n b y B r e e d / W e i g h t
F i n e W o o l / F i n e W o o l C r o s s / M e d i u m W o o l / D o r p e r
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d G r a n d
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d R e s e r v e
O v e r a l l G r a n d a n d R e s e r v e A w a r d s
G o a t s s h o w n b y D i v i s i o n / W e i g h t
L i g h t / M e d i u m / H e a v y
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o D i v i s i o n G r a n d
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o D i v i s i o n R e s e r v e
O v e r a l l G r a n d a n d R e s e r v e A w a r d s
December 15, 2024
Swine
J u d g e : J o s h E l k i n s
6 : 0 0 - 8 : 0 0 A M : R e g i s t r a t i o n / C h e c k - I n
8 : 0 0 A M : D e v o t i o n a l
9 : 0 0 A M : S h o w S t a r t s
S h o w O r d e r : S w i n e , S w i n e S h o w m a n s h i p
S w i n e S h o w n B y B r e e d / W e i g h t
W h i t e O P B , D a r k O P B , B e r k , D u r o c , H a m p ,
Y o r k , L i g h t C r o s s , D a r k C r o s s
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d G r a n d
B u c k l e s a n d B a n n e r s t o B r e e d R e s e r v e
O v e r a l l G r a n d , O v e r a l l R e s e r v e , T o p 5 A w a r d s
L I M I T E D P A I D P A R K I N G U N D E R B A R N - C A L L A H E A D T O C L A I M
S h o w m a n s h i p
2 0 B u c k l e s / 6 0 B a n n e r s
S h o w m a n s h i p $ 1 0 a t t h e g a t e
4 D i v i s i o n s : P e e w e e ( 8 & u n d e r ) ,
J u n i o r ( 9 - 1 1 ) , I n t e r m e d i a t e ( 1 2 - 1 4 ) ,
S e n i o r ( 1 5 - 1 8 )
A D U L T S h o w m a n s h i p i n e a c h s p e c i e s
( d o n a t i o n a t g a t e )
W i n n e r r e c e i v e s p r i z e a n d b r a g g i n g r i g h t s
o t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n
F o l l o w i n g T A H C r e g u l a t i o n s - T e x a s a n i m a l s O N L Y
P r i z e s t o c l a s s w i n n e r s
S e l f - W e i g h - s c a l e s o n s i t e
W e i g h - b a c k s a t j u d g e ' s d i s c r e t i o n
G e n e r a t o r s w e l c o m e d a n d
e n c o u r a g e d
F o o d T r u c k a n d S u p p l y T r a i l e r o n s i t e
T - s h i r t s a v a i l a b l e t o p u r c h a s e
A l l e n t r i e s o n S h o w m a n . A p p
n o p a p e r
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FAMILY CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE
December 24 | 5 P.M.
First Baptist Church Carthage 256 S. Market St.
NEW YEAR’S EVE CONCERT
December 31 | 6 - 7 P.M.
220 W. Sabine St., Central Baptist Church
VETERAN’S COFFEE MEETING
December 31 | 10 A.M.
Winkler Court Assisted Living 513 N. Adams St.
GAME DAY (EVERY TUESDAY)
December 31 | 1 - 4 P.M.
Mt. Zion Methodist Church - Panola 1174 CR 328, DeBerry, TX
January School Board Appreciation Month
ARK-LA-TEX ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) SUMMIT
January 3 | 1 – 4 P.M.
East Texas Innovation Center
109 S. Washington St. Beckville, TX
Presented by Academic Workshops, LLC
SEVEN NIGHTS OF PRAYER
January 5th – 11th | 6:30 P.M.
Last night of prayer meets at 9:30 A.M.
Still Waters Cowboy Church, 1699 TX 315
FAMILY OF COURAGE NIGHT
January 6 | 6 P.M.
Free Family Fun
Carthage Civic Center, 1702 S. Adams St.
DEHART VETERINARY SERVICES
January 8 |10 A.M.
Carthage Civic Center, 1702 S. Adams St.r
PANOLA AG BOOSTERS
January 14 | 6 P.M.
Panola County Exposition Center 1736 Ball Park Rd.
January 2025 Meeting
BROWN BAG BOOK BUNCH
January 21 | 12 P.M.
Sammy Brown Library, 319 S. Market St.
PANOLA COUNTY, TX MENTAL HEALTH ROUNDTABLE
January 22 | 9 AM – 12 P.M.
Panola College – Frances B Ross Ballroom 1109 W. Panola St.
DEHART VETERINARY SERVICES
January 22 | 10 A.M.
Carthage Civic Center, 1702 S. Adams St.
WINTER KIDS SHOW, THE WIZARD OF OZ
January 30, 31 and Febuary 1
The Esquire Theater ,114 W. Sabine St.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February
2025 ARTS WALK OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
February 14 | 6 P.M.
The Esquire Theater, 114 W. Sabine St.
6TH ANNUAL MAIN STREET SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
February 15 | 6 P.M.
The Esquire Theater, 114 W. Sabine St.
KIDS & VETS DAY
February 22 | 8 A.M.
Free Family Fun
Panola Archery Club 6555 US HWY 79, DeBerry, TX
March
TEXAS COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME’S 2ND ANNUAL SING FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE GOSPEL CONCERT
February 22
Carthage Civic Center, 1702 S. Adams St.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BANQUET & 79TH ANNUAL TASTE OF PANOLA COUNTY
February 27
Panola County Chamber of Commerce
300 W. Panola
...A look ahead “PANOLA HAS TALENT” SHOW
2025 PANOLA COUNTY CLEAN UP DAY/SHRED DAY
March 1 | 7 AM - 1:30 PM
Panola County Chamber of Commerce
300 W. Panola St.
PROJECT FAIR 2025
March 3rd-7th | 8 AM
Carthage Civic Center , 1702 S. Adams St.
PROJECT FAIR AWARDS CEREMONY
March 4 | 5PM
Carthage Civic Center , 1702 S. Adams St.
Hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
PROJECT FAIR PUBLIC VIEWING
March 5 & 6 | 12PM – 4PM
Carthage Civic Center , 1702 S. Adams St.
Hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
79TH PANOLA COUNTY
JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW
March 5 | TBA
Panola County Exposition Center 1736 Ball Park Rd.
March 15 | 7 PM
The Esquire Theater, 114 W Sabine St. For children ages 5-18
CISD SPRING BREAK
March 17- 21
