November 27, 2013
July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
Christmas Traditions
Recipe
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Sweeten the Season
Around Town
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O’Fallon Boy at Basketball Clinic
A spectacular holiday event on Historic Main Street in St. Charles Information and images courtesy of St. Charles Christmas Traditions Capture in your mind a time in America when life was simpler, and Christmas was elegant and magical. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of holiday music from the Victorian carolers, the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps, or the George Champlain Sibley Fife and Drum Corps. Smell the roasting of chestnuts in the air. Welcome to Historic Main Street’s Christmas Traditions! Shop and dine along the brick-lined streets festively decorated with live greenery and handmade red bows. Main Street comes alive with Santas from around the world, Victorian Carolers, and the Legends of Christmas. The Legends of Christmas, who wear handcrafted clothing representing their heritage. are Mr. & Mrs. Claus’ friends from around the world; these include Jack Frost, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Nutcracker and Clara, and the Ice Queen, says Festival Director Amanda Strupp. “I love watching the Legends interact with kids and the way that they share their story with the kids,” Strupp continues. “They get the kids really involved in what’s going on in the street. All the characters have their collectors’ cards that kids can collect, and if the kids walk up and ask for their card, they usually have the kids do something to earn the card, like the Sugar Plum Fairy teaches them a dance or the town crier will have them announce the time really loudly across the street.” The South Main Preservation Soci-
ety first created this truly unique family event in the early 1970s while an effort was underway to revitalize the South Main Street Historic District. Now, over thirty years later, Christmas Traditions remains a favorite holiday festival, attracting a wide range of visitors to our area. Funding for this event is provided by the City of Saint Charles through the Greater Saint Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau. The festivities start the day after Thanksgiving with the Opening Ceremony in the morning and the lighting of the Official Saint Charles Christmas Tree after dark. The Legends of Christmas will tell stories around the bonfire in the 100 block of S. Main. You can also sign up to be part of a Christmas Mystery Scavenger Hunt. On Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, you can enjoy shopping and dining along Main Street which is illuminated by thousands of Christmas lights. At the Closing Ceremony on Christmas Eve, you’ll have one last chance to see Santa and wish him well on his journey for the night. During Christmas Traditions’ time on Historic Main Street, revelers can buy hot nuts and listen to the playful banter of chestnut roasters next to the Daniel Boone statue between the 700 and 800 blocks of S. Main. The Gingerbread Village at Main Street Church, 116 N. Main Street, will transport you to a holiday wonderland. Lovers can stop at the holiday kissing ball at Kister Park gazebo in
The entire cast of Christmas Traditions
the 400 block of S. Main to fall in love all over again, and families can meet Santa at his cottage in the Katy Train Depot in Frontier Park. There is ample free parking on Main Street and along Riverside Drive. Additional parking is available in the Saint Charles City Hall garage, 200 N. Second Street, which is free of charge during evenings and weekends. Additional parking is available at the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center, 1050 S. Riverside Drive (located adjacent to Bishop’s Landing on the south leg of the historic district). See CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS page 2
Feature
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Enjoy the Holidays in Missouri
School
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WSD Named to AP Honor Roll
12 Years a Slave photo courtesy of Regency Enterprises
Movie
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