Thursday, December 4, 2008 7:18 PM CST
Celebration includes crafts in Charleston
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — Visitors to Christmas in the Heart of Charleston can participate in two craft events this year.
The annual festival on the courthouse square will offer a parade, live window displays, and Christmas music as well as free carriage rides, photos with Santa Claus, and children’s crafts. There also will be shopping opportunities at a holiday craft bazaar, a silent auction of tabletop Christmas trees, and uptown stores.
The main festivities begin at 5 p.m. Saturday with the parade and continue to 7 p.m. on the square. There also will be a “Crafts for a Cause” craft bazaar from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. in the church building at 785 Harrison Ave. and a new children’s crafts event from 3 to 5 p.m. at the public library, 712 Sixth St.
Children’s Librarian Judy Looby said families can stop by anytime during the craft event so that children can make angel and icicle ornaments, picture frames, and other Christmas decorations at no charge. She said the children could give their crafts away as presents to loved ones.
“Certainly the picture frames could be gifts and even the decorations could be gifts,” Looby said.
Both the craft event and a silent auction of 2-foot-tall tabletop Christmas trees will be held in the library’s Rotary Community Room, Looby noted.
She said bids on the trees, many of which include handcrafted decorations, will be taken until 7 p.m. The proceeds will help fund summer programs for children at the library.
The 5 p.m. parade around the square will feature Charleston middle and high school marching band students, costumed characters, and several other entries. The parade will be led by Santa Claus and grand marshal Jim Littleford, the new superintendent of the Charleston school district.
“We are excited about having a new superintendent,” said Karen Petersen, special events and tourism supervisor.
After the parade, Santa will go to the CTF building on the southeast side of the square. There, children can get free photos with Santa and see Dave the Math Dog. Petersen said families are welcome to take photos with their own cameras as well.
Free popcorn will be available at the Indigo Cigar Factory on the square’s east side and free roasted chestnuts will be offered nearby by the Knights of Columbus.
The festival’s free cookies and hot chocolate as well as live music will be held in the CTF building on the square’s east side. Performers will include the Wesley United Methodist Church Hand Bell Choir at 5:15 p.m., Olivier and Charity Christmas carols at 5:30 p.m., and C.J the Neil Diamond impersonator at 6:20 p.m.
Entertainment also will be offered at live window displays around the square, including harpist Hannah Drake performing at the newly reopened Lincoln Book Shop on the north side.
Petersen said a live nativity scene presented by the Charleston High School French Club will be a new addition to the festival. The nativity scene will share space on the inside of the square with a live reindeer, Mandana Pines’ Christmas tree raffle, carolers, and free carriage rides.
“We will have five carriages providing rides on the inside of the square,” Petersen said.
Uptown merchants that are scheduled to be open include Abralyn Gifts & Antiques, Art Fart gallery, Calliope Court, Emajonashon Street, The Giraffe, Indigo Cigar Factory, Lincoln Book Shop, Swanson Jewelry, and Sweet Tooth Specialties.
Petersen said a jazz band will perform at 5-6 p.m. at Abralyn, 611 Seventh St., and then 6-7 p.m. at the Charleston Alley Theatre, off the square’s northeast corner. Tickets are on sale for a 7 p.m. Saturday performance of “Mrs. Bob Cratchitt’s Wild Christmas Binge” play at the theater.
Jackson Avenue Coffee, 708 Jackson Ave., will host a jazz concert at 5-7 p.m. and What’s Cookin,’ 409 Seventh St., will host a performance by the Motherlode acoustic trio at 8-10 p.m.
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 348-5734.
Sidebar: CHARLESTON – Two tips for attending Saturday’s Christmas in the Heart of Charleston festival: dress warmly and park away from the courthouse square.
Most activities will start at 5 p.m. and many of them will take place in the cold night air. The forecast for Saturday is a low of 22 degrees.
“People should dress for the weather,” said Karen Petersen, special events and tourism supervisor. She said dressing children warmly will be especially important.
Regarding parking, the city has advised that all cars on the square must be moved by 3:30 p.m. Saturday to ensure safety during the festival.
Parking and street closures will be in effect 4-8 p.m. on Monroe from Sixth to Eighth streets, Jackson Avenue from Fifth to Eighth streets, Sixth Street from Monroe to Jackson avenues, Seventh street from Jackson to Monroe avenues, and Eighth Street from Jackson to Monroe avenues.
“Park off the square and walk inward. There are a lot of parking lots,” Petersen said. Lots next to City Hall and Harper-Swickard Funeral Home will be closed.
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