BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
Excitement for the Christmas season seems to begin earlier every year, and family get-togethers at Thanksgiving are a good time to begin planning holiday activities.
Here are just a few of the things already announced for Bradford County families to look forward to.
Shop Small Saturday
It’s shopping season, but Saturday, Nov. 25, is a great time to come eat breakfast and lunch in local restaurant and support small businesses throughout the city of Starke. There will also be vendors on Call Street with Christmas gift options. Participating businesses will offer door prizes, plus you can visit Santa at Williams Jewelry and the Grinch at Nutrition Escape.
Christmas on Call Street
Christmas on Call Street kicks off with caroling and lighting of the city Christmas Tree at the Downtown Square. That will take place Friday, Dec. 8, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Activities downtown on Saturday, including a car show from 2 to 5 p.m., lead up to the Starke Christmas parade at 6 p.m. Santa will arrive and meet children following the parade at the Downtown Square.
Downtown Grill’s Breakfast with Santa takes place Sunday morning, Dec. 10. Reservations required.
Winter Carnival at the library
Bradford County Public Library’s Christmas event last year was more successful than anticipated. This year plans are even bigger for Santa’s Winter Wonderland Carnival on Thursday, Dec. 14. From 5 to 8 p.m., there will be games, train rides, a bounce house, face painting, prizes for children and adults, and more. Everything but the food is free.
And ensuring that this will be a white Christmas, the library is making this a foam party with the help of Foam Fantastic. Be sure to wear a bathing suit to take part in the fun.
Schools have plans
Schools have also been announcing their Christmas events, including Brooker Community School, which has a Santa Breakfast planned on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 8–10 a.m.
Lawtey Elementary School, on the other hand, has Breakfast with the Grinch planned for 10 a.m. on Dec. 9. Have a sit-down feast with this favorite character. Tickets are on sale through Dec. 1 for $7 per person. No ticket sales at the event.
Christmas in song
Lawtey’s pre-K through sixth grade students will perform in a Christmas concert at the Bradford High School auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m.
The Joyful Voices of Lawtey will present the annual Community Christmas Program on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. at the Lawtey Church of God on U.S. 301 The public is invited to join and celebrate this holy season with community churches.
