It’s easy to get tangled up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but this time of year is also great for families to create memories with each other — simply by spending time together, enjoying the Christmas season.
Locally, there are limitless opportunities, and they range in price range, but many events are free.
For example, the past 20 years, my family has visited a Christmas tree farm, and the grandkids help my parents pick out their Christmas tree. We enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride to the trees and spend time choosing the “perfect” tree. Then we ride back to the gift shop for some hot cider and the kids each pick out an ornament to purchase.
My two sisters, our mom, grandmother and our kids also like to pick a day in December and bake Christmas cookies together.
I know families who pick an “angel” from an “angel tree” — which can be found at many local churches or businesses — and then enjoy shopping together to help provide a Christmas for someone in need. Others may volunteer their time ringing bells at kettles for the Salvation Army.
Driving around and looking at Christmas light displays is also a fun way to spend an evening in December. Take away everyone’s devices and enjoy a drive around from neighborhood to neighborhood. One must-see is Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities’ Christmas lights show, which runs nightly through the end of the year. It’s synced to holiday music. You can just pull up your vehicle and sit in the BMU parking lot and enjoy the show and music!
Several festive and free local events are still planned this month. This weekend, specifically, Historic Downtown Sikeston is hosting its new tradition — a Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony, which begins at 5 p.m. Friday in Legion Park. There will be carriage rides, Santa’s village, photos with Santa and hot chocolate, to name a few of the activities.
Then on Saturday, the Sikeston Depot Museum is hosting its annual Christmas event, “Gingerbread World with Santa, Elsa and Anna,” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa will be there from noon to 4 p.m., and Elsa and Anna will be there from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The cities of New Madrid and Portageville are also hosting events this weekend. Portageville will have “Christmas in the ’Ville” Friday with a parade down Main Street set for 6 p.m. Breakfast with Santa will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the New Madrid County Family Resource Center in New Madrid. (New Madrid will also host a parade and candlelight tours next weekend on Dec. 14.)
On Sunday the annual Christmas in Charleston concert featuring an organist, pianist and handbell choir will begin at 4 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Charleston. Check with area churches in the coming weeks as many offer special Christmas programs and services. What better way to remember the reason for the season than taking in a program at a local church?
There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Christmas season with family and friends. Every year our children grow older, and we lose family members and friends. Make those memories now. They will be the best gift you give — and receive — this year.
Leonna Heuring is co-editor of the Standard Democrat.