Author: Debbie Roney Smith

Christmas Eve-ntful Facts!

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Saint Nicholas Church, Austria

Today is Christmas Eve! Take a look at these three fun facts about the night before Christmas:

  1. The traditional Christmas carol “Silent Night” was first performed in the Austrian village of Oberndorf on Christmas Eve in 1818. It was performed for the public at a midnight mass in the Saint Nicholas parish church.
  2. You might already know that the astronauts on the Apollo 8 mission of 1969 were the first humans to orbit the Moon but did you know that it was broadcasted live on Christmas Eve?! 
  3. Celebrating Christmas Eve has been a tradition almost as long as the Christmas holiday itself. This is historically linked to the history of Christian public worship beginning at sunset with the ringing of bells; therefore, a celebration of Christmas would begin, literally, on the Eve of Christmas. Also, jingle-bells!

Winter Solstice 2020

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Today is Midwinter! Also known as the winter solstice, this is a biannual event that occurs once in each hemisphere. The solstice occurs when Earth’s poles have reached their maximum tilt away from the Sun. Today’s solstice is occurring in the Northern Hemisphere, so we will have the shortest day of the year and the longest night. Since the solar year(the time it takes to see the sun reappear in the same spot on earth) is not the same as a year in the USA (365 days), the actual date and time of the winter solstice can change and doesn’t always fall on December 21st. Interested in identifying the exact time of the winter solstice at your home? This year, the solstice is occurring at 10:02 Universal Time (UTC); visit Earth Sky’s website to find the time in your location by translating your time zone.

LeMoyne Holiday Show

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Tallahassee, FL boasts more than just a wide array of restaurants and shops – it regularly hosts enlightening, entertaining events and workshops. Head to Tallahassee to finish your holiday shopping AND experience a contemporary art exhibit in one visit. LeMonye Arts Gallery works “to promote and advance education, interest, and participation in the contemporary visual arts.” There is a lovely Holiday Show being hosted by LeMoyne until December 24th, 2020. Visit their Facebook event page HERE to find specific times, dates, and more. 

Lights Along the River

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Every night until December 31st, the Earle May Boat Basin is hosting their annual Lights Along the River Drive Through Lights Display! COVID safe, you stay in your vehicle, tune to 99.3 FM for some holiday music, and drive through almost a mile of holiday lights AND seasonal themed displays. Occurs daily from 5 p.m. CST to 9 p.m. CST. 

Sunshine Riding Trails

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Debbie Roney Smith & friend at Sunshine Riding Trails, 2020

Looking for a fun experience to gift to a family member or friend this holiday season? Consider gifting a 1-4 hour horse ride with Sunshine Riding Trails! A local, family-owned business located outside of Panama City Beach, Sunshine Riding Trails boasts over 10,000 acres of Florida terrain to explore: everything from sandhills to preserved forest. Trail rides are available for individuals or groups, are based on experience, and offer a wonderful experience to explore Florida in a new way on beautiful Tennessee Walking Horses. For more information or to book your gift-experience now, visit the Sunshine Riding Trails official website HERE!

 

 

Saddle Up Santa

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Dothan Boots & Saddle Club’s Saddle Up Santa will still occur in 2020! This year, the event will be a drive-through in order to keep things safer for everyone. Saddle Up Santa is a drive-through Christmas Festival with tons of goodies, food, and gifts from Santa! Please be sure to bring a can of food for the Salvation Army Food Bank donation. The event will be held today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Houston County Farm Center; cars will enter from Cottonwood Road.

Dog’s in Ugly Christmas Sweaters

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At 12 p.m. on Saturday, December 12th, there will be an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest to Benefit Lucky Puppy Rescue! The event will be held at The Market at St. Andrews, and will include multiple contests provided by the vendors in The Market. The entry fee is $5 OR a bag of dog food. There will be prizes awarded for Best Ugly Sweater, Best Dog Ugly Sweater, and Best Human-Dog Combo. 

Visit their Facebook event page HERE for more information on the offered prizes and to keep up-to-date on event announcements.

Sneads Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

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This Saturday, December 12th is the annual Town of Sneads Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. Starting at 4 p.m., the parade can be viewed on Hwy 90 and will drive from Sneads Auto Parts to McDaniels Grocery.

After the parade, City Hall will be hosting the Town tree lighting. There will be an inflatable set-up appropriate for small kids, free hot dogs, chips, drinks, and hot chocolate! Please wear masks to keep everyone safe, and be sure to bring warm coats.

Lafayette Landing Grand Opening Celebration

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Tomorrow is the opening of Lafayette Landing! Enjoy the unveiling of this new community space in downtown Marianna from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, December 10th. There will be a ribbon-cutting to start the event as well as live music, refreshments, and food trucks. Please wear masks for community safety! 

Jackson County Public Library Hosts Online Storytime

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Jackson County Public Library is adapting to these trying times with online storytime. On Wednesdays at 10 a.m. on Facebook, Miss. Peggy will be hosting Storytime. The first December date is tomorrow, December 9th! Visit the Jackson Public Library’s Facebook upcoming events page HERE to participate, find more details, or decide on specific dates.