Christmas on the River begins

EDITOR'S NOTE: See a two-page Holiday Home Tour section in the Dec. 2 edition of the Randolph County Herald Tribune.

CHRISTMAS ON THE RIVER

Chester's Christmas on the River celebration is expanding in 2016, offering a variety of activities and events to celebrate the holiday season.

Visit www.chesterill.com or Chester Recreation on Facebook for future updates.

• SANTA'S VILLAGE

The new Santa's Village will be located at the corner of State and Opdyke Streets. The village will be the home of Santa's House and will be decorated in Christmas fashion.

The village will also be home to the 14-foot Community Christmas Tree.

Santa's Village and the Chester Square Gazebo Park will host the Grand Illumination ceremony at 6 p.m. Dec. 2. Chester Mayor Tom Page will light the Gazebo Park lights and the Santa's Village lights simultaneously, signaling the beginning of the holiday season.

Music will be provided by Chester High School Marching Band, under the guidance of Band and Choral Director Steve Colonel and Pastor Mike Fogerson will offer a community blessing for the season.

Have your photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus. A postcard with three photos will be $3. Novelty Carts by Launay Enterprises will be offering cotton candy and light up novelties ranging in price from $4 to $12.

Carriage rides will depart from the village (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.) and will cost $2 per person. (Under 3 free).

• CHICKEN AND DUMPLING DINNER

St. Mary's PTO will host its annual Chicken and Dumpling Dinner in the cafeteria of the school at 825 Swanwick Street.

This year's meal includes the dumplings, choice of green beans or corn, mashed or sweet potatoes, dinner roll and a drink. Adults are $8, children 4 to 12 years are $5 and under 3 eat free.

• CRAFT AND VENDOR FAIR

The popular Craft and Vendor Sale is back and will there will be several locations for your shopping pleasure.

The American Legion (500 Opdyke St.), the Randolph County Courthouse (1 Taylor St.), and VFW Kaskaskia Post 3553 (939 State St.) will have more than 100 vendors on Friday evening (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.), Saturday (9 a.m to 5 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

There a few vendors spaces available at the Legion (826-1430) and the VFW (826-3411). They are $20 each for the weekend.

• BAKE SALE

The Women of the Moose have a busy weekend planned. On Dec. 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., they will be holding a bake sale at the AFSCME office building located at 631 State St.

They will be offering baked goods, coffee and hot chocolate.

On Dec. 3 they are planning an Inside Vendor's Sale/Flea Market at the Chester Moose Lodge. Hours of the sale are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

They will have chili ($1 cup or $2 bowl), hot dogs and hot chocolate. Spaces are $20 and interested vendors should contact Julie at 618-559-0743.

• CHRISTMAS TRIVIA

A new event this year is the St. Mary's Christmas Trivia and Ugly Sweater Contest on Dec. 2 starting at 7 p.m.

Come dressed in your ugliest Christmas sweater. Bring your own food and drinks. Alcohol is not only allowed but it is encouraged.

Price is $20 per person and is an adults-only event. Reserve your table of eight today. Contact Eleanor at 826-2134 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

This will be held in the gymnasium of the school located at 835 Swanwick St.

• FUN RUN

Join us during Chester's Christmas on the River celebration for this new and exciting Fun Run on December 3 at 8 a.m.

The Fun Run will start in front of Chester City Hall. Runners will proceed towards Chester High School, circle around the school, and end the race back at city hall.

Costumes are highly encouraged. Dress up as Santa, an elf, or just get decked out in all your favorite jingle bells.

Packet pickup and same day registration 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. at Chester City Hall. Entries received after November 23 will be $18 per participant.

In case of inclement weather race will be rescheduled for December 10. Registration forms can be found at www.chesterill.com, or you may contact Brandy Maes by phone/text at 618-615-7020 or email at holleybrandy@gmail.com

• PEACE LUTHERAN OPEN HOUSE

The Peace Lutheran Church of Chester will be open Saturday, December 3 celebrating Christmas on the River with visitors.

The church will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be decorated for Christmas. The altar area will feature a selection of Christmas trees.

One of the trees will be a "Thankful Tree" and guests are invited to write a message expressing what they are thankful for and add it to the tree.

Instead of their usual display of nativities, the Ladies of Peace will have a Christmas Village display that they will add to over the next five years.

Last year's soup tasting event proved to be very popular and they will host it again. It will be held in the church basement.

A selection of soups will be offered for the "tasting" as well as sandwiches, cookies and a drink. A free will offering will be accepted.

The church basement will be home to the "Christmas Shop" which will offer a wide variety of gently used Christmas decorations, gifts, seasonal clothing and collectibles. There will also be a book sale.

• CHRISTMAS BAZAAR

The St. John PTL will host its 44^th Annual Christmas Bazaar on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This event will be held at the St. John's Parish Hall, 302 W. Holmes St. Hot lunch will be served starting at 10:30 a.m.

The menu will consist of a traditional luncheon of soups and sandwiches. The bazaar will be featuring their specialties: coffee cakes, cookies, ornaments, gifts cards for more than 200 locations, craft and gift items.

Specialty vendors will be on hand with a variety of hand crafted items.

• QUILT TOUR

The Friends of the Cohen Home will be hosting a Quilt Tour at the Cohen Memorial Home on December 3.

Visitors should stop by the home to view the 70-plus quilts on display. There is no admission fee but a "Free Will Offering" will be collected.

Anyone leaving a donation will be entered in a raffle for a Holiday Quilted Wall Hanging. All monies collected will be donated to the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry.

The quilt show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• STONE COTTAGE

The Stone Cottage Christmas Open House will be held December 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Renovation on the cottage began the summer of 2010 with the objective to create a small museum and a memorial walkway at this historic Old Stone Cottage ca 1850.

Many changes have occurred and it is decorated in Christmas splendor for all to tour.

• SANTA AT THE RIVERFRONT

Once again, we are pleased to announce this time-honored event. Join us at the riverfront on Saturday, December 3, at 10 a.m.

Santa will make his way down the Mississippi River by barge where he will be greeted by a crowd of children and their families.

The Chester High School Marching Yellow Jackets will be on hand performing songs of the season. Everyone is invited to the Boat Club following Santa's arrival for a visit and refreshments.

• PAWPARAZZI

Another new event is the PAWparazzi on Dec. 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Santa's friends from Puppy Rescue 911 will be at Santa's Village taking photos.

All money raised will go to Puppy Rescue 911. Lindsey Cowan Photography will be on hand to take the family pictures, children's pictures and pet pictures.

All photos will be ready for pickup on Monday, December 12. You may purchase a 4x6 photo for $5 or a 3x5 and a 5x7 for $10.

• LIGHTED PARADE

The community is invited to experience the wonderful lights of the season during the Holiday Lighted Parade on Saturday, December 3.

The parade will step off at 7 p.m. from Chester High School. It will continue through town, ending at the Randolph County Courthouse.

• GINGERBREAD HOUSES

As the weekend winds down, the Manor at Craig Farms will be offering a sweet ending to the festivities.

Stop by the Manor on Dec. 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy Gingerbread House making. This is a free event and everyone is invited to join in.