Showtime at Holiday Lights: McDonald's training manager is crazy about Christmas

You pull through the gates of the Du Quoin State Fair at 7:30 in the morning praying the Exhibition Hall is open and that someone has already started working inside in preparation for the 14th Holiday Lights Fair.

You want a new picture to promote the opening of the show.

I should have known better. Clydine Hardin of Pinckneyville, arguably the First Lady of Christmas in Southern Illinois, was already at work decorating the Ho Ho Ho Hallmark Club's Christmas tree for the Exhibition Hall's opening tonight.

The 19 members of the Hallmark Club have put together a beautiful tree called "Strolling Through Wonderland," a tree containing dozens of Hallmark shoe and stocking ornaments.

It mirrors Hardin's own love of the holidays. Their family's home in Pinckneyville is already decorated for the holidays. "I've got 13 trees up and I have over 2,000 ornaments," says Hardin, whose talents as manager of the Du Quoin Mc Donald's store launched her into a career as the training manager for the nine restaurants in Southern Illinois owned by Short Enterprises of Anna.

Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan will be hosting opening ceremonies at the show, followed by the opening of the weekend's entertainment.

That schedule is as follows:

Friday, December 6

6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m. Damon Waller

7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Southern Illinois Concert Band

Saturday, December 7

7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Keenan Rice & Co.

Sunday, December 8

7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Pinckneyville Jazz Band & Chorus

The $8 admission gets you not only the beautiful driving tour on the grounds, but gets you into the Exhibition Hall for three days of events including live entertainment, the beautifully restored kids train, a Kids Korner activity center and 50 vendors who are set up with hundreds of gift ideas, great concessions fully immersed in the spirit of Christmas.

It's showtime!