The following is a list of free, community holiday events being hosted in St. Clair County and the surrounding area throughout December. Events will be added each week as they are received.
The annual VanSwearingen Christmas Lights display, located at 5785 SE 250 Rd., Osceola, is hosted nightly until 9 p.m. throughout the end of December. Display activity is set to holiday music, with tune-in instruction posted on-site. Viewers are invited to park and watch the display but asked to remain in their vehicles.
Light the Park, a large, lighted, drive-thru display at Bolivar’s Dunnegan Memorial Park (585 N. Pomme de Terre Ave.) is held each night, now through Dec. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with over 60 displays. For safety, all enjoying the displays are asked to remain in their vehicles.
Light Up the Lake, at Pomme de Terre Damsite Park (24318 State Hwy. 254, Hermitage) will be each night, now through Dec. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The nightly Christmas drive-through will feature chamber of commerce businesses displaying lights along with tune-in music on the radio, carolers, and Santa. Admission is by donation with area non-profit groups working the gate each evening.
Grace Christian Academy, 102 E. First St. in Lowry City, will host their 5th Annual Last-Minute Gift Grab on Friday, Dec. 13, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their vendor elves will be on-site to help find attendees find a perfect something for their gift-giving needs. Light refreshments will also be served. For more information, text 660-869-8448.
The Benson Center Christmas Market, 1008 E. Sedalia Ave. in Clinton, hosted by Pink Sugar Events, will be on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lots of crafts, food, gifts, and more, including photos with Santa. Entry is $2 with children 12 years and under for free.
Rockville United Methodist Church invites children to attend on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., to have their photo taken with Santa, eat delicious cookies, make and ornament, listen to the jolly guy in red read stories, and take home a gift.
Life Church, located at 506 W. Mill St. in Humansville, will hold their Community Christmas Dinner on Saturday, Dec. 14, with dinner beginning at 4 p.m. and all welcome to attend. There will also be a Christmas Eve. Candlelight Service on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m.
The 4th annual CHRISTmas on the Square, Osceola, will be on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All are invited to join in celebrating the birth of Jesus, bringing their family and friends. There will be a live nativity, hot chocolate, coffee, cookies, hotdogs, live music, a petting zoo, hayrides, children’s craft station, and Passport to Christmas. Those that stop by and grab a passport will travel around the square looking for the real 12 Days of Christmas clues. Those that have found them and written them in their passport book may return to the station and claim their prize as well as a chance to win a gift card.
Lowry City Community Betterment is hosting their annual Christmas Light Contest with prizes awarded to winners of homes inside of city limits and within a three-mile radius of the city. For those outside of city limits wishing to participate, please call 660-492-2486 by Dec. 18.
