Holidays in the Heartland

2010 News Release from Independence, MO

             Historic Independence, Missouri offers an escape from the ordinary with a Holiday season that just won’t quit. From November through December, the calendar is packed with dozens of incredible events bursting with live music, fabulous decorations, and family fun for all ages.

            FREE FUN: Kids can jump on moonwalks, play games and visit with Santa at the Mayor’s Christmas Carnival December 18 or watch animated figures, make crafts and get their picture taken with Santa at Bass Pro Shops Santa’s Winter Wonderland. Don’t miss the thousands of twinkling lights and oversized nativity set adorning the grounds of the Mormon Visitor’s Center and the special traveling exhibit of 12  bronze sculptures in the exhibit, “Healing Hands of Christ” on display inside.

             Sing along with favorite Christmas carols, take a sleigh ride around the Square, peer into “Living windows” and nibble on fresh kettle corn, listen to strolling carolers and watch festive dancers while your children get their faces painted and decorate sugar cookies  at the Independence Tree  Lighting on the Square Saturday November 20.  Join Charles Dickens in his study as he creates his holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol,” at the Midwest Genealogy Center. In this free event, a Dickens scholar portrays all 17 Christmas Carol characters and Charles Dickens himself.

            Every Sunday afternoon during November and December (3 p.m.), sit back and relax while you savor the peaceful beauty of a free organ recital at the Community of Christ Temple. The words and music of the Advent Season are shared with the community in the annual Advent Service at the Temple, slated for December 12 as part of the Dome and Spire Concert Series.

FRONTIER FESTIVITIES: The National Frontier Trails Museum serves up warm cider and cookies on Saturdays in December, offers visits with Father Christmas and presents live period musicians on December 4 and 11^th. Crafters can sign up for a workshop to make a crazy quilt Victorian stocking on the 11th. Shop for frontier and pioneer themed presents in the museum store, offering discounts from Thanksgiving weekend through Christmas Eve.  On Saturday, December 4, covered wagon rides are included with paid admission.

HOMES TOURS: Three unique homes of yesteryear, the Marshal's Home, Bingham-Waggoner Estate and Vaile Mansion, are featured in the Spirit of Christmas Past Heritage Homes Tours, from Thanksgiving weekend through December 30. To see the homes sparkle in the dramatic light of dusk, visit them during the Twilight Tours on December 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. A bell choir will entertain while you nibble on refreshments at the Vaile Mansion. Complimentary refreshments will also be served at the Bingham-Waggoner Estate, and live music is also planned.

The decorated Chicago and Alton Depot, with a theme “Let it Snow. . . . Man, Let it Snow”, will parade snowmen throughout both stories of the building during their holiday tours November 27 and 28, December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19. If your taste leans to contemporary homes, you’ll be amazed by the holiday décor of  private homes and a church in the Independence Young Matron’s  Holly and Mistletoe Tours on December 2.

For a new and extraordinary culinary experience in historic settings, reserve your spot for an early evening progressive dinner at the 1859 Jail, Chicago & Alton Depot and Bingham-Waggoner Estate, set for Saturday, December 4.

            LIVE ENTERTAINMENT: Revel in the majestic sounds of the classical favorite oratorio, “Handel’s Messiah”, performed by the  Messiah Choir and the Kansas City Symphony on Saturday, November 27.

            The electrifying Mannheim Steamroller presents its signature mix of classical and modern day rock, acoustic and electronic music at the Independence Events Center on December 1. Bill Gaither’s HomecomingTour offers a gospel twist on Christmas music in his show on December 3, and Larry the Cable Guy brings his own unique style to the Center the following evening, December 4. Don’t miss Barney’s Birthday BashDecember 16 and 17, also at the Events Center.

             Hundreds of children’s voices blend like angels as they perform songs of the season, accompanied by the Spirit of Independence Community Band, during the annual Community Christmas concert on December 5 at the Community of Christ Auditorium.

            Don’t forget to plan a special outing for the kids to see a “Holiday Happening,” an original puppet show at the Puppetry Arts Institute on December 4, 11, 17 and 18. Another theater event for children, presented by the Children’s Performing Theater of Independence, is the modern classic,  “A Charlie Brown Christmas”,  set for December 3-5 and 10-12 at the Sermon Center.

            SANTA SIGHTINGS: Kids can share their wish list with Santa at the Independence Center Mall up till Christmas Eve, the Mayor’s Christmas Carnival on December 4 or Bass Pro Shops’ Santa’s Winter Wonderland, through December 24. An old-fashioned 19^th century frontier era Father Christmas will meet and greet families as part of the Holiday celebration at the National Frontier Trails Museum on December 4. 

            SHOPPING:  Holiday shopping begins on the Square’s Open House weekend on November 5 and 6 and heats up even more at the Best Little Arts and Crafts Show at the Sermon Center on November 19 and 20. The Independence Center boasts over 100 stores from which to choose your presents, and the shopping choices at other retail shops the Little Blue Parkway include something for everyone.  Don’t forget to search for one of a kind treasures in the gift shops of the National Frontier Trails Museum, Vaile Mansion, Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 1859 Jail, Puppetry Arts Institute and Truman Library.

TRUMAN HERITAGE: You can share in Truman Christmas memories by visiting with Harry at the Harry S. Truman Library on November 27 and 28 and December 26 and by viewing a “Christmas with the Trumans” free exhibit of Truman Visitor’s Center, on display from November 15 through January 10. The Truman Library will present a “Christmas in the White House” program on December 11, free with paid museum admission.  While there, walk down to see the “Memories of Korea” exhibit on the lower level and learn how our troops celebrated their holidays while far away from home.

            For
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