Huntsville Holidays 11/19/2014 City of Huntsville,Texas Mail-Huntsvil I e for the Holidays-City,local events December 4-7-Press release
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� Mrw Kristin Edwards <kedwards@huntsvilletx.gov>
Huntsville for the Holidays - City, local events December 4-7 - Press release
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Kristin Edwards <kedwards@huntsvilletx.gov> Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 3:39 PM
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STORY AND ATTACHED FLYER FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
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Thank you!
The public is invited to attend several days of fun, family-friendly events from December 4-7 during the 2014
Huntsville for the Holidays celebration.
City-sponsored events will include an Open House and Volunteer Appreciation event at the Sam Houston Statue
Visitors Center and Gift Shop, a Gingerbread House workshop and contest as well as other events at the Wynne
Home Arts Center, the Downtown Christmas Fair, Winter in the Park and Winter Holidays Around the World at
the Huntsville Public Library.
December 4—Sam Houston Statue Open House
Come kick off the holiday season and enjoy a special evening at the Sam Houston Statue Visitor Center and
Gift Shop. Bring the entire family and shop for that special gift and enjoy refreshments at the annual holiday
Open House & Volunteer Appreciation, Thursday, December 4 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
"We look forward to seeing many Huntsville residents take part in our open house event this year," said Kimm
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11/19/2014 City of Huntsville,Texas Mail-Huntsvil I e for the Holidays-City,local events December 4-7-Press release
Thomas, Director of Tourism and Cultural Services. "This occasion provides a special opportunity for us to
recognize the volunteers who have helped us throughout the year with marketing Huntsville and the Sam
Houston Statue.
"We would not be able to achieve what we do for Huntsville without our volunteers."
Guests will receive 25 percent off all merchandise, excluding consignment, and will have a wide variety of
Texas-themed items to choose from including ornaments, purses, T-shirts, jewelry, cookbooks, toys and more.
The Sam Houston Statue Visitor Center and Gift Shop is located at 7600 Highway 75 South, Huntsville, TX
77340. For more information, call (936) 291-9726.
December 5-6—Journey Through Bethlehem
Residents will have the opportunity to join community organizations, churches and local families during an
annual the annual "Journey Through Bethlehem" presentation. The event will be held at the Walker County
Fairgrounds beginning Friday, December 5 and continuing Saturday, December 6.
For more information, call (936) 661-1344 or send an email to journeythrubethiehm@gmaii.com.
December 5—Wynne Home Gingerbread House Contest
The Wynne Home Arts Center is now accepting entry forms for its annual Gingerbread House contest. Each
gingerbread house entered must be dropped off at the Wynne Home on Wednesday, December 3 by 1 p.m.
An opening reception for the Gingerbread House exhibit and contest will be held at the Wynne Home on Friday,
December 5 at 7 p.m. with comments and prizes at 7:30 p.m.
According to Megan Chapa, Wynne Home intern, three winners will be named from each of the three categories
— entries made by children 12 and under, youth 13 to 17 years old, and adults 18 and over.
In addition, professional chefs/caterers and artists are welcomed to participate in the non-judged category. All
residents are encouraged to participate for a chance to win small prizes or free art classes.
"Our annual Gingerbread House contest is an incredibly fun event," Chapa said. "Families get to take part in a
unique holiday event, and also get the experience of having their art displayed in our exhibit and contest.
"Every year, more houses are entered into the contest, and we are hoping to beat last year's turnout with even
more creative and beautiful designs."
Chapa said the entries will be judged on overall creativity, use of decorations, stability, overall appearance and
theme.
For entry forms and more information, contact the Wynne Home at (936) 291-5424 or visit the facility's Web
site, www.thewynnehome.com.
December 6—Sam Houston Memorial Museum's "Houston Family Christmas"
Citizens are invited to take part in the Houston Family Christmas event, to be held at the Sam Houston Memorial
Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 6. This free event will include activities for the whole
family.
For more information, contact the museum at (936) 294-1832.
December 6—Angel Show: Holiday Market
Stop by the Walker Education Center— located at 1402 19th Street—for the 2014 Angel Show: Holiday Market,
featuring original art, handmade gifts and refreshments. The event will be held downstairs in the President
Houston Room from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit the event Facebook page, .facebook.com/AngelShowHolidayMarket.
December 6— Main Street Program's Downtown Christmas Fair
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11/19/2014 City of Huntsville,Texas Mail-Huntsvil I e for the Holidays-City,local events December 4-7-Press release
The Downtown Christmas Fair will be held Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and all citizens are
encouraged to take part in this fun, family-friendly event.
According to Lindsay Lauher, Main Street Coordinator, admission is free to the event as a whole with nominal
fees applied to feature activities.
"This year's Downtown Christmas Fair is going to be a fantastic mix of great gifts and fun family activities," she
said. "We'll be set up in the downtown area and Rather Park, where our attendees will enjoy a play area with real
snow, holiday train rides, and live performances by local music and dance performers.
"As well, a wide variety of arts, crafts and gift vendors will line the streets with unique and handmade items that
make perfect gifts for the holiday season."
For more information, contact the Main Street Program at (936) 291-5920 or mainstreet01@huntsvilletx.gov.
Information is also available on the Main Street Facebook page, .facebook.com/COHmainstreet.
December 6— Recreation Services' Winter in the Park
The fifth annual Winter in the Park event will be held on Saturday, December 6 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Rather
Park, and all residents are encouraged to stop by.
According to Natalie Reid, Recreation Services coordinator, the event will include fun Christmas activities, photo
opportunities, hot chocolate and more, all offered free of charge.
"We'll have a lot going on in Rather Park during the Downtown Christmas Fair," Reid said. "Beginning at noon,
we'll have moonwalks, a DJ and karaoke, a face painter and a balloon artist. We'll also be giving away hot
chocolate and we'll have candy count and marshmallow eating contests."
In addition, Reid said the event will include a past attendee favorite— letters to Santa.
"Children will have a chance to write their very own letter to Santa, and we have an address where we can send
those letters," Reid said. "Some lucky kids may even get a reply!"
Reid said the Parks and Leisure Department is looking forward to joining forces with the Main Street Program to
offer a full day of holiday festivities.
"I have done this program for five years, and every year brings something new and exciting to this winter
wonderland event," she said. "It's a great opportunity to work with another City department to bring holiday cheer
to the whole community."
For more information, contact Reid at (936) 294-5725 or visit the Recreation Services Facebook
page, https://www.facebook.com/COHrecservices.
December 6 -Winter Holidays Around the World
To celebrate the holiday season, Huntsville Public Library is excited to offer its second annual Winter Holidays
Around the World on Saturday, December 6 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. in the community room. This festive
educational event for the entire family is a free program that will highlight multi-cultural elements of various
winter holidays in various countries across the globe.
Featured countries will include Belgium, the Philippines, Croatia, Sri Lanka, and Peru. In addition, participants
will explore holidays of the United States including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas.
Children will create a passport to be stamped as they learn about holiday games, crafts, and food of different
cultures. The world tour will end with a visit and free photo with Santa Claus.
For more information, please call the library at (936) 291-5472, visit the website
at www.myhuntsvilielibrary.com or "follow" us on Facebook.
December 6—Cider on the Porch
On Saturday, December 6, Cider on the Porch will be served at the Wynne Home during the Lion's Club
Christmas parade from approximately 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tours of the home will also be available.
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11/19/2014 City of Huntsville,Texas Mail-Huntsvil I e for the Holidays-City,local events December 4-7-Press release
For more information, call (936) 291-5424.
December 7— Holiday Historic Home Tours
On Sunday, December 7, the Historic Homes Tour will begin at 2 p.m. and continue until 5 p.m. It will include the
Wynne Home; the Gibbs Powell House; the Joshua Houston, Jr. Home; The Whistler; and the Texas Arts
Museum. At each location, refreshments will be served, and entertainment will be presented. For instance, at
the Wynne Home, one can enjoy a cup of cider and listen to the Sam Houston State University Latin Band.
"The Historic Homes Tour promises to be an enlightening feature of our three-day weekend. This is a special
opportunity to visit historic homes of importance to our community's heritage," Pease said. "If you love history,
Christmas, good food treats and entertainment, this promises to be an enriching, festive opportunity.
For more information, call the Wynne Home at (936) 291-5424.
Sincerely,
Kristin Edwards, TRMC
Deputy City Secretary
City of Huntsville, TX
(936) 291-5413
Huntsville for the Holidays Poster (1).pdf
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