Wilson Center Auditorium hosts tributes concert November 30
Another night of entertainment is coming to the Wilson Center Auditorium on Saturday, November 30.
The evening will feature Elvis and Rod Stewart tributes along with Louie Longoria’s tribute to George Strait. Raffles from local vendors, from beautiful jewelry to home decor to toys and yes, even Santa will be in the house. Bring the Kids.
Doors open at 4 p.m. Cookies with Santa will begin at 5:30 p.m. Showtime will be at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Admission $10/ or unwrapped toy of equal value
Children 12 and under are free.
The show is scheduled to end about 8 p.m. immediately followed by photos and autographs.
Mark you calendar for December 6 Festival of Lights and Santa Parade
So much fun is planned for downtown St. Johns for the holidays. The Festival of Lights and Santa Parade will be coming up on December 6. Than a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is planned for December 31.
The December 6 Santa Parade will line up at 5:00 p.m. behind courthouse.
Other downtown activities include: Lighted Putt Putt Mini Golf, Candy Explosion, Ginger Bread House, Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, Tunnel of Lights, Vivid Holograms, Train Rides on the SJ Express Train, Rides on the lighted “Rails to Trails,” Jolly and Holly the talking trees, Live Nativity, Sawdust Santa making wooden toys with kids, Santa’s Workshop, Storytelling with Santa at the Library, Kids crafts, creating stockings and cookie making, Face painting, 4H bake sale, Scavenger Hunt, Scenic wagon rides around decorated homes, Snoopy House and Charlie Brown, Bonfire and marshmallow roasting, “Whoville Hair” updos, Train Depot Tours and Voting for best decorated home.
The Santa Parade will culminate in the annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree at the foot of Clinton Avenue.
Breakfast with Santa tickets available
The 17th Annual Christmas Festival, sponsored by the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for Saturday, December 7 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the CC RESA Building at 1013 S US 27 in St. Johns.
The day begins with Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Breakfast will include scrambled eggs, silver dollar pancakes, sausage, cereal, pop tarts, donuts/cookies, milk, juice and coffee. The cost is $6 for adults and $5 for children. Age 2 and under are free.
You must have a breakfast ticket to get your picture with Santa, so please bring your own cameras. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce, 1013 S US 27 in St. Johns or Big Boy of St Johns). Depending on availability some tickets may be available at the door that day.
After Santa has seen the last child and breakfast gets cleared away, there will be free crafts that children of all ages can make from noon – 3:00 p.m. These crafts are something the children can make for other kids, parents or grandparents, or they can make them for themselves.
Of course the day is not all about the kids. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. there will be a Craft Show throughout part of the building. There will be more than 90 booths of vendors selling everything from baked goods and jewelry to fabric crafts, wood items and much, much more. Attendees can also participate in a raffle that will award more than 75 prizes.
In the lobby of the building there will be a Festival of Trees. Many Chamber members will have a Christmas tree decorated for you to enjoy. You can vote on your favorite with a money donation. The tree that collects the most votes, the most money, gets to decide what charity receives all the money collected.
Lunch of Potato/Ham Soup, Hotdogs and Nachos will be available from 10:30 until gone by the Clinton County Senior Center in the lobby of the building.
If you have any questions about any part of the Christmas Festival, please call the Clinton County Chamber of Commerce at 989-224-7248.
Here Comes Christmas scheduled for December 6-7 at the Wilson
“Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas,” a show by Hometown Productions, is coming to the Wilson Center Auditorium on December 6-7. It will be shown at 7:30 p.m. each night.
The production is based on the books by Robert Fulghum and adapted by Ernest Zulia and David Caldwell. Music and lyrics are by David Caldwell. It is directed by Hilda Mallory.
Fifteen holiday stories from the international best-selling author of “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” have been crafted into an engaging evening of storytelling and song. This charming show takes a funny, heartwarming and often poignant look at the struggle to find the spirit of the holidays amid the avalanche of commercialism, stress and chaos that crashes down every December.
The many delightful stories include a small immigrant child who comes trick-or-treating in a cheap Santa mask a few days before Christmas, inadvertently delivering the true meaning of the season to a grown-up with a serious case of “Scroogitis;” hilarious musings about a love/hate relationship with the vibrant poinsettia that arrives in most homes every December and hangs on and on and on, long after the holidays have ended; and a beautiful, deeply moving tribute to the winter solstice, celebrating nature’s precious annual gift of rebirth.
Mint City Singers’ holiday concert is December 13
The Mint City Singers’ holiday concert is coming up at the Wilson Center Auditorium on Friday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. Celebrate the holidays through choral music and support the Beacon of Hope Family Care Center (BOH) at the same time.
This is the inaugural concert for the Junior MInts Community Youth Choir, grades 4-8, and annual concert for the Mint City Singers. Enjoy the spirit of the holidays through multigenerational singing, charitable giving, and gathering after the concert for cookies and fellowship.
Each of the Junior Mints will sing a solo or duet within the choral piece, The Friendly Beasts Fifteen-year-old Kendall Gunther will be singing Once Upon A December from Anastasia as a solo. Kelly Bitz will also be a featured soloist.
There will be a ladies sextet singing Christmas Lullaby and the new Select Assortmint, an SATB ensemble of 15 people, is singing Go Tell It On the Mountain a cappella.
All donations will be given to the Beacon of Hope Family Care Center.
Visit the Art Explosion at the IQhub
the doors are open, and the IQhub’s walls, tables, cases, and hallways are full of art.
The Art Explosion features local artists. See the amazing work these talented people do.
Enjoy paintings, photography, metal art, pottery, quilting, wood carvings, and more.
Vote on your favorite pieces, purchase, or even hire artists to create for you.
As always, the IQhub is also open for all ages, and it’s free. the IQHub is located at
1130 S. Dewitt Rd, St Johns, inside AgroLiquid headquarters. The hours are M-F, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Learn more at iqhubag.org
November is Michigan Homeless Awareness Month
Now is the time to talk about disparities found in Michigan’s homeless population.
In Michigan the rise in senior homelessness continues.
– 31% of seniors experience homelessness for the first time after age 55. This is a group which frequently falls between the cracks of governmental safety nets. The National Coalition for the Homeless has information on Elder Homelessness and how to be an advocate on their behalf. https://nationalhomeless.org/issues/elderly/
– 43% of Michigan’s population cannot afford basic household necessities. A growing proportion of households across Michigan – comprised of all races, ages, genders, and family compositions – have income that can’t afford the actual costs of housing, child care, food, health care, technology and transportation. Read the ALICE Report for a comprehensive depiction of need in Michigan to date.
– Family homelessness is increasing. The average monthly of $649 household income makes finding affordable housing difficult. Often families and children are not seen as homeless because they aren’t seen living on the streets. Invisible People offers advice on how you can help in your local area.