2008 Information Available Soon
Special
Instructions for Courthouse Entertainment
Enter the Courthouse at
the northwest ground-level entrance. The elevator
is located at the far end of the hallway. Push “1” for
the Quilt Show and “2” for the main courtroom. There are
8 steps to be negotiated to enter the courtroom.
Santa
will receive visitors in his little red house on the town square
near the gazebo
throughout the weekend: 3-7 pm on Friday, 10 am to
6 pm on Saturday, and Sunday noon to 3 pm.
Classic
Carriages
Will offer carriage rides on the town square both Friday
and Saturday
evenings from 5-7:30 pm. Modest fee required.
Grinch
Sing-Along
Led
by Brandee Huff, youngsters of all ages will enjoy this song-fest
with the Grinch at 6:00pm Friday evening
in the main courtroom in the Macoupin
County Courthouse (2nd floor).
Professor
Longhair
A perennial
Christmas Market favorite, “Professor
Longhair” will be strolling the square and exhibitor
tents on Saturday, delighting youngsters with face painting
and balloon
animals.
Trolley
Car Rides
Board the red Bluff City Trolley
and be transported in comfort for a narrated ride through
historic Carlinville. The Bluff
City guides are well versed in Carlinville history and interesting
trivia, and riding the trolley has become a family tradition
for many Market visitors! Park your car, truck, or bus, and
relax for this approximately
30-minute ride. The trolley will pick up and drop off passengers
at the Square, the Carlinville Plaza, and the Anderson Mansion/Macoupin
County Historical Society Museum so you may disembark to
shop or dine
and then board again later to travel to the next destination.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Donations accepted.
Strolling
Entertainers & Street Shows
Throughout the festival,
strolling entertainers will be performing in the Market
tents and streets. For specifics, please check the schedules posted
in
the exhibitor tents
and the food court (located at the Knights of Columbus
Hall on the north side of the square).
Live
Readers’ Theater
Enjoy “Christmas
with a Difference: New Takes on Old Favorites,” an entertaining
and amusing program presented by the Oral Interpretation Class
of Blackburn College on
Friday evening at 5:30 pm in the Courthouse/main courtroom
(2nd floor). Twists will include “Frosty the Snowperson” and “Twas
the Night Before Christmas…in Brooklyn!”
Quilt
Show
Friday 7-9 pm, Saturday 10 am-5 pm, and Sunday
12-3 pm. Exhibit is located on the main floor of the courthouse.
Irish Harpist Patric Harvey will serenade visitors on Saturday afternoon.
Barbershop
Quartet
The smooth sounds of the barbershop quartet
Prairie sound will be performed in concert Saturday afternoon
at 1:00 pm in the Courthouse/main
courtroom (2nd floor).
Blackburn
Voices
Back by popular demand, the “Blackburn
Voices” will be dressed in ornate costumes and
will perform medieval holiday songs to the accompaniment
of ancient musical instruments at
2:00 pm in the Courthouse/main courtroom (2nd floor).
Just
to Dance
Enjoy this recital performed by the
students of Mary Ann Harp’s ballet and jazz
classes at 3:00 pm in the Courthouse/main courtroom
(2nd floor).
Folk
Music Trio
The Sam, Linda,
and Nate folk trio will perform in the Courthouse’s
main courtroom (2nd floor) at 4:00 pm on Saturday.
Accompanied by acoustic guitars,
they will sing folk rock
from the 60’s and 70’s. Sam Meredith
and Nate Rush have been performing together for 16
years; Linda Masters joined them 4
years ago.
Living
Nativity
Calvary Baptist Church,
Hillsboro, has been sharing the Nativity Story
with their community for 21 years in a “drive-by” setting.
Dressed in stunning costumes, the nativity features
wise men, singing angels, shepherds, and the nativity
family. Live animals provided by
Carlinville resident Dave Shelton. Be sure to make
time to view this lovely vignette on the town square.
Sunday only, 1-3 pm.
Christmas
Concert in the Courthouse
A
longtime tradition, this Sunday afternoon concert
features many of the best vocalists and musicians
in the area. Held in the Main courtroom of the
courthouse. The concert
starts at 1:00 pm and will last as long as the
music does! Come for part or all of this delightful
event.
Comedy
Show
Emmanuel Baptist Church
invites everyone to the comedy “A
Cricket County Christmas Cruise.” Join
the fun and laughter as the craziest, most
mixed-up bunch of passengers ever assembled
set
sail on the Seven Seas for a Christmas cruise.
Admission is free and seating is on a first
come basis. Complimentary refreshments will
be
served in the church foyer following the 45-minute
presentation. One performance will be given
daily at 6:00 pm Friday and Saturday and
at 3:00 pm on Sunday. Emmanuel Baptist Church
is located on South Broad just 2 blocks south
of the square.
Bell
Choir
The United Methodist
Church Bell Choir, under the direction of
Chris Powell, will ring in the holiday season at
7 pm
Friday evening. The church is located on
South Broad one block south of the square.
Holly
Jolly Playhouse
St.
Paul’s United Church of Christ
offers a variety of holiday games for children
at their playhouse on Friday from 5-8 pm, Saturday from 10 am to
6 pm, and on Sunday from
noon to 2 pm. One ticket allows participation
in such activities as decorating a hat or a Christmas cookie, face
painting, candy cane pull,
ice fishing, and penguin bowling. Tickets
are $0.50 each or 12 for $5.00. Special seating is provided for
the parents. Follow the signs
posted outside of the East Main tent’s
east entrance/exit area to reach the Playhouse
(St. Paul’s is situated directly
north of the courthouse.)
Community
Choir
The
Carlinville Community Choir, under the
direction of Ken Redmore, will perform
well-loved Christmas songs on Saturday
evening at 7 pm at the United Methodist
Church. This vocal ensemble has been
delighting audiences for many years with classics
as well
as contemporary favorites. The church
is located on South Broad one block south
of the square.
Annual
Christmas Concert
Reconnect
with the true meaning of Christmas as
the Blackburn College Music Department
presents its annual candlelight
concert Sunday evening at 7:00 pm in
Clegg Chapel on the campus. Driving directions:
from the Square, take Route 4 North (North
Broad Street)
to the stoplight at Nicholas Street.
Go east on Nicholas to College and then
turn left to enter the campus. Clegg
Chapel/Hudson Hall will
be on the right.