Now that Thanksgiving 2009 is just a fond memory, it's time to think about special events planned for the Christmas and holiday season in Madison County, Illinois.
Here's a calendar of events you can refer to throughout the next month when the spirit moves you to enjoy celebrations with others in Glen Carbon, Edwardsville, Alton, Collinsville, Bethalto, Godfrey and other parts of The Land of Goshen:
ONGOING
Visit with Santa, Edwardsville City Park next to the public library, Wednesdays, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m; Saturdays 1 - 4 p.m. through December 23.
Christmas Wonderland, Rock Spring Park on College Avenue, off Washington Avenue, Alton, 866-465-7890
DECEMBER 3
SIUE Renaissance Madrigal Dinner, GC Cuisine, Edwardsville, 7 p.m. A feast featuring music and a variety of entertainment to benefit the university's music scholarship fund.
Glen Beck's The Christmas Sweater: A Return to Redemption Live, Kerasotes Showplace 12, Edwardsville, 7 p.m.
DECEMBER 4
Snowflake Festival, Glazebrook Park, Godfrey, 6 - 8 p.m. An old-fashioned festival with music, carriage rides, lights and Santa. 618-466-1483.
Tree Lighting, Collinsville Township Building, 305 E. Main, Collinsville. 5:15 p.m.
Christmas with the Chorale, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 413 S. Seminary St. Collinsville. 7 p.m. Chorale, featuring Christmas portion of Handel's Messiah.
DECEMBER 5
Holiday Marketplace, St. John's United Methodist Church, Edwardsville, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Crafts, flea market, cookie walk, holiday cookies and fudge.
Santa and Mrs. Claus, Glen Carbon Centennial Library, Noon - 3 p.m. Crafts, cookie decorating and other family activities at the Kiwanis Holiday Program. Pre-registration required.
Father Christmas, 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House, 409 S. Buchanan, Edwardsville, 1 - 3 p.m. Father Christmas tells tales for St. Nicholas Day. 618-692-1818.
Collinsville Holiday House Tour, Blum House 414 West Main St., Downtown Collinsville, 2 - 8 p.m. Self-guided tour of nine homes and businesses. 618-558-1372
Carol with the Bells, Cornerstone Church, 196 Moreland Road, Bethalto, 7:30 p.m. The Great Rivers Choral Society and the Hand Bell Choir of Upper Alton's Christian Ringers welcome the season. 618-465-2315.
DECEMBER 5 & 6
Olde Alton Arts and Crafts Fair, Alton High School. Saturday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Hundreds of craft vendors sell holiday items.618-259-5660.
Holiday Arts Festival, Blum House, 414 W. Main St., and Collinsville Memorial Public Library, 408 W. Main St. Local, original art with demonstrations and book signings by local authors. Noon - 8 p.m.
Holidays at the Homestead, Louis Latzer Homestead, 1464 Old Trenton Road, Highland. Step back in time for an old-style Victorian Christmas with cookies, carols and wassail. 618-651-8271
DECEMBER 6
Pride Inc. Christmas Home Tour, Alton & Godfrey, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Homes and gardens are glowing with holiday decorations. Optional trolley transportation available. 618-467-2375.
DECEMBER 11
Winter Concert, N.O. Nelson Complex, 600 Troy Road, Edwardsville, 7 p.m. A concert by the Great Rivers Choral Society and the Upper Alton Handbell Choir. 618-692-7538.
DECEMBER 12
Bah! Humbug!, SIUE Dunham Hall, Edwardsville. The SIUE Friends of Theater and Dance holiday show staged by the Imaginary Theatre Company.
DECEMBER 12 & 13
Holidays at the Homestead, Louis Latzer Homestead, 1464 Old Trenton Road, Highland. Step back in time for an old-style Victorian Christmas with cookies, carols and wassail. 618-651-8271
DECEMBER 12 - 22
Santa's Village, Tri-Township Park, Troy. Santa will be available for pictures during a variety of times this season with live reindeer. Call for hours: 618-667-8769
DECEMBER 13
Christmas Sing-a-Long, Yanda Log Cabin, Glen Carbon. 2 - 4 p.m.
Bethalto Spirit Victorian Christmas Walk, Prairie and Central streets, Bethalto, 4 - 7 p.m. A festival afternoon with music and a festive Victorian atmosphere. 618-377-0767.
DECEMBER 17
RiffTrax: Christmas Shorts-Stravaganza! Encore, Kerasotes Showplace 12, Edwardsville. The stars of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 are back on the big screen with their wisecracking commentary and special guest Weird Al Yankovic. 618-659-7469
DECEMBER 20
Winter Solstice. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, 30 Ramey St., Collinsville. Meet at 7 a.m. at the reconstructed Woodhenge solar calendar to hear about the ancient sun circle. 618-346-5160.
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