Schaeffler event planned for Dec. 5

Hillsboro Museums will present ?An Old Fashioned Christ?mas at the Schaeffler House,? featuring a visit by St. Nikolaus, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

All children age 12 and under are invited to bring their parents, grandparents, siblings and extended family to meet St. Nikolaus and see the traditional Christmas tree at the Schaeffler House Museum at the corner of Grand Avenue and Jefferson Street.

Parents and grandparents are encouraged to bring cameras to photograph the children with St. Nikolaus. Hillsboro Convention and Visitors Bureau board members will be on hand to take photos for a $3 charge.

The decorations in the Schaeffler House will include an authentic Christmas tree adorned with Victorian ornaments and candles. Cookies and punch will be served to everyone.

The Schaeffler House event will follow the ?Christmas Memories? downtown parade that starts at 1 p.m.

Free covered-wagon rides will be offered downtown from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The covered wagon will run from downtown to the Schaeffler House from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, call 947-3775.

Peabody to host Christmas event

The annual Peabody Main Street Association Christmas event will be held Dec. 5.

The details are still being finalized, but organizers said the event will be slightly different than in years past.

This year?s event will feature a ?Christmas Cookie Walk? where people can buy their favorite local treats by the pound. Another event is the ?Wreath Auction? with local artisans decorating wreaths to be sold to the highest bidder.

?Christmas With The Greenhorns? is something everyone enjoyed so much last year, one of the organizers said, that it has been brought back for more.

?Carriage Rides? is a new event. Participants can take a tour around the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods to see how Peabody has decorated for the season.

For more information, visit: www.peabodymainstreet.com.

Parade entries still needed for Dec. 5

Holly Days in Hillsboro will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, with activities beginning at 10 a.m. and continuing until 5 p.m. with an ?Old Fashioned Christmas with St. Nikolas.?

Organizers are also planning a parade in downtown Hillsboro starting at 1 p.m. Any groups, businesses or individuals who would like to take part in the parade are encouraged to call Sue Wadkins, 620-947-2844.

Other activities include covered wagon rides from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and an FFA chili feed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hillsboro City Building, 118 E. Grand.

For more information about Holly Days, call the Chamber of Commerce, 620-947-3506.

Museum to feature pump organ music

Marion Historical Museum will host an open house from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29.

People attending the parade that day or visiting the various stores in downtown Marion are encouraged to stop by the museum, officials said.

Learn about the tradition of ?The Christmas Pickle? and hunt for the pickle in the museum.

In addition, Wanda Williams of Marion will play Christmas songs on the antique pump organ throughout the three-hour open house event.

Refreshments will be served, and visitors can sign up for door prizes.

Inter-church hymn sing set for Nov. 29

An inter-church hymn sing-a-long will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29, at Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, 300 Prairie Pointe.

The event is open to everyone, and no offering will be taken.

Steve Vincent, accompanist for the Kansas Mennonite Men?s Chorus, will lead the evening.

For more information, call 947-3011.

Farewell planned for Beckhams

Friends and neighbors of Dwight and Helen Beckham are giving a farewell reception to express appreciation for their neighborliness and leadership at Marion County Lake.

The public is invited to participate in the reception, which will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at the home of Bob and Judy Priest, 26 Lakeshore Drive, Marion County Lake.

The Beckhams have been leaders in placing the Civil Conservation Corps Statue at the Lake, they led an effort to restore the stone CCC washhouse and make it a CCC museum as well as other projects.

They are moving mid-December to Hesston to be near family, and to be closer to Dwight Beckham?s work in music.

Dyck Arboretum to feature walk

?Chestnuts Roasting Over an Open Fire? is the theme for the walk from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m Nov. 27-28 at the Dyck Arboretum in Hesston.

?New this year is a chestnut taster?s ticket for $2 that gives a sample of roasted chestnuts, chestnut hummus, soup and other chestnutty dishes,? said Julie Torseth, director.

Supplies of chestnuts are limited so RSVP at (620) 327-8127 to be sure have a ticket.

Another event at Dyck Arboretum will be a luminary walk from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 11-12, with the theme ?Ecclesiastes 3: To Everything There is a Season.?

?A portion of the proceeds will help benefit the Harvey County Homeless Shelter,? she said.

For more information, call 327-8127 or visit the website at: www.dyckarboretum.org.