The holiday season in Carthage has amazed me for years with countless events and concerts, beautiful colors, and a community that unites for celebration. This week is packed to kick off a glorious Christmas season. You may need to sit down and map out an itinerary, make reservations, and pick up tickets ASAP to make sure nothing gets missed.
Stone’s Throw Dinner Theatre and artCentral offer a prelude to the weekend on Thursday with the opening of “It It’s Monday, It Must Be Christmas” and artCentral’s Holiday Boutique.
Friday brings opening night at the Olde World Market, an exclusive opening to meet area artists and fine crafters and mingle with volunteers while enjoying an evening out with holiday appetizers that may inspire your holiday menu planning. Tickets for this event are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
Carthage is surrounded by incredibly creative minds who can assemble items that bring unique joy to your holiday gift giving. Saturday brings four craft fairs to the area: artCentral Holiday Boutique features fine art by local artists and a silent auction of works in 5 x 7 canvas format, Olde World Market, Presbyterian Christmas Bazaar, and Jasper Christmas Market bring a wide variety of custom-made craft items made by area artisans.
The Christmas Homes Tour and Tea from Carthage Historic Preservation comes to Carthage every other year. In addition to a glimpse of the finest homes in Carthage that were built in a time of opulence, The Christmas Homes Tour brings amazing inspiration to decorating. Each home on the tour is a showcase of ideas to bring home and add to your décor traditions. In the past, I’ve seen upside down Christmas trees, amazing dining room tables set for perfection, and unique collections like earrings and hardcover classic books set to form trees and wreaths. The Tea is offered by reservation at the Historic Phelps House. It brings a wonderful variety of tea and delicious hors d’oeuvres both sweet and savory. It’s fancy and elegant and a perfect accent to The Christmas Homes Tour.
Monday brings a double feature of Christmas cheer to the square. Join in the community celebration of the Lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. followed by the Carthage Christmas Parade at 7 p.m. Many shops on the square are open late for an opportunity to window shop with family and find ideas to pick up later in the season. The Carthage Deli, The Woodshed, and Mother Road Coffee are also open late for dinner and treats on Main Street.
The events calendar is pretty robust with Lighting Displays, Christmas Services, a holiday ballet, and a holiday opera performance as well as special events at Precious Moments Chapel and Gardens and live music & late-night hours on the square. Merry Christmas to you and your family; we hope to catch photos at all the activities this season!
If you know of something Coming Soon to Carthage, e-mail [email protected].
