LAWRENCE COUNTY – The holiday season has arrived, and there is plenty for all to do this weekend to celebrate as a community and share in the spirit of Christmas.
The 28th annual Lawrence InterFaith Endeavor Christmas Fantasia event will kick off the weekend festivities at 10:00 a.m. at the new location of the Lawrence County Fairgrounds expo center. This event will feature multiple trees and vendors, helping to raise money for L.I.F.E. to continue their services to those in need around Lawrence County.
Be sure to join in on the fun that will take place in Downtown Bedford, to kick of Christmas Around the Square as Christmas music will fill the air of Downtown Bedford, courtesy of 105.5 Southern Indiana’s Classic Hits WQRK.
Downtown businesses will be open normal business hours for an abundance of holiday shopping options. Bedford Revitalization Inc. is currently hosting a “Shop the Square” contest where patrons can earn an entry for a chance to win the Holiday Downtown Merchants gift basket by making a purchase at downtown Bedford participating locations through Saturday, December 18th. The Open Air Christmas Market will open at 2:00 p.m. and will offer a variety of different vendors and holiday shopping for all to enjoy. The market will remain open until after the parade and include vendors such as:
- Blackwell Pentecostal Church
- Huckleberry Hill Winery
- LaD Crafts
- KB Freshies
- Pookie’s Craft Shack
- Fiddlesticks & Co.
- Farmhouse Scentsy
- Jackie Lynn’s Handmade Jewelry
- 3J Creations
- Designed by Time
- For the Love of Beans
- Crazy Rabbit TEA
- 812 BBQ
- Blues Café Go
Also starting at 2:00 p.m. there will be a free live reindeer exhibit for the family to enjoy until 5:00 p.m. at the Harp Commons area. Santa will arrive in Harp Commons at 3:00 p.m. to visit with all of the girls and boys. Free pictures with Santa will be taken on-site for to all who wish to get their photo taken. The images will be available for download online at www.DowntownBedford.org by Sunday, December 12th.
Parade Grand Marshal Clarence Brown will be recognized at 5:00 p.m. in front of the Miss Indiana Statue on the west side of the Courthouse Square. Bedford Mayor Sam Craig will deliver the Grand Marshal Proclamation and Clarence Brown will have an opportunity to share some thoughts and perform a song for those in attendance.
The highlight of the evening is the Bedford Christmas Parade that begins at 6:00 p.m. The route for the parade begins at the corner of 15th and M streets before heading to the downtown square and turning north onto I Street. The route steers west down 15th street before turning north onto L street and then the final turn west at 13th street, where the parade will conclude at the intersection of 13th and M street.
The parade will be announced by members of 105.5 WQRK FM on the corner of 16th and I streets as the floats and illuminated entries pass the corner and make their way around the square for all to see and enjoy. Grab a seat nearby to hear the parade entry winners announced, along with additional details about the parade entries.
